WEBVTT

1
00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:06.160
<v Speaker 1>Hello, and welcome to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the Bible

2
00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:10.160
<v Speaker 1>teaching ministry of Rick Warren. We're pausing our current series

3
00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:13.279
<v Speaker 1>to bring you a special message from Pastor Rick, one

4
00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:16.480
<v Speaker 1>that will help you reflect on God's goodness and grow

5
00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:19.879
<v Speaker 1>a heart of gratitude. And now Rick brings you the

6
00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:23.800
<v Speaker 1>final part of a moving message called being Thankful even

7
00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:24.800
<v Speaker 1>in bad times.

8
00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:31.120
<v Speaker 2>John fourteen says this, Jesus said, I'm going there. He's

9
00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:35.359
<v Speaker 2>talking about heaven. I'm going there to prepare a place

10
00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:39.799
<v Speaker 2>for you. And if I go and prepare a place

11
00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:43.399
<v Speaker 2>for you, I will come back and take you to

12
00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:48.880
<v Speaker 2>be with me that you also may be where I am.

13
00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:52.200
<v Speaker 2>What an incredible promise. Whenever I read that very circle

14
00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:55.840
<v Speaker 2>the phrase prepare a place for you, whenever I read

15
00:00:55.880 --> 00:00:59.840
<v Speaker 2>that I'm going to prepare a place for you. The

16
00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:03.280
<v Speaker 2>Bible says God wanted a family, and the Bible calls

17
00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:05.560
<v Speaker 2>the church the bride of Christ. He's preparing a place

18
00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:09.000
<v Speaker 2>for his bride, those who put their faith in him.

19
00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:15.239
<v Speaker 2>And I always think about how nearly thirty nine years ago,

20
00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:18.959
<v Speaker 2>as a young man, and I fell madly in love

21
00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:22.400
<v Speaker 2>with a woman named Kay Lewis, and I was head

22
00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:27.040
<v Speaker 2>over heels in love with this woman, and we got engaged,

23
00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:31.239
<v Speaker 2>and I lived in La County and she lived up

24
00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:34.840
<v Speaker 2>in Fresno, and I knew I needed to prepare a

25
00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:38.920
<v Speaker 2>place for my bride where we would live together. And

26
00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:41.840
<v Speaker 2>I didn't have a whole lot of money, but I

27
00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:47.760
<v Speaker 2>found the coolest little condo I could find, and of course,

28
00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:50.280
<v Speaker 2>being in the nineteen seventies, that meant had had lime

29
00:01:50.319 --> 00:01:57.400
<v Speaker 2>green shag carpet and burnt orange fixtures. If you remember that,

30
00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:03.719
<v Speaker 2>you're really old. And I remember, over the next several

31
00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:07.120
<v Speaker 2>months of our engagements, scouring because I didn't have any money,

32
00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:12.240
<v Speaker 2>every flea market and every garage sale, trying to find

33
00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:14.560
<v Speaker 2>cool things to put up in that house because I

34
00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:19.120
<v Speaker 2>was preparing that place for my bride, and I wanted

35
00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:23.360
<v Speaker 2>it so badly to be as cool and as beautiful

36
00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:28.879
<v Speaker 2>as I could possibly afford. But it's nothing compared to

37
00:02:28.919 --> 00:02:34.400
<v Speaker 2>the place that Jesus has been preparing for his bride.

38
00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:36.719
<v Speaker 2>You want to know how long God has been preparing

39
00:02:36.759 --> 00:02:40.319
<v Speaker 2>heaven for you, You want to know how long He's

40
00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:44.919
<v Speaker 2>been redecorating Heaven for you. Look at the next verse.

