II Corinthians 12:2,3

II Corinthians 12:2,3 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) God used the apostles to begin the new church. Peter went to the Jews and Paul went to the gentiles – that’s us. But in the beginning of the New Testament church age, God used the gift of tongues to prove that someone was saved and had been given the Holy Spirit. But once the books of the New Testament were completed, God used His written Word to prove that someone was saved. And then, when someone was born again, they received the Holy Spirit immediately without tongues. When God selected Paul to be an apostle, God taught Paul directly. But now we have the completed New Testament to teach us. So God taught Paul in an unusual way. Paul didn’t know if he was actually taken up to heaven or if he was having a dream about being taken up to heaven. But in either case, God instructed Paul Himself. And Paul was so excited that God had to bring him back to reality with a physical ailment. It might have been some eye-sight problem, we just aren’t sure. But we are sure that God showed Paul things that were amazing. God showed Paul heaven itself before he died and went there! Wouldn’t it be great to heaven?! But wouldn’t it be a bummer to have to come back here to earth? That was Paul’s problem. God showed Paul a glimpse of heaven to motivate him to press on in his mission work. And God has given us His wonderful written Word so that we might press on. God wants us to never give up and be our best for Him and for His kingdom. Heaven is wonderful, but we have work to do now. Just like Paul, let’s get busy and serve God with all that we have!