NO. LIVERMORE — At the Dec. 31 North Livermore Baptist Church service, the congregation was welcomed by Pastor Bonnie Higgins at 9:30 a.m. to begin the service. The Invocation/Lord’s Prayer were recited. The hymns that were sung were “Go Tell it on the Mountain”, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”, and “Silent Night! Holy Night!”. The service ended with “Go Now in Peace”. Linda Lyman is the organist each week. Lew Lyman leads the music for the congregation each week.

The sermon, titled “As We Prepare to Move” and scriptures from Revelation 21:1-8. Pastor Bonnie began by saying that most people would rather talk about sports, world news, movies, television shows, work, etc. than they want to talk about Heaven or Hell.

Majority of people believe that there is a Heaven and probably most people will end up there if they are good here on earth, by-passing accepting Jesus as their personal Savior. As Christians, we know that is not the way to get into Heaven. Your money, your charitable donations, being members of a church, etc. will not get you into Heaven, only by accepting Jesus into your life and living for Him here on earth.

As we look forward to Heaven, what can we expect? In scriptures there were three people that described Heaven, one was Paul. Paul has written in scriptures that he was caught up in the third Heaven, meaning that there are two other Heavens. What are they?

The first Heaven is where the clouds, the birds and airplanes fly. As people, we can see the first heaven with our own eyes. The second Heaven is where the planets and stars are located. We can see this Heaven with a powerful telescope. We actually have sent people into the second Heaven in a rocket. The third Heaven is where God lives, and now Jesus.

As we lose love ones now, they go to the third Heaven to be with Jesus and one day we too, will be in the third Heaven. This is the place in Revelation that is described to have streets of gold, etc.

Paul went to the third Heaven once, but God told him not to speak about what he saw to the people on earth. Why not? Probably because God wants His children to experience the beauty on their own.

Another person who described Heaven was the apostle John. God revealed to John all the horrible things that were going to take place after the rapture of the Church. God revealed to John, all about the Antichrist, the tribulation, the battle of Armageddon, and the Great White Throne of Judgment. After God revealed this to John, He also gave John a glimpse of Heaven by pulling back the curtains of Heaven.

The third person who has seen Heaven is Jesus Himself. We know that Jesus came from Heaven and is in Heaven at this moment waiting for us to arrive. Jesus knows it better than anyone, it has always been His home.

As Christians, God has told us that He is preparing a new place for us in Heaven with Him. One day, after this world has ended, after the final judgment day, a new Heaven and a new earth will come from the Heavens because the first Heaven and the first earth will pass away.

Not only will God give us a new place to live in, but Jesus will also provide a new peace in our lives. Life will be perfect with no wars, no sickness, no hunger, no homelessness, etc. We will live in peace.

Are you prepared to move to your new home if you are called to today? If not, you could be, all you need to do is accept Jesus as your personal Savior and live for Him here on this earth until He brings us all home.

Announcements listed in the bulletin are that the congregation will be collecting canned soup for the Food Pantry in January. Bible Study: Tuesday at 1 p.m.

You can email the church at nlbcmaine@gmail.com. Pastor Bonnie’s office hours are Tuesday’s from 9 a.m. to noon.

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