But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9
As a husband and father, Arthur had mistreated his family with physical and emotional abuse. His son Bart remembers being on the harsh end of his father’s wrath. Adele, Bart’s mother, eventually divorced Arthur and Bart went to live with her after being severely beaten by his father. Still, Bart kept in contact with him. When Bart was 15, Arthur was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Watching as his life ebbed from him, Arthur sought to make amends with the family and worked to turn his life around, going to church and reading his Bible. When Bart was 18, Arthur died. By that time, the two had cultivated a close relationship. Bart says his father had become his best friend and “the Godliest man I’d ever known.”
Losing his father, Bart often wondered about seeing his father again in Heaven. “I can only imagine” ran through his thoughts day and night until one day, in about a ten-minute span, he sat down and wrote the lyrics to a worship song. “I Can Only Imagine” was recorded and released in 1999, quickly receiving wide acceptance and becoming a best seller for Bart Millard and his group, MercyMe. “Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you, Jesus, or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine. I can only imagine.”
There is a future in store for everyone, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Pastor and author Vance Havner said, “The promises of God are not mere mottoes to hang on the wall, but checks to be cashed.” Note that the promises referenced in today’s verse are reserved “for those who love Him.” Havner also said, “These things God has prepared refer not only to the joys awaiting us in heaven but blessings available now.” Do you love the Lord? Are you keeping His commandments to love Him and your fellow man? Let God’s promises for both today and tomorrow wash over you so that others will be drawn to Christ by your life. Pray that believers who are candidates for public office in this year’s elections will let their lights shine.
Today’s Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:9
But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 2 Timothy 3:1-9, 14-19
3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
4 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
