“Let’s go for a walk,” Daddy suggested.
“Where to?” asked Sarah.
“Well, we can drive to a rich section of the city and look at all the beautiful homes.” Daddy said.
So all the family got into the car and drove to a part of the city where there were huge, lovely homes. They parked the car and got out to walk. As they walked along, one of the children noticed the pretty flowers, one noticed the birds in the trees, and another pointed out the way some trees were trimmed into round balls.
As the family walked to another, even richer area, they came to a street that had a gate-keeper and a large sign. The sign said, NO TRESPASSING!
FINE $200 FOR ENTERING WITHOUT PERMISSION BY CITY ORDINANCE It was a city street, but the rich people living there didn’t want anyone even to drive on their street unless they lived there! Sarah and her family had to walk on another street behind those houses and see what they could over a high wall. They were not welcome to walk on the street of the rich people or even to look at their houses!
How wonderful that God is not like that! Those people were rich in money, but they were not rich in grace. The Bible says that God is not only so rich that He owns the whole world, but that He also wants to show us the riches of His grace. To be rich in grace means to be rich in love that wants to share all that a person has with others. God is rich in love and wants to share all that He has with you!
Listen to what the Bible says: “God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins... hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-74But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4‑7).
But of course none of these wonderful riches of God’s love could be seen or enjoyed by those who have stains of sin on their hearts. Not one sin can ever enter into the mansions of heaven. Because of our sins every single one of us would have been shut out of heaven because we don’t belong there, just as we were shut out of the street of rich houses because we didn’t belong there. But that is just where the riches of God’s grace come in. He loved us so much that He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die for our sins so that He could share all His riches with us. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7).
Are your sins forgiven? They can be. Trust in the Lord Jesus today and you can begin to enjoy God’s riches right now, even before you get to heaven.
As Sarah and her family walked along the street with the wall, they could see one especially large house.
“Wow!” Daddy said. “Look at that house! They must have a pool because there’s the top of a slide. And that other house over there must be the changing house for the pool.”
“Grandma’s house is nicer,” said Sarah.
Grandma’s house! thought Mother. Grandma doesn’t have a pool! Her yard isn’t that big! Grandma’s house is old and doesn’t have fancy lights! But... well, we are welcome at Grandma’s house. We hope to go there soon and... of course!... Grandma and Grandpa are there! That’s what makes Grandma’s house nicer!
And that is what is going to make heaven more wonderful too. Jesus is there! Oh, there are going to be beautiful walls in heaven made out of precious stones. There are going to be gates of pearl and the street is going to be pure gold. There is also going to be a river that is clear as crystal, and there will be the tree of life that will give twelve different fruits. But even all of that is not as wonderful as the fact that Jesus will be there. The Bible says, “They shall see His face.”
Grandma’s house is nicer than any of the richest homes in any town, because Grandma is there. And heaven, the most wonderful home ever prepared, will be the nicest, because Jesus is there. Will you be there with Sarah and her grandmother? Accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour today and be ready to go with us!
Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2,32In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2‑3).
“Verily, verily [truly, truly], I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:33Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3).
Will you be there?
ML-12/13/1992