41
00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:48.919
<v Speaker 2>Matthew twenty five, Verse thirty four. Jesus says, then the

42
00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:53.159
<v Speaker 2>King will say, come, you who are blessed by my Father,

43
00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:59.560
<v Speaker 2>take your inheritance. The Kingdom prepared for you. Since the

44
00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:04.479
<v Speaker 2>creation of the world, Holy guacamole, that's a long time

45
00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:10.759
<v Speaker 2>to redecorate. He's been preparing heaven since the creation of

46
00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:14.599
<v Speaker 2>the world. What is heaven going to be? Like? The

47
00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:17.800
<v Speaker 2>Bible says, I have not seen nor ear heard, neither

48
00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:19.759
<v Speaker 2>has entered into the heart of man, the wonderful things

49
00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:22.919
<v Speaker 2>that God has prepared for those who love him. You

50
00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:26.000
<v Speaker 2>can't imagine it. Most people have such a poor idea

51
00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:29.560
<v Speaker 2>of heaven. Who would want to go there? Television always

52
00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:34.599
<v Speaker 2>portrays heaven as completely colorless? Are you kidding me? Who

53
00:03:34.599 --> 00:03:38.840
<v Speaker 2>do you think created color? It's not going to be white.

54
00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:41.120
<v Speaker 2>You're not going to sit in a robe with angels

55
00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:43.840
<v Speaker 2>wings playing a harp on a cloud. That would be hell.

56
00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:48.879
<v Speaker 2>I can't think of anything if that's heaven. I don't

57
00:03:48.919 --> 00:03:53.360
<v Speaker 2>want to go there, honestly, I don't. I don't know

58
00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:56.280
<v Speaker 2>who got that idea. Satan got that idea, that's where

59
00:03:56.280 --> 00:04:00.319
<v Speaker 2>it came from. I mean, think about this. There's a

60
00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:02.680
<v Speaker 2>lot of cool and beautiful things on this planet, and

61
00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:05.680
<v Speaker 2>God created it. I mean, you think about sunrises and

62
00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:10.840
<v Speaker 2>sunsets and beautiful beach landscapes and borah and tall redwood

63
00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:13.960
<v Speaker 2>forests and all the beauty of flowers and colors and green.

64
00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:18.000
<v Speaker 2>The earth is broken and it's still a cool place.

65
00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:22.759
<v Speaker 2>This place is marred by sin. It's why nothing works,

66
00:04:22.839 --> 00:04:27.079
<v Speaker 2>including the environment, and it's still a cool place. Think

67
00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:30.519
<v Speaker 2>about what a place with no sin and no suffering

68
00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:34.240
<v Speaker 2>and no sorrow and no destruction and no global warming

69
00:04:34.279 --> 00:04:38.000
<v Speaker 2>and nothing else, And what's going to be like? We

70
00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:43.199
<v Speaker 2>can't even imagine it. God has been preparing it. In

71
00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:48.279
<v Speaker 2>the CNN interview, Peers asked Kay and I about heaven

72
00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:52.480
<v Speaker 2>and about hope after Matthew's death.

73
00:04:52.519 --> 00:04:57.240
<v Speaker 3>Here's what we said, Is there any sin trick despite

74
00:04:57.319 --> 00:04:59.839
<v Speaker 3>the appolling dispair that you've gone through, isn't any s

75
00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:04.600
<v Speaker 3>of relief as a family that Matthew is now with

76
00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:06.959
<v Speaker 3>God in heaven out of pain.

77
00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:09.720
<v Speaker 2>Yeah. If I didn't have that hope, I would be

78
00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:13.920
<v Speaker 2>in ultimate despair. But we have built our lives, our faith,

79
00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:18.319
<v Speaker 2>our family, our ministry on the belief that because of

80
00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:20.480
<v Speaker 2>Jesus Christ, and because of what He did on the

81
00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:24.079
<v Speaker 2>cross for us, we can have our past forgiven. We

82
00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.240
<v Speaker 2>have a purpose for living, and we have a home

83
00:05:26.279 --> 00:05:28.759
<v Speaker 2>in heaven that takes care of my past, my present,

84
00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:29.680
<v Speaker 2>and my future.

