"Arise and depart” (Micah 2:10)

Every person, whether they live in splendor or poverty, will one day leave Earth. They’ll leave behind every earthly thing, and if given a choice, most wouldn’t leave, but leave they will when God says, "Arise, and depart from the place you live, the city in which you do your business, from your family and friends. Arise, and take your last journey" 

 What do we know about the journey? Not much. We know there’s a black and stormy river called "Death", followed by the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11). But, if you’re a saint, you’re not afraid of death because God will be with you through it, and most importantly, you won’t be judged for sin. In fact, because you don’t fear judgment, and you’ve been released from the power of death (Hebrews 2:15), you’ll look forward to the glory of Heaven. 

 What will it be like to live in Heaven? If you trust Christ as Savior and Lord, you’ll also trust He’s made a wonderful place for you to live. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1-3).  

You’ll leave people you love on Earth, and join people you love in Heaven. How many friends welcome you into Heaven depends on you. For example, how much you pray for people, witness to people, and help people on Earth can determine how many friends you’ll have in heaven. Christ told us “Make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home” (Luke 16:9). Most importantly, Heaven is your Father's home, and the place where Jesus dwells. It’s the place every saint hopes for; “the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). “We ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope” (Romans 8:23-24). 

 "Prepare us, Lord, by grace divine, For Thy bright courts on high; Then bid our spirits rise, and join The chorus of the sky".