Heaven … (March 2020 Update)
This past year, a number of dear friends and family members have gone to be with the Lord. While each death is difficult for us because our sweet fellowship here on earth has come to an end, the promise of heaven not only gives us hope for the future but it causes us to rejoice even in the face of death. Because, death for the believer is not final. Death is but one stepping-stone into the presence of the Lord and His eternal reward. Death for the believer is heaven in all its glory!
Revelation 21 tells us much about heaven, but still much is veiled in mystery and majesty. But we can see the following truths from these chapters.
First, heaven is a place. It is not merely a state of being. Revelation 21 describes heaven as a majestic place, full of beauty and glory. It is a place that has space and dimensions that can be measured. Jesus himself affirmed this in John 14:3: ”I go to prepare a place for you.” Revelation 21:1 calls this place the new heaven and new earth because the first heaven and earth had passed away. In other words, just as the former heavens and earth were real places, so the new heavens and earth will be also.
Second, heaven is a place full of God’s presence. This chapter describes the holy city, the New Jerusalem, with spectacular characteristics of gold and precious stones. But the best part, the most amazing part, is not the gems out of which this place is constructed. It is the presence of the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb! Their glory is so great there that the city does not need any light from the sun or the moon. Revelation 21:3 makes this clear: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.” The best part about heaven is to be with the Lord forever and ever!
Third, heaven is a place where sorrow is no more. In this life, we have many sorrows, including the death of loved ones. But in heaven, we will have sweet reunion with dear ones who have gone on before us. In this world, we have many sorrows. But in heaven, sorrow will be no more. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” During our life here on earth, we have all wished for a time when there was no more sorrow and no more pain. But we will have this only in heaven. For only heaven is a place where sorrow will be no more.
Finally, heaven is a place for believers. It is a place for the people of God. Revelation 21:6-8 and 21:27 make this clear. Only those forgiven by the Lamb can enter this place. This is not a place of those who think they have not sinned. It is for those whose sins have been paid for by the Lamb. Notice what is said in Revelation 21:6: “I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.” And “only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” may enter there (Revelation 21:27). Heaven is for sinner – sinners whose sins have been paid for by the blood of the Lamb!
Listen to the words of J. C. Ryle as he speaks about heaven:
Christian, look up and take comfort. Jesus has prepared a place for you, and they that follow Him shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of His hands. Look forward to that glorious abode He has provided. Look forward in faith, for it is thine.
Oh, Christian brethren, think what a glorious meeting that shall be! There we shall see the saints of old, of whom we have so often read. There we shall see those holy ministers whose faith and patience we have admired. There we shall see one another round the throne of our common Savior and be parted and separated no more. There we shall labor and toil no more, for the days of mourning shall be ended. Oh, but my heart will leap within me, if I see there faces I have known among you; if I hear the names of any of yourselves! The Lord grant it, the Lord bring it to pass. The Lord grant we may, some of us at least, come together in that day, when there shall be one fold and one Shepherd and with one heart and voice join that glorious song: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing … Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” —Rev. 5:12–13
It is difficult for us when someone we love goes to be with the Lord. But we can also rejoice because to be “absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” Heaven is a place; a place with no more sorrow; and a place for believers. But most of all, it is a place in the fulness of God’s presence. Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” So, now we sorrow, but not as those who have no hope! Because heaven is a place prepared for us by our Savior!
Teaching …
I am already working on grading pre-session papers from my students in the Masters of Biblical Counseling class. I will be teaching Research and Writing for Biblical Counseling in a couple of weeks. Be praying for me as I prepare to teach this class. Also pray that I will have the strength to teach 8 hours a day during the class. This will be my first class back since my heart attack.
Also be praying for me as I am working to train Ukrainian professors to teach the classes I am currently teaching. I will be meeting with a couple potential teachers over the next few weeks. I am hoping to have teachers trained for each of my classes so that I can have them teaching all my classes in 4-5 years when we hope to return to the US. Please be praying that we can find teachers who will be faithful and diligent to teach leaders for the church in Ukraine for many years to come!