85
00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:31.480
<v Speaker 3>How would you like him to be?

86
00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:31.879
<v Speaker 2>Remember?

87
00:05:34.279 --> 00:05:40.000
<v Speaker 4>Oh, my funny, quirky, ridiculously silly, deeply compassioned, had such

88
00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:44.560
<v Speaker 4>a sense of justice. We put on his marker Compassionate Warrior,

89
00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:47.439
<v Speaker 4>and that pretty much sums him up in deep compassion.

90
00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:53.399
<v Speaker 2>You know, we probably received over thirty thousand letters of condolences.

91
00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:56.199
<v Speaker 2>The letters that meant the most to me were the

92
00:05:56.240 --> 00:06:00.519
<v Speaker 2>people that Matthew had led to faith in Christ that

93
00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:05.079
<v Speaker 2>they're gonna be in heaven because of him, And that said,

94
00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:08.120
<v Speaker 2>I know the Lord, I have a relationship with Jesus

95
00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:11.839
<v Speaker 2>because of your son over the years. And I remember

96
00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:15.519
<v Speaker 2>writing in my journal that in God's garden of Grace,

97
00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:25.519
<v Speaker 2>even a broken tree bears fruit. And that was true

98
00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:30.759
<v Speaker 2>in his life. And you know, i'd like you say,

99
00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:32.879
<v Speaker 2>are you happy that it's making a difference? Of course,

100
00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:36.079
<v Speaker 2>to him? I still want my son back. I still

101
00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:39.519
<v Speaker 2>want my son to Dad. But as David said in

102
00:06:40.519 --> 00:06:44.360
<v Speaker 2>Second Samuel, who David lost a son, he said, he

103
00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:46.199
<v Speaker 2>will not come back to me, but I will go

104
00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:48.680
<v Speaker 2>to him. And that is the hope of heaven. That

105
00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:51.600
<v Speaker 2>we have and that has strengthen us even through the

106
00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:54.160
<v Speaker 2>darkest day. You know, David says, when I go through

107
00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:58.720
<v Speaker 2>the valley of the shadow of death, wherever there's a shadow,

108
00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:02.879
<v Speaker 2>there's a light. And so the key to walking through

109
00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:05.839
<v Speaker 2>the valued shadow of death is to turn your back

110
00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:08.160
<v Speaker 2>on the shadow, which is scary, and look at the light.

111
00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:09.959
<v Speaker 2>And that's how you get through it.

112
00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:11.879
<v Speaker 3>Do you feel he's he's here now?

113
00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:15.519
<v Speaker 2>Well, I know that he's in heaven looking down on us.

114
00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:18.160
<v Speaker 2>And we have many loved ones there, my parents, Kay's

115
00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:23.639
<v Speaker 2>mom and dad. And that presence of God is more

116
00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:26.079
<v Speaker 2>important than the presence of Matthew in my life. Is

117
00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:28.319
<v Speaker 2>that I've since the presence of God in my life

118
00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:31.800
<v Speaker 2>very close. That I'm not going through this alone. That's

119
00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:32.319
<v Speaker 2>a comfort.

120
00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:35.240
<v Speaker 3>Ricking Caseby is such an honor and a privilege to

121
00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:37.279
<v Speaker 3>do this interview. Thank you, thanks letting me do it.

122
00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:40.199
<v Speaker 3>And my heart goes out to you. It's a heartbreaking story.

123
00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:41.480
<v Speaker 3>There's hope, but.

124
00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:44.040
<v Speaker 4>There is so important that people know no matter how

125
00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:46.839
<v Speaker 4>desperate they're despair, there is hope. There's and not to

126
00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:48.279
<v Speaker 4>give up.

127
00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:51.240
<v Speaker 3>Thank you both very much. Indeed, thank you, thank you.

