Surprises When We Get to Heaven

[Thompson, Darryl]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for November 8
Visit us at http://www.whiteestate.org
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Surprises When We Get to Heaven

The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 1 Sam. 16:7. 


Often we regard as hopeless subjects the very ones whom Christ is
drawing to Himself. . . . Many will be in heaven who their neighbors
supposed would never enter there. Man judges from appearance, but God
judges the heart. 

Some among the redeemed will have laid hold of Christ in the last hours
of life, and in heaven instruction will be given to these, who, when
they died, did not understand perfectly the plan of salvation. 

To Jesus in His agony on the cross there came one gleam of comfort. It
was the prayer of the penitent thief. . . . In Jesus, bruised, mocked,
and hanging upon the cross, he sees the Lamb of God, that taketh away
the sin of the world. Hope is mingled with anguish in his voice as the
helpless, dying soul casts himself upon a dying Savior. "Lord, remember
me," he cries, "when thou comest into thy kingdom." Quickly the answer
came. . . . Verily I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be with Me in
paradise. 

Such faith may be represented by the eleventh hour laborers who receive
as much reward as do those who have labored for many hours. The thief
asked in faith, in penitence, in contrition. He asked in earnestness, as
if he fully realized that Jesus could save him if He would. 

Those whom Christ commends in the judgment may have known little of
theology, but they have cherished His principles. . . . 

Among the heathen are those who worship God ignorantly, those to whom
the light is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not
perish. Though ignorant of the written law of God, they have heard His
voice speaking to them in nature, and have done the things that the law
required. Their works are evidence that the Holy Spirit has touched
their hearts, and they are recognized as the children of God. 

How surprised and gladdened will be the lowly among the nations, and
among the heathen, to hear from the lips of the Savior, "Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it
unto me"! How glad will be the heart of Infinite Love as His followers
look up with surprise and joy at His words of approval! 

>From Maranatha - Page 320