Heaven

Okay, about Heaven... Why don't we want to go there?

A church aquaintance of mine went there on Friday. He was one of the only people I've ever met who didn't seem to be afraid of going. He was diagnosed just two months ago with cancer and though he appreciated the prayers that were said for him, you could tell that he was okay to go. It was like he realized that he was finally going to get that reward that had been promised to him so long ago when he asked Jesus to be Lord of his life.

I keep thinking about C.S. Lewis's book "The Great Divorce". In the book, heaven looks a lot like earth, only more solid, more real. The Bible says that our life here is just a dull, shadowy version of what it is like there. It also says there will be no more pain, sorrow, or tears once we cross that "great divide".

Johnny is one of the newest arrivals. My mom is there. Aunts and uncles, grandparents, and friends are all there. Jesus is there, waiting.

So about Heaven.... Why don't we want to go there?

"Priorities"

In a perfect world, My husband would make me laugh more, our family would have more money, my hubby would come home to a clean house, my daughter would have a Mac pro, my son would get to drive a "cool" car instead of an old conversion van, and my youngest would get to meet Gary Levox of Rascal Flatts fame.

I'd be best friends with Dick Van Dyke and I would own a pingpong table. My husband would be training Teen Challenge staff all around the world, my son would have his pilot's license, my daughter would have a boyfriend with great moral values, and my youngest would be best friends with Rascal Flatts.

I would be able to use a star trek transporter to get to Maine, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and North Carolina in a milli-second. I would have the greatest (children's pastor) job in the whole world, Gregg would have a camper, my daughter would have a college scholarship, my son would not have TMJ, and my youngest would tour with Rascal Flatts.

Oh yeah, and all my friends and family would have an eternal relationship with Jesus...



ljbf

Thinking of her... and Him

It's not a holiday. It's not her birthday. It's not even the anniversary of the day she left this earth. There is no particular reason that she should be on the vestiges of my conscience all day long, and yet she is. Not in a "remember when" kind of way, but in a "I can't wait to share this moment with her" kind of way. And then I remember... my mom is with Jesus and has been for eight long earth years.

Can she see what's going on down here? Does she have front row seats to everything that's going on in her children's lives? Does she brag about us? (Is there bragging in heaven? Cuz if there is, she's bragging.)

The people that have heaven figured out would probably say that she is too busy worshiping Jesus to be paying attention to what's going on down here. I sort of have a different picture.

I see Mom and Jesus together, during their "one on one" time, discussing us. They are both excited, talking about their "children" and what is going on in their lives, and Jesus is encouraging her about how ultimately, the struggles they are dealing with right now will bring them closer to God. And of course, Mom believes. It doesn't take much faith to believe things when you're standing right next to Jesus. :)

Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief...

Ljbf