My Health …
My health continues to improve. I am walking every day. I started doing about 30 minutes a day and now I am up to nearly an hour. Hills and stairs are still difficult, but I’ve just learned to slow down or stop when necessary. The MRI of my heart showed that my pericarditis almost gone. So they have reduced the anti-inflammatory meds from 2400 mg per day down to 400 mg per day. Hopefully in a couple of months I won’t need any at all. The MRI also shows that my left ventricle is at about 76%. The cardiologist said that’s not great but also not anything serious at this point. So my goal now is to keep working on my cardiac rehab. I’m also trying to keep up with tasks around the house. Katya got a kick out of my new approach to splitting wood! I was actually able to split a lot!
Family …
February began with some snow. Surprisingly, we have not had any snow this winter and the temperatures have been relatively mild for Ukrainian winters. So when the snow came down, even for a couple of days, we rushed out to sled ride and the girls even made a small snowman.
This month was also chicken pox month for us! Nadia started us off with a pretty bad case of chicken pox. She has had them almost the full 21 days. Nadia is near the end but Kristina just started today. SO it looks like another couple of weeks for them at home.
But even during this time, school for the girls continued. That’s one “disadvantage” for homeschooled kids – they have school even when they are sick 😊. But they enjoy their school even asking why they can’t have school on Saturdays! Every evening before bed, we read them a chapter from the Chronicles of Narnia. They have almost finished “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and they have lots of great questions about sin and about why Aslan would die for Edmund.
We also make sure that we have a lot of fun together too. The girls are now at the age that they can play board games and card games. They especially love playing “Sleeping Queens” and “Ticket to Ride.” And they still love helping in the kitchen!
We are planning to get away for 3-4 days next week in the mountains of Western Ukraine. We are hoping for some rest and also for some snow!
Also in February, we were able to enjoy being part of a special couples night for Valentine’s Day at our church. It was a great time of fellowship and learning. They divided into two groups: men and women and we each answered specific biblical and practical questions about marriage and family. It was both fun and enlightening!
Financial Needs …
God has greatly blessed us financially through the years and we continue to be blessed by the loving support that we receive from everyone. But each year, we have a few families who have to either adjust their giving or stop their giving because of job and family changes. This year, we need to add 3-5 new families to get our support level back up to its previous level. As always, God knows our needs even before we ask and we have received a number of one-time gifts that have helped to make up the monthly difference the last two months. If you are not currently part of our regular monthly support team, would you pray about helping us financially for the next 4-5 years? We are so grateful for all the prayers and support we have received that enable us to do this ministry in Ukraine! We would not be able to do this ministry without you!!!
Pray for Ukraine …
Thank you for praying for Ukraine. We still have a war in Eastern Ukraine and it seems like Putin and Russia have no desire to end this conflict. In fact, they continue to build up forces there – the forces in Eastern Ukraine are now larger than almost every European army! Ukraine is still holding the lines even though Russian-backed forces attack 10-20 times every night looking for weaknesses in the frontlines. Pray for the peace of Ukraine.
Also, please continue to pray for our students and graduates who are ministering in areas that are directly affected by the war. Pray that they can continue to be an encouragement to believers in those areas and that they have the freedom to share the gospel with others there.
Thank you again for your support. At our faculty meeting last week, we talked about some of the changes that have taken place at the seminary since 1996 when I first began teaching there. It is amazing to me to see how many of my former students are now serving at the seminary! The current president was a student in the first graduating class. Six former students are professors and four are serving as Department Heads. Our current Academic Dean was also one of my former students. What a blessing to see the transition from a school where the faculty was entirely American missionaries to one that is becoming more and more Ukrainian! In fact, in the early years, all faculty meetings were in English. Now everything is done in Russian (and sometime Ukrainian!). Praise the Lord for all of this progress! And thank you again for all your help from the beginning of this work until now!
By His Grace
Jim and Katya, Kristina and Nadia
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