As we consider the demographics of heaven this week, let's look at the key figure in the whole picture:  Jesus!  Here's how John recorded what He saw in heaven, when it comes to Jesus:  ⁶Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders.  Revelation 5:6 NLT

Note that even in heaven Jesus still bears the scars of His crucifixion--the Lamb "looked as if it had been slaughtered."  Jesus was first called the Lamb of God by John the Baptizer, but the idea of a sacrificial lamb being offered for the people of God is as old as the people of God.  The "location" of Jesus in heaven is informative--he stood BETWEEN the throne (of God) and the four living creatures and among the twenty-four elders.  Jesus is central in heaven.  As we'll see as the week progresses, only Jesus, the Lamb, has the authority to go to the throne and take the scroll on which is written much about the future of humanity.  But for today let's focus on this: when we get to heaven, the central figure is Jesus.

That makes sense since it is only because of Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross that any of us will get to enjoy heaven.  The key doctrine that separates followers of Jesus from the adherents of every, other religion is the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith.  Every world religion is the human effort to seek the divine, or earn the favor of the divine.  Only Jesus--who is divine--sought us!  He not only sought us, He DID everything necessary for us to enter heaven.  The good works we live out in our lives are simply our show of gratitude for what Jesus has done.  It's never what we do that matters when it comes to being restored in our relationship with God.  It's always about what Jesus has already done!

Let's take a moment to thank Jesus for the great sacrifice He made to restore us to relationship with God, and to make us worthy of entering heaven one day.

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for sending Jesus, the Lamb, to die in our place, so we may live in You now and with You forever!  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that our lives may glorify You always.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.