ON OUR WAY TO HEAVEN’S GATE
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: Oppad na die Hemelse Poort
Translator: Robin Barker
I want to share with you this daily thought about our lifestyle on earth:
Our belief – and how we live it – must not be an act, not nice, or be forced.
When we get to that place that being a Christian is wonderful within our Lord’s lifestyle in spite of satan and all his going on, then we have reached spiritual maturity and then we truly can understand and experience what our Lord is telling us when He says:
JHN 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
PHIL 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
PHIL 4:7 as and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It is then when – for the world the illogical statement from my great hero Paul – in the midst of our problems, disappointments and sadness, we have a sense of delight on our way (journey) to Heaven’s gate:
2 COR 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay (our earthly bodies) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
2 COR 4:8 we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
2 COR 4:9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We move forward in this peace, to our delightful end destination.
Our eyes fixed upon our Lord Jesus Christ.
HEB 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
HEB 12:3 Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Oh, how delightfully are the words of that old Hallelujah song, which now appears within my heart: (the following is a literal translation from the Afrikaans chorus)
Ek sien 'n poort wyd ope staan en deur die aardse duister,
I see a gate which stands open through the earthly darkness,
bestraal “n kruis my lewensbaan, met wonderskone luister.
Radiates a cross my source of life, with exquisite glory.
Genade Gods, so ryk en vry- die poort staan ope ook vir my.
Gracious Gods, so rich and free- the gate stands open for me.
Vir my vir my, staan ope ook vir my!
For me for me, it stands open also for me!
Greetings,
Sakkie