Q. What will heaven be like?
A. We must say that heaven will be a thousand times more wonderful than any joys that we know in this world. And so it is that Scripture says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him” (I Cor. 2:9). One of the touching descriptions of heaven is, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev. 21:4). The last few chapters of the Book of The Revelation gives a description of heaven which cannot be surpassed by any human commentary.

Q. Can we Christians really change the world?
A. The answer is yes and no. Christ did pronounce believers to be very special people when He said, “Ye are the salt of the earth . . . Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Matt. 5:13,14). The Bible teaches and history confirms that Christians have definitely changed the probable course of history, at given times and in given places. Our human activity should, therefore, be invested for the basic purpose of preserving our spiritual opportunity. Ultimately, however, “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (II Timothy 3:13). The final state of society will not be a utopia, but rather the Great Tribulation. So, we will not finally change the prophesied end of history, but both the great local and global changes have already been produced by consecrated Christian activity.

Q. What can I do to have God work through me?
A. It is not, strictly speaking, true that God works “through” us. That would make us simple conduits or even automatons. Rather, the Scripture says, “For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). The results externally come then as a result of cooperation between the will of man and the will of God. God works in us and it’s our responsibility to pursue that inward leading and strengthening so as to accomplish a result “on the outside” to the glory of God. By the same token, it is not correct to say that God “controls” us, but rather He “leads” us by His Spirit (Rom. 8:14).

Q. Many people are talking about success in life. What is the key to success?
A. We must first of all properly define the word “success.” If this means fame, fortune, popularity, possessions—then the question is irrelevant; for these things are not success. All efforts intended to produce these things are vain. (Don’t buy the touted cassettes, books and programs that offer us success.) But, if success is defined as properly doing the will of God, then there is a great key. Christians must consecrate their lives to Christ and then success can be theirs. What is success? It is to be enabled of God to so live so that one day I can stand before Christ and hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21).

Q. I have been the object of child abuse and I hate my parents. What shall I do?
A. Concerning every problem or resentment of the past, the Bible tells us to forget “those things which are behind,” and to reach “forth unto those things which are before.” Whatever may be the burdens we carry, we are to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13,14). The past cannot be changed, but the future can still be marvelous for the Lord. So don’t hate your parents, yourself or anybody else. Rather, commit yourself to be constrained by the love of Christ to be a good witness for Him.

Q. I have committed many bad sins in my lifetime; what must I do to be saved?
A. We can be very happy that the Bible says, “But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Every person is a sinner—“all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” But eternal life is available to anyone who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God that salvation is by grace and no matter how terrible a sinner anyone may be, he is cleansed whiter than the snow when he believes that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for our sins on the Cross of Calvary. Almost all religions believe in salvation by some kind of works. Do not believe this—but remember, the salvation that Jesus gives comes to us by grace alone.