Safely into His heavenly kingdom

“The Lord will . . . bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.” 2 Timothy 4:18 ESV

            What a glorious promise to sustain us even in the darkest night! Sometimes we can't see where we're going or what God is doing to get us through the next predicament, but we have the assurance that all is well and God is at work and will accomplish what He set out to do in our lives and will use us for His glory and our good.

          The time of Paul's “departure” has almost arrived and surely he must be getting tired! What a life God led Him through—all the way! Shortly after Jesus Himself confronted him on the Damascus Road and brought him to Himself, Jesus said, “I will show him what great things he must suffer for my sake.” And suffer he did and in the end, Paul wrote, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18 ESV

            Paul was alone, but he was never alone because “the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

           Many times God had rescued Paul from death until He was ready to bring Him safely into His heavenly kingdom. Then God brought him safely through death into life everlasting and the glory of heaven. So shall it be with us.