As chapter eleven opens we have a description of the ongoing vision, which John is seeing. There appear before him the temple, altar, and worshippers with instruction to measure the three. The purpose of measuring was to determine what was approved or acceptable to God. That makes the measuring instrument important. During Bible times weighing (pounds) and measuring (volume, length, and area) was a vital part of everyday living. The balance was an early method of determining weight. The balance consisted of a beam of wood supported in the middle with a pan suspended by cords on each end. A known quantity of weight would be placed in the pan on one side of the balance and the object to be weighed on the other side. By adding or removing known weights until each side was equal, the weight of the object could be determined.

Measurements recorded in the Bible are of three types: (1) measures of volume, which told the amount of dry commodity (for example, flour) or liquid (for example, oil) that could be contained in a vessel; (2) measures of length, for height, width, and depth of an object or person; and (3) measures of total area, which described the size of a building, field, or city.

Lengths were measured by various devices such as, a measuring line (Zech. 2:1) a cubit, the distance from the elbow to the finger tip-- about 45 centimeters (18 inches). The cubit was the rod reed. The span was the distance between the extended thumb and the little finger (1 Sam. 17:4). The span was equivalent to one-half cubit. There was also the handbreadth, the width of the hand at the base of the four fingers (1 Kin. 7:26; 2 Chr. 4:5). The handbreadth was considered to be one-sixth of a cubit. The finger was the smallest subdivision of the cubit, equal to one-fourth of a handbreadth and finally a fathom, which was a Greek unit, equal to the length of the outstretched arms, about 1.8 meters (six feet), or four cubits (Acts 27:28).

So we are to use God's measuring reed, His Word, to see if we measure up; to see if we meet the standard (John 12:48).

In Acts 5, we learn that two Christians, Ananias and his wife Sapphira, were intending to copy the example of Barnabas and other saints by selling a plot of land and bringing the proceeds to benefit the needy of the Jerusalem church. However, unlike Barnabas, this couple covets the notoriety of such a gift but does not want the pain of charity to afflict them so severely. Ananias and Sapphira conspire to pretend they are giving all when they are really only giving part of the proceeds. Truly, it was their option to give as they chose, but they endeavored to deceive their brethren into thinking they had done more. The apostle Peter accuses the husband of his sin, claiming he had "not lied to men but to God (verse 4).” Maybe that was news to Ananias. Maybe he thought he could gild the lily and look like a big man and no one would ever know. Had Peter not possessed a prescient gift from the Holy Spirit, he might have gotten away with it. But honestly, God would have always known the truth anyway.

Ananias was struck dead and his unwitting wife soon joined him in eternity. They perished simply because they pretended to have piety when in fact, they were just going through the motions.

Our offering to God must be more than financial, of course. Money is only a part of the Lord's work and what he demands and deserves from his children. The Hebrew writer tells us that he also should receive from us "the sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of our lips (13:15).”

As surely as he beheld the sacrifice of bulls and goats in Moses's day, he is beholding the notes and words of our songs today. Paul describes our song service as "singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Col. 3:16)." Our songs are directed toward heaven and they are received there.

For our songs to be a pleasing aroma to God, they must be sincere. The most avowed atheist could sing Amazing Grace on stage for money, but God would not be worshiped because the grace was not in his heart. We must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24); that is, our songs must be authorized by God and sincere from the heart. If you don't mean it, don't sing it. If you don't mean it, God won't accept it.

What if God calls our songs as evidence in the great day of reckoning? Will they have reflected the thoughts and purpose of the heart and body? Or will they be evidence of hypocrisy and vain worship?

We have promised God over and over that we will “Take Time To Be Holy” by speaking oft with him and feeding on his word. We must ask how regular our prayer and study habit is. Or will the Judge convict us of singing insincerely?

When we sing “This World Is Not My Home”, do the words emit from a heart secretly bowing at the altar of covetousness and the evil things of this world? Should God believe we are just a-passing through when we are busy heaping up treasure on earth and accruing nothing where we are supposedly headed for eternity (Matt. 6:19-21)?

We love to sing “Blest Be the Tie that binds” our hearts in Christian love. Do we mean it? Do we live it? Or do we not even consider one another and forsake the encouragement of the assembling together (Heb. 10:24-25)? Do we live to gossip and backbite? Do we count the tie that binds a noose around our libertine necks?

Into Our Hands the gospel is given, we sing. "Haste, let us carry God's precious message, Guiding the erring back to the right." But how can we say we mean it if we never utter the name of Jesus outside the security of the meeting house? Why should God accept that song from us if we horde the gospel like it might somehow be used up?

"Every time I sin on earth, I feel that I'm the one," we pronounce in I'm the One. How can we even utter the words if we sin like we are sure of tomorrow? Unless we truly hate sin and intend to rid it from our lives, we had better not sing this song--we don't mean it yet!

"Would you be free from your burden of sin? There's Power in The Blood." Why then do we lust after the premiums offered by denominations like amusements, banquet halls and dramatic sketches? If we truly believe there is power in the blood, why flirt with anything less?

“Tell Me The Story of Jesus.” How dare we attempt to sing that in God's presence when we never pick up a Bible to find the story in the first place? How dare we sing such words when we neglect Bible class?

We pledge allegiance to God beneath The Banner of the Cross: "Marching on and on! Marching on and on!" Where are we going? Are we marching into our communities, families and workplaces like Christian soldiers or have we declared neutrality in the world war with the devil? If your faith never leaves the pew--you leave it there on Sunday afternoon and pick it up next Sunday morning--don't sing like you plan to march under the Christian standard all week.

"Make me as Clay in the Potter's Hand." Singing this means you intend to truly be a disciple of Jesus, a person who is sincerely like Christ. That requires that your life be molded and shaped by the word and will of God. Will you read it? Will you apply what you read to your own life?

Then there's the best one of all: "Are you Sowing the Seed of the Kingdom brother?". You had better be broadcasting the seed of faith yourself before you start asking about your brother's habits (Matt. 7:1-5).

Christians must start listening to their songs and learning from them. God is listening. And if we are giving him a blemished sacrifice or keeping back part in pretense, we will be held accountable for it. What part of that offering might we be withholding? Is it the spirit or the truth? Could it be both? 

We can learn much from The Bible. In the vast pages of Scripture is a description of Heaven. We can read and learn three things about heaven.

First, Heaven is a Promise. This promise is for a prepared people who make their plans Now. "ln My Father's house are many dwelling places...for I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).

Second, Heaven is Peaceful. There will be rest for the weary and heavy-laden. Think about it, my friend. This world as we know it will someday end. All the trials and heartaches that this life may bring you, will also end. However, the Soul that endures with Christ will one day enjoy that peaceful shore. "In Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33).

Third, Heaven is Permanent. Where we spend eternity is determined by how we live today. Time as we know it will end. Eternity will exist forever and ever! Peter said of heaven: "an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (I Peter 1:4). 