Above is Where He is

The View From Above: Thoughts to Help With Everyday Life

September 2, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

Above Is Where He Is

More of my thoughts on Israel Sarabia for today’s View From Above.

Above is where he is.

What is it like for him right now!?

We have an idea because of what the Bible teaches about heaven, about being with Jesus face to face and with all those who have gone before us.

How can we not be rejoicing for him and thanking God for the place we are all headed?

Our brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather has gone before us, and you know he waits with great anticipation for all of us to join him.

If he could speak to us now, what would he say?

He would say what we already know. Love Jesus, serve Him and others, live a life of obedience…treat each other with love, kindness, forgiveness, and grace.

Maybe he would say:

“This is beyond belief…this place, heaven! I wish you could be with me now…but all of you have much work to do before your arrival. I did my part, and now you must continue to do yours.

“I heard those words that we all talked about when I was with you…‘WELL DONE, WELL DONE, WELL DONE…GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!’

“Can you believe it? Me, Israel Sarabia…Jesus said those words to me! In spite of all my sin, the hurt that I caused…He said those words.

“Thank you, Jesus, that you gave me the opportunity to serve You…Thank you, Jesus, for my salvation…Thank you for the years I had to glorify You in my life!

“I’ve never wept so hard and I couldn’t get off my knees. There He was in all of His glory and majesty talking to me!”

Israel Sarabia is already beginning to receive his eternal assignments.

How do I know that?

1 Corinthians 2:9

“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’”

The plan of God for our lives doesn’t end when we get to heaven…it begins!

Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.

Jesus has prepared for him and all of us a mansion where we will dwell with Jesus for all eternity.

John 14:1–3

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

All of us will be grieving at the departure of Israel Sarabia…we are sad but let us also rejoice and celebrate for the hope that he had and lived with and the hope that we all have now.

What joy, what peace and what a great victory…Death has been conquered.

We don’t look forward with fear to dying…we look forward to the transition we will all make one day…joining Israel, others and of course Jesus Himself.

1 John 3:1–3

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”