128
00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:57.959
<v Speaker 2>No matter what I go through, I know it's not

129
00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:01.600
<v Speaker 2>going to last. And I know that this is not

130
00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:05.360
<v Speaker 2>the end of the story. And I know that God

131
00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:11.319
<v Speaker 2>has prepared a home for me in heaven forever. What

132
00:08:11.399 --> 00:08:13.439
<v Speaker 2>is heaven going to be like? I'll say it again.

133
00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:19.720
<v Speaker 2>The Bible says, I has not seen nor ear heard,

134
00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:24.279
<v Speaker 2>neither hath entered into the heart of man, the wonderful

135
00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:27.720
<v Speaker 2>things that God has prepared for those who love him.

136
00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:32.679
<v Speaker 2>We know that in heaven we will be reunited with

137
00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:35.840
<v Speaker 2>loved once. I have a father in heaven, I have

138
00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:38.600
<v Speaker 2>a mother in heaven, I have a brother in heaven,

139
00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:43.399
<v Speaker 2>I have a son in heaven. I will be reunited

140
00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:45.279
<v Speaker 2>with those who love the Lord and who are there.

141
00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:49.480
<v Speaker 2>I know that we will be released from all pain,

142
00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:53.759
<v Speaker 2>that in heaven there will be no more broken minds

143
00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:58.080
<v Speaker 2>from mental illness. There will be no more broken bodies

144
00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:02.320
<v Speaker 2>that don't work right. There will be no more broken dreams.

145
00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:07.120
<v Speaker 2>There will be no more broken relationships, no more broken communication,

146
00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:11.279
<v Speaker 2>no more broken hearts, no more broken promises.

147
00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:14.720
<v Speaker 3>Who will be released?

148
00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:18.519
<v Speaker 2>The Bible says there will be no more death. There

149
00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:20.639
<v Speaker 2>will be no more pain, no more tears, no sorrow,

150
00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:24.559
<v Speaker 2>no more suffering. We know that we will be rewarded.

151
00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:28.360
<v Speaker 2>The Bible says, according to what you did with what

152
00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:30.440
<v Speaker 2>you were giving. We talked about this last week. Are

153
00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:32.919
<v Speaker 2>you storing up treasure in heaven? Are you spending it

154
00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:37.919
<v Speaker 2>all on yourself? Now? The Bible says, we will be

155
00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:41.279
<v Speaker 2>reassigned that in heaven you're not gonna sit around and

156
00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:45.279
<v Speaker 2>do nothing. There's gonna be things to do. There's gonna

157
00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:48.519
<v Speaker 2>be work projects. Only there's no weeds and no problems

158
00:09:48.519 --> 00:09:52.159
<v Speaker 2>that don't work, and no committees to deal with, no

159
00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:55.000
<v Speaker 2>office politics. That you're gonna enjoy what you do. You're

160
00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:59.639
<v Speaker 2>not gonna sit around just do nothing. The Bible says,

161
00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:06.480
<v Speaker 2>this first Peter, Chapter one, God has reserved for his children. Now,

162
00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:08.919
<v Speaker 2>by the way, let me stop right there. God put

163
00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:12.879
<v Speaker 2>that reservation in a long time ago for you. God

164
00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:15.799
<v Speaker 2>has reserved your place in heaven. God is reserved for

165
00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:20.919
<v Speaker 2>his children, the priceless gift of eternal life. Is everybody

166
00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:25.480
<v Speaker 2>going to be in heaven? Absolutely not. If God let

167
00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:31.159
<v Speaker 2>hitler and axe murders and child molesters and rapists and

168
00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:35.039
<v Speaker 2>genocidal dictators into heaven, it'd be no better than this.

169
00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:40.039
<v Speaker 2>The Bible says, Only his children are going to be

170
00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:45.759
<v Speaker 2>in heaven. Is everybody child of God. No, everybody is

171
00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:50.240
<v Speaker 2>created by God. Everybody is loved by God. God has

172
00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:53.159
<v Speaker 2>never made a person he doesn't want in heaven. God

173
00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:55.399
<v Speaker 2>has never made a person he doesn't have a plan

174
00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:57.480
<v Speaker 2>for their life. But you don't become a child of

175
00:10:57.480 --> 00:11:00.799
<v Speaker 2>God till you choose to join his family. God's not

176
00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:05.480
<v Speaker 2>going to force you to love him. Love only is love.

