Here's your daily devotional!

If you wish to receive these free devotionals every weekday by E-mail, click the button below. Note: you'll have to log in or create your membership account first. Membership in the League is free. Join now!

Sign up to receive the Daily Devotional

“"Introduction to 2 Corinthians 12"”

Thoughts for Today:

I have always been captivated by man's exploration of the universe and galaxies beyond. What a great accomplishment it was when on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to land on the moon. I remember watching the event as it was broadcast live to a world-wide audience and hearing Armstrong's immortal words with his first step on the surface of the moon, "One small step for man, one giant leap for humanity." I thought, "Wow, what comes next?"

In more recent years, we have seen images from the deepest parts of space taken by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (an orbiting space telescope). I've also enjoyed seeing pictures from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity as it reached the ninth anniversary of its landing on Mars. So how does all of this fit into what God tells us about heaven?

The Bible describes three heavens. The first heaven is the atmosphere around the earth -- it's where the birds and jets fly. The second heaven is space -- where the moon, planets, sun, stars and far-flung galaxies reside. And the third heaven is the realm of God.

There are only three men who were able see to the third heaven and then report what they had experienced. One was Jesus who is God manifested in human form, and He had quite a bit to say. The second was John (Revelations 4:1-2: "After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.' At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.") And the third person was Paul, who wrote of his experience in the twelfth chapter of his letter to the Corinthians, which will be the subject of our next several devotions. I think it is interesting to note that Paul probably would never have recorded the incident had he not been forced to defend his Apostleship.

Questions to Ponder:

Do you have difficulty reconciling science with God's Word? I think many of us do. Why? Because God is bigger than the cosmos. If we are shocked and awed by the discoveries of humanity as we explore the regions beyond our planet, how much more so should we be amazed by the One who created it all? Can we even understand the smallest part of His purposes? No person will ever have the capacity. All we can do is to enjoy God's creation.

Sign up to receive the Daily Devotional

There's nothing like God's Word to create purpose in your life that lasts the entire day and beyond. We encourage you to Read, Carry and Share the Word of God. Pocket Devotions are sent by E-mail every weekday (Monday to Friday). On weekends we encourage you to be creative and study on your own in any area of Scripture where God leads you.

You can start from Day 1 at any time. Messages are sent automatically. Subscribe now! You may unsubscribe at any time.

About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.