A free sample of heaven

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Heaven”

Our Bible verse for today: “Now, this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “A free sample of heaven”

In yesterday’s devotional we considered the fact that in eternity we will live with God and have fellowship with Him, in the same way Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. It will be intensely personal for each of us. We will see and experience God fully, as He really is. That’s what we have to look forward to then.

But what about now? Don’t we also get to know and experience God now? And if the answer to that is “yes,” then isn’t that a little taste of heaven? When we experience God now, in a limited way, isn’t He really giving us a little taste of the fuller experience we have waiting for us in eternity?

In John chapter 17 Jesus prayed a long and powerful prayer that is worthy of deep study. In verse 3 He identified for us what eternal life is: it is to know God. But knowing God isn’t just a promise for the future, it’s also a gift for the present. The truth that God wants to be known by His people; that He wants to be heard and understood; and that He wants us to experience Him; is a well-established fact. It’s the reason He sent Jesus to earth and it’s the reason He gave us the Bible. On Sunday nights this Fall at Oak Hill Baptist Church we have been conducting the Bible study, “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God” by Henry Blackaby. It’s a powerful study that goes a long way towards helping Christians to more fully experience God now, in this lifetime. You don’t have to wait until you get to heaven.

Here in my neighborhood in Fairfield Glade, TN we have a Food City grocery store. It’s a very nice store that is upscale, clean, well-stocked with high quality products, and the customer service is exceptional. I enjoy shopping there. It’s one of those stores that always offers free samples of products they are featuring in the bakery, or the deli, of the Starbucks, or in various locations around the store. The object of the free sample is to give you a little taste of the product so that you will want more and buy the product.

Sometimes I see customers taking multiple free samples, then move on to the next station and taking several more, and then on to the next free sample station and doing it again, but never purchasing any of the actual products. I’m pretty sure that is circumventing the purpose of the free samples and I’m not sure the store appreciates that.

But with God it’s different. Here on earth, right now, God gives us free samples of close fellowship with Himself and we’re welcome to as much of it as we want. It’s just a taste of what we have waiting for us in heaven, and it does make us want more. So, in the case of experiencing close fellowship with God, you are more than welcome to take all the free samples you want and then by all means, come back for more! It’s a little taste of heaven.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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