177
00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:07.240
<v Speaker 2>If I have the choice, then a lot of people

178
00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:09.799
<v Speaker 2>today say, forget you, God, I don't need a savior.

179
00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:12.600
<v Speaker 2>I don't need God. I'm God. I'm gonna be my

180
00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:14.720
<v Speaker 2>own God. I could get to Heaven on my own.

181
00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:17.279
<v Speaker 2>You don't stand a snowball's chance of hell of getting

182
00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:20.720
<v Speaker 2>into Heaven on your own, because it's perfect and you're not,

183
00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:25.399
<v Speaker 2>and neither am I. And the height of ultimate arrogance

184
00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:28.120
<v Speaker 2>is to say that I get to decide how I

185
00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:32.639
<v Speaker 2>go to God's house. Really, you can't earn it, you

186
00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:34.720
<v Speaker 2>can't deserve it, you can't work for it, you can't

187
00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:37.039
<v Speaker 2>be good enough, you can't be religious enough. The only

188
00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:41.960
<v Speaker 2>way you're getting into heaven, friend, is by grace, by

189
00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:44.679
<v Speaker 2>God forgiving you. And you would you saying God, I

190
00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:48.039
<v Speaker 2>need your forgiveness, I need your grace I need you

191
00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:51.360
<v Speaker 2>to save me. That's what Jesus came at Christmas to

192
00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:53.879
<v Speaker 2>do for unto you is born as savior. If you

193
00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:57.799
<v Speaker 2>didn't need a savior, God wouldn't have sent one. There's

194
00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:01.000
<v Speaker 2>no way you're getting into Heaven on your own. You

195
00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:03.200
<v Speaker 2>have to go the way you only get in, and

196
00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:07.360
<v Speaker 2>that is through the grace of God and the Mishaven.

197
00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:09.279
<v Speaker 2>You have to do the almost impossible. You have to

198
00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:12.279
<v Speaker 2>reject the love of God out of pride. I don't

199
00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:20.000
<v Speaker 2>need forgiveness. I don't need a savior. God is reserved

200
00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:22.960
<v Speaker 2>for his children, the priceless gift of eternal life. Now

201
00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:27.039
<v Speaker 2>look at this. It's kept in Heaven for you, pure

202
00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:32.440
<v Speaker 2>and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And

203
00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:36.559
<v Speaker 2>God in his mighty power, will make sure circle that,

204
00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:40.720
<v Speaker 2>make sure that you get there safely. It is the

205
00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:43.600
<v Speaker 2>job of the captain of the cruise line to make

206
00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:47.080
<v Speaker 2>sure you get there safely. It's not your job. It's

207
00:12:47.080 --> 00:12:49.200
<v Speaker 2>not my job to make sure I get to Heaven.

208
00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:52.759
<v Speaker 2>It's God's job. Once I've put my hand in his,

209
00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:58.639
<v Speaker 2>He's not letting go. He will make sure you get

210
00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:01.320
<v Speaker 2>there safely. You see, if I could work my way

211
00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:03.879
<v Speaker 2>to heaven. Then the moment I stopped working, it would

212
00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:07.000
<v Speaker 2>stop working. My salvation would stop working. But since I

213
00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:09.919
<v Speaker 2>don't earn or work for my salvation, since it's simply

214
00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:15.639
<v Speaker 2>a gift, God's not going to take it back. That

215
00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:19.120
<v Speaker 2>is called eternal security. He will make sure that you

216
00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:21.919
<v Speaker 2>get there safely to receive it. It's not based on

217
00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:28.399
<v Speaker 2>my ability, because you are trusting Him. So be truly glad.

