The Ballestero Blog

I Wouldn’t Miss It For The World!

We’ve all been invited to a lot of family celebrations, parties and church events. In our vast catalogue of responses when being put on the spot, we’ve all given the host or hostess  great assurance with our off-handed reply. We say, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”

• We have said that about birthday parties and anniversaries.
• We have said it about school presentations and graduations.
• We have said it about retirement parties and family reunions.
• We have used that line when invited to a special church service.
• We have used that line most of our adult life.

It’s just a common response to a myriad of invitations. You might call the statement overused or hyperbole, and normally you would be right, but not this time. This time it’s for real!

This time I’m talking a Heaven. Isn’t Heaven what I’ve have lived my whole life for? Isn’t Heaven the goal and the conclusion of my Christian walk?

Why then would I miss it for the World? What does the World have to offer that surpasses what Heaven has? Why would I throw away Heaven, for the World? Does anyone really believe that trading Heaven for the World is a good deal?

I cannot remember not loving Jesus. I have no memory of not wanting to see Him and be in Heaven. I want to see Him now more than ever.

The saints of God believe that when we get to Heaven, we shall know one another. I do too.

1 Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Since the recent passing of my sainted Mother, my thoughts have once again turned Heavenward. She joins my godly Father, and my beloved sister, Beverly Anne in Heaven. They are now part of that ‘great cloud of witnesses’ that awaits our arrival. I rejoice over the fact that my parents and my sister lived glorious and Spirit-filled lives. I can’t wait to see them too!

• All these years, I’ve sung songs about Heaven!
• All these years, I’ve thought about Heaven!
• All these years, I’ve preached about Heaven!
• All these years, I’ve dreamed about Heaven!

I Wouldn’t Miss It For The World!

Things About God That Thrill Me!

Psa. 145:5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

Psa. 145:21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

1. It Thrills Me To Know God Is Still On The Throne!

• When dictators are dead and forgotten, God will still be God.
• He is eternal.

When stars fall from heaven and the sun grow cold and mountains crumble into dust, His Throne still rules.

2. His Blood Has Never Lost Its Power!

The blood of bulls and goats has dried up long ago, but Christ’s Blood is more powerful than sacrificed animals.

• Picture the ancient priests and the sacrifices.
• But, now we are blood washed.
• He has given us a clear record.
• We are Saved, Washed and Protected by the Blood.

3. It Thrills Me That Every Promise Is True!

• God cannot lie.
• He always keeps His Word
• He is not obligated to make us any promise.
• But once He does, He is bound to keep it.

The Character, Justice and Goodness of God stand behind every Divine Promise.

4. I Am Thrilled To Remember That Heaven Is Real!

• It is more than a city in the state of the mind.
• On the authority of God’s Word, it is an eternal City.
• It is a prepared City for a prepared people.
• He has prepared a place for us.

John 14:3 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.

5. I Am Thrilled That He Is Coming Back Again!

• He came the first time because the prophets said He would.
• He’s coming the second time by His own Word and Testimony.

To His Disciples the Angels said:

Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

6. None Of These Truths Could Really Thrill Me Unless I Was Convinced The Soul Is Immortal!

• My soul is going to live forever somewhere.
• It can be saved or lost.
• But it will live eternally.

7. I Am Thrilled What The Pentecostal New Birth Experience Does For Us.

• It gives us Victory
• Forgiveness
• Joy
• Power
• His Name!
• Eternal Life

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Night Shipment Of Tears

“The Night Shipment of Tears has arrived. We need to sort them first, according to the sender’s name, and then secondly by the fragrance of the prayer or tears. Make sure each golden bottle is properly sealed and labeled. They must be preserved and readily available for the 24 Elders when they bow before the Throne.

“Then, on this Leger here, I want you to enter today’s date, the sender’s name, and also the subject of their prayer, so we can sort these vials according to their specific odors.

“I don’t have to remind you to hurry, we’ve got more shipments on the way. A backlog is not acceptable.”

“The tears and the prayers of the saints have been captured on earth by our Angels and sealed into golden vials. They are Earth’s most prized possessions. There is nothing that the Lord counts more valuable than these.

“The tears of each prayer type have odors that only He can discern. It is the only earthly thing allowed to enter into this, the Holiest of all places.

“In a few more days, the Four and Twenty Elders will come and bow before His throne. They will bring their harps and they will bring these vials before the Lord.”

Michael the Archangel looked around at his fellow Angels. They all nodded their acceptance of the requests and turned to busy themselves.

They took each bottle and attached a small label that had this notation:

The vials were then stored in a large room of innumerable vessels holding the tears and the prayers of the saints. Their odors were a sweet-smelling fragrance that could only be enjoyed by the King of Kings.

(Your prayers and your tears are not unnoticed. They are not treated lightly. Heaven captures your tears and puts them into golden vials. Their fragrance will become the aroma around the throne of God.)

Psa. 56:8… put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

Rev. 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.