President Trump and Heaven

A few days ago, during an interview the President was asked what motivated him in the quest to settle the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. His answer - “I want to end it. I want to try and get to heaven if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.”  He believes what millions do – that Heaven is a reward for doing good.

GOD’S PLAN

Nice idea, but God has a better plan! Eternal life is a gift, not a reward.

I’m so thankful for that fact because without it, I would be hopeless and so would the President (and you). The Bible reminds that we all share in a sinful nature and are incapable of doing enough good things to remedy our guilt. “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.”  (Isaiah 5) The stark truth is that what we earn is spiritual separation from life. As unpleasant as we might find it, we are the walking dead, unless …

We know His Grace! I love this revelation. “God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.” (Ephesians 2)

THE STUMBLING BLOCK OF PRIDE

It’s hard to give up on our idea that we can somehow cut a deal with God, that we can do enough good, that we can live a little better than the other guy to gain a place in His House forever. That way of merit appeals to our pride, allowing us to ignore our flaws while lauding our successes.

That pride is at the root of our sinfulness, our desire to go our own way, do our own thing and it is difficult to admit – “I’m a sinner. I fail in ways, big and small, everyday to live up to God’s holiness.” But that confession is the starting point for discovery of God’s truth about living in Heaven.

CONFESSION, REALLY?

Honest confession of our inability to be perfect opens the door to the grace of Christ Jesus. When we abandon ourselves to God’s love, which is wide and deep, the Spirit tells us that we are the children of God, made whole.

THE PROMISE

This is the Word – ^“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”  (Ephesians 2)

So, President Trump, while I agree that seeking to make peace is a good and noble goal for any person, it isn’t enough to set you right with God. He cares not a bit about your office, your wealth, or your earthly accomplishments. What He desires is a humble heart that receives Christ as Savior. The amazing result of that conversion is not just a home in Heaven but a heart that learns to love, to accept, to serve humbly.

And, for the rest of us, that is the truth, too. I hope for Heaven, not because I’m good enough, but because Christ’s grace is extended to me. How about you?

THE INVITATION

The word from the Word is an invitation to us. Believe it and live.
“The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”  (Romans 8)

Confess.
Believe.
Receive.
Live!  Amen.

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Broken Promises

Who hasn’t been told a project would be done by a certain date, only to find yourself waiting a week later? Or as a parent, perhaps you promised your child a summer trip that never happened by Labor Day. Maybe you even felt the heartbreak when someone you loved decided that “’til death do us part” no longer applied.

Broken promises come in all shapes and sizes. They almost always bring disappointment, and often deep frustration.

Why Are Promises So Hard to Keep?

1. We overpromise.
Sometimes we simply commit to more than we can realistically do. Only later do we realize the cost is too high. Jesus warned:
“Don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills?” (Luke 14:28, NLT)

2. We get distracted by urgency.
Marriages don’t usually fall apart because one spouse deliberately chooses neglect. More often, the vow to “love and cherish” is slowly buried under deadlines, distractions, and packed schedules.
The Bible calls us to decide what matters most: “Choose today whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15) That principle applies to more than faith—it’s about priorities. Learning to say “no” to some demands frees us to say “yes” to what’s truly important.

3. We procrastinate.
“Tomorrow” feels safer than today, but putting things off slowly erodes life. Homes become cluttered because today’s mess rolls into tomorrow. Cars break down from years of ignored maintenance. Most things don’t collapse overnight—they crumble one neglected task at a time.

Years ago, a trainer taught me a principle: “Handle paper once.” The point was simple—finish what you start. If it only takes a few minutes, do it now. Imagine how many promises would be kept if we applied that same principle to life.

4. We are sinners.
Even our best intentions collide with our brokenness. Paul admitted, “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Romans 7:18, NIV) Left on our own, weeds flourish while gardens wither. But with God as our Gardener, tending and cultivating our hearts, we gain strength beyond ourselves:
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13, NIV)

Living with Kept Promises

So what can we do?

• Guard your words—promise only what you intend to act on.
• Set wise priorities and stick to them.
• Keep your word, even when it costs something.
• Live daily in the Spirit’s presence, asking Him to strengthen and guide you.

God’s promises never fail. When we walk closely with Him, we find stability and fruitfulness:
“(Those) who delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night, are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” (Psalm 1)

That’s the kind of life I want. How about you?

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Living the Dream?

Don’t you love those times when your heart overflows and your voice is lifted in praise; when you say something like this - "God, You have blessed me beyond measure. You’ve poured out good things in great abundance and given me a wonderful place to serve You. Thank You!"

That kind of praise is particularly sweet when there is a dream realized, a hope fulfilled.I am not talking about the escapist kind of dream that avoids life’s realities. However, when we see a God-given vision develop – joy flourishes!

Faithful Dreams and Real Opposition

There are many obstacles that rise up to crush our dreams.
We may focus too much on our perception of limited resources instead of God’s promises.

We may be weary – in body or soul, worn down by discouragement or resistance from those who “just don’t get it.”

There are nay-sayers that say "it can’t be done."

And then there is the reality of opposition from the spirit realm that seeks to block anything good and God-honoring.

Do You Dream?

Do you know that God has plans, born in His heart, that He wants to unfold in your life?In Ephesians 1, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes:

"God thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ… It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living..." (The Message)

Hebrews tells us that God’s plan, through Christ, is to “bring many sons to glory.” That includes a mature faith, deep devotion, a life shaped by spiritual gifts, and fruit that lasts. It’s a unique plan tailored to who you are—your personality, your experiences, your challenges—woven together with the power and resources of Heaven to build a life that brings honor and praise to our loving Father.

And one day, that plan will culminate in your eternal welcome into the Father’s house, where you will enjoy His presence and love forever.

Breathe In the Vision

In your times of prayer and reflection, ask God to inspire you—that word literally means to breathe into. Ask Him to plant a fresh vision in your heart.

People of the Spirit need two sets of eyes: the ones they’re born with that see the world as it is, and the eyes God gives us to see the world as He wants it to be. That is vision.

The prophet Joel captured this beautifully when he wrote:

“And afterward,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your old men will dream dreams,
    your young men will see visions.

Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days. (Joel 2:28–29)

Inspired by the Vision

Years ago, when my children were teenagers and sometimes resisted the direction I offered, I tried to instill in them a vision for the kind of people they could become. They didn’t always understand it at the time.

I believed that by helping them see past the moment, I could give them something to reach for—something that would motivate them to rise above the temptation to drift or indulge in aimlessness. That was part of my godly duty as their father: to help them see.

Our Heavenly Father calls us to lift our eyes seeing beyond the moment, past the challenges, finding purpose and meaning. Then we will more readily say, "Yes, Lord," even when the path includes hard lessons and disciplined growth.

Glory Defined

Make no mistake: living into that vision is not automatic. It’s not inevitable. You might say, “But it’s God’s plan!”—and that’s true. But He gives us the freedom to either embrace or resist it.

So today, ask God to help you understand His purposes. Let Him paint a picture of the glory He’s designed for you. It probably won’t look like the world’s version of glory—wealth, fame, or influence. It will look like Jesus: the glory of a well-formed character, the fruit of the Spirit maturing in your life, love and joy and peace in abundance.

Then—yes—God will rejoice over you.
You’ll be living the dream—His dream for you

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3)

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