218
00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:32.080
<v Speaker 2>I can be grateful even in pain, because I know

219
00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:34.120
<v Speaker 2>I'm going to heaven no matter what happens, and no

220
00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:36.600
<v Speaker 2>matter what I do or what happens. Ever since I

221
00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:39.159
<v Speaker 2>am getting there by God's grace, because I put my

222
00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:46.480
<v Speaker 2>trust in what Jesus did for me. You know, my

223
00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:52.200
<v Speaker 2>greatest comfort has been this fact right here, because I

224
00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:55.919
<v Speaker 2>know that Matthew was not in heaven one second when

225
00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:58.919
<v Speaker 2>all of his questions were answered, and all of his

226
00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:01.759
<v Speaker 2>mental illness and all the struggle and all the stigma,

227
00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:04.200
<v Speaker 2>and all of the pain and all the rejection that

228
00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:09.080
<v Speaker 2>he faced in school was all wiped out, and it

229
00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:14.519
<v Speaker 2>all made sense. And I know that if my son

230
00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:18.000
<v Speaker 2>could talk to me right now from heaven, he would

231
00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:25.639
<v Speaker 2>say this, Dad, you were so wrong. You tried to

232
00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:31.279
<v Speaker 2>explain heaven to me, but it is so much better

233
00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:37.440
<v Speaker 2>than we ever imagined. Dad, you can't believe it. You

234
00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:40.639
<v Speaker 2>have no idea how cool it is here. And I

235
00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:44.519
<v Speaker 2>can't wait for you to get here too and spend

236
00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:53.600
<v Speaker 2>eternity in the loving presence of God. That's why I

237
00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:58.159
<v Speaker 2>can be thankful this Thanksgiving. Two Corinthians for says this.

238
00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:07.360
<v Speaker 2>We often suffer, but we're never crushed. Even when we

239
00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:12.200
<v Speaker 2>don't know what to do. We never give up in

240
00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:16.440
<v Speaker 2>times of trouble. God is with us, and when we're

241
00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:20.759
<v Speaker 2>knocked down, we get up again. We know that God

242
00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:25.720
<v Speaker 2>raised the Lord Jesus back to life, and just as

243
00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:29.559
<v Speaker 2>he raised Jesus, he will also raise us back to

244
00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:34.799
<v Speaker 2>life and will bring us into His presence together. So

245
00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:40.440
<v Speaker 2>we don't focus on the troubles we see right now. Instead,

246
00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:45.679
<v Speaker 2>we look forward to what we don't see yet. For

247
00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:50.600
<v Speaker 2>the troubles we see now are temporary, but the joys

248
00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:58.919
<v Speaker 2>to come will last forever. If you have not settled

249
00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:03.039
<v Speaker 2>this issue, need to do so right now, because you're

250
00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:06.360
<v Speaker 2>not guaranteed tomorrow, much less next week or next year.

251
00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:12.279
<v Speaker 2>If you were to die tonight and Jesus were to

252
00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:14.480
<v Speaker 2>say to you, why should I let you into my heaven.

253
00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:18.600
<v Speaker 2>What would you say? Do you know the right answer?

254
00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:21.799
<v Speaker 2>It's not Oh, I was trying to be a good person.

255
00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:26.879
<v Speaker 2>I had more good than bad. Sorry, wrong answer. You

256
00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:30.399
<v Speaker 2>need to accept the grace and forgiveness of God in

257
00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:32.919
<v Speaker 2>your life, and you need to turn your life over

258
00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:37.240
<v Speaker 2>to the God who made you. Let's bow our heads.

259
00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:42.080
<v Speaker 2>If you haven't settled that issue. I'm going to lead

260
00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:44.360
<v Speaker 2>a prayer right now and I want you to pray it.

261
00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:48.279
<v Speaker 2>It's the most important words you'll ever say in your life.

