"Joys of Heaven"

Reading this morning I came across an interesting verse. In Colossians 1:5 it says:

"You do this because you are looking forward to the joys of heaven---as you have been ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News"

First what were they doing? It says "You do this because..." In the previous verses show that the people in Colosse were trusting in the Lord and were exhibiting the love of Christ to the people. This at first seems like they are doing because they want something. Is there a motive they are showing love? Well if scripture has anything to do about it then I could say there is no motive except to serve the Lord. In the 13th chapter of Corinthians we see that love is not "self-seeking". So to show the love of Christ would no be something that was selfish. I see this as an overflow of their love for Christ. It is just plain natural for us to love in a Christ like manner if we are his.

Finally, what is this "joys of heaven" all about? After doing some research and letting the Lord lead me around his Word I see now what he meant. In 1 Peter 1:3-6 it says:

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.

That joy is the gift of eternal life, God's mercy, our inheritance of heaven and his protecting our salvation. That is the joys of heaven. God tells us that there are times that we will go through trails and hardships. We are to just hold on the the joys of heaven and run toward the prize before us.

Christmas is just around the corner so I would like to say. Remember the joys of heaven and remember such joy is available just because of Jesus.