From the Editor Nov/Dec 2019
Those of you who’ve read my book, The Search, know how much I loved and respected my late mother-in-law. Miss Thelma, as we called her, went home to be with the Lord in 1992, just days before her 90th birthday.
By then, she had outlived so many of the people dear to her, including her husband, most of her friends, and her two sons—one of whom was my first husband, whose death left me a young widow with a 3-year-old daughter.
I suspect Miss Thelma spent a great deal of time toward the end of her life thinking about heaven because one day, out of the clear blue, she asked me, “Do you think we’ll know each other in heaven?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I believe we will.” I reminded her about Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses and Elijah in Matthew 17. Moses and Elijah had been dead for centuries, yet the apostle Peter knew who they were: “Let us make here three tabernacles,” Peter told the Lord. “One for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (v. 4).
Elsewhere in Scripture, the apostle Paul said, “Then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Cor. 13:12).
A look of deep contentment crossed Miss Thelma’s face, and I knew the Lord had satisfied her soul with His Holy Word. She would recognize everyone, and everyone would recognize her.
The older I get, the more I think about heaven too. How precious is God’s promise of eternal life in His presence, with all my friends and family who have placed their faith in Jesus. What better time to write about heaven than at Christmas, when believers should be overflowing with gratitude to the Lord Jesus for coming as a baby to this wretched planet to become the final sacrifice for sin—the ultimate offering that satisfied a just and holy God.
This issue of Israel My Glory is devoted to heaven. The Bible doesn’t tell us everything about life in eternity, but it tells us enough. We hope these articles encourage you about the wonderful future God has planned for those who love Him and that they’ll motivate you to tell others about Jesus.
And what good would an issue about heaven be without explaining how to get there? We’ve included that article on page 32.
So be encouraged! “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15). We wish you all a very blessed and happy Christmas.
Waiting for His Appearing,
Lorna Simcox
Editor-in-Chief