262
00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:52.240
<v Speaker 2>It determines eternal destiny. It is the height of arrogance

263
00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:54.960
<v Speaker 2>to think that you can come to God on your

264
00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:58.879
<v Speaker 2>own terms. God has done everything for you. You don't

265
00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:02.360
<v Speaker 2>have to do anything, You just receive it by faith.

266
00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:08.279
<v Speaker 2>So would you pray this prayer? Dear God, First, I

267
00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:13.720
<v Speaker 2>want to thank you for my ungratefulness. Everything I have

268
00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:16.240
<v Speaker 2>is a gift from you, and I don't express that

269
00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:21.000
<v Speaker 2>gratitude very often. I thank you that you have a

270
00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:25.960
<v Speaker 2>good plan for my life. I thank you that you've

271
00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:30.680
<v Speaker 2>promised to never leave me. I thank you that when

272
00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:34.480
<v Speaker 2>people are working against me, you want to work in me.

273
00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:39.799
<v Speaker 2>I thank you that there is a hope of heaven

274
00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:44.039
<v Speaker 2>in eternity and you preparing a home that you want

275
00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:48.359
<v Speaker 2>me to be a part of. Dear God, there's no

276
00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:50.720
<v Speaker 2>way I can get into heaven on my own effort.

277
00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:55.519
<v Speaker 2>I need a savior, and so I humbly ask you, Jesus,

278
00:17:56.200 --> 00:18:00.559
<v Speaker 2>to forgive all my sins, to show me your grace

279
00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:05.839
<v Speaker 2>and to accept me into your family. I want to

280
00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:10.640
<v Speaker 2>be your child, and as best I know how, I

281
00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:13.119
<v Speaker 2>want to learn to love you and trust you the

282
00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:17.200
<v Speaker 2>rest of my life. And I want you to take

283
00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:23.119
<v Speaker 2>me safely to heaven. And I pray this in your name. Amen.

284
00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:30.920
<v Speaker 2>You know if you just prayed that prayer for the

285
00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:35.160
<v Speaker 2>very first time, or you just recommitted your life to

286
00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:37.799
<v Speaker 2>Jesus again today, would you let me know about it.

287
00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:41.519
<v Speaker 2>There's something real about sharing your commitment. So write me

288
00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:44.599
<v Speaker 2>Rick at pastor Rick dot com and say, Rick, I

289
00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:48.000
<v Speaker 2>prayed that prayer of commitment. I gave my life to Christ.

290
00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:50.759
<v Speaker 2>And I'll send you some material that will help you

291
00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:54.000
<v Speaker 2>on your journey with Jesus. And I'll also pray for you.

292
00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:55.039
<v Speaker 2>God bless you.

293
00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:03.119
<v Speaker 1>What life giving message from Pastor Reg. Now let's join

294
00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:05.359
<v Speaker 1>Reg with one last closing thought.

295
00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:08.519
<v Speaker 2>Hi, this is Pastor Rick. You know there's so much

296
00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:11.880
<v Speaker 2>we can be grateful for during Thanksgiving. No matter how

297
00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:15.279
<v Speaker 2>things go wrong in your life, there's still something you

298
00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:18.319
<v Speaker 2>can thank God for. But let's remember those who are

299
00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:21.559
<v Speaker 2>less fortunate. Reach out to somebody with the love of

300
00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:24.960
<v Speaker 2>God this Thanksgiving, maybe with a meal or a blanket,

301
00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:27.640
<v Speaker 2>or invite them to church. Think about what you can

302
00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:31.799
<v Speaker 2>do to let them know they're not forgotten during this

303
00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:34.880
<v Speaker 2>season of giving. Thanks God bless you all and have

304
00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:35.880
<v Speaker 2>a great Thanksgiving.

305
00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:38.559
<v Speaker 1>Be sure to join us next time as we look

306
00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:42.000
<v Speaker 1>into God's word for our daily hope. This program is

307
00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:46.480
<v Speaker 1>sponsored by Pastor Rick's Daily Hope and your generous financial support.