Day 282

More than often, I am asked what I think heaven will be like.  I always laugh because I have my own vision of heaven.  I always hope that it is ‘tailored made.”  For example, I love to eat!  Imagine a table of the best food ever and I could just eat and never have to worry about it being healthy or if it will make me fat!  I also hope that my dogs will be there with me.  I can see them running to me with their floppy ears and I would then get to spend forever with them.  And then of course, it goes without saying that my hope is that I am there with my all those I love so much.  While I wish I had the answer of what heaven is like, I only can imagine!

However, I believe that Jesus gives us a clear answer to what heaven will be like.  He is with his disciples when he gets the word that his dear friend, Lazarus is very ill. He doesn’t rush back to heal him. In fact, he tells his disciples that “Lazarus is dead.  For your sake I am glad I was not there so that you may believe” (John 11:14-15). When Jesus does get to his friend’s house, Martha and Mary are angry at Jesus for not coming sooner.  Lazarus has now been dead for four days! (v.39).  But, what does Jesus do?  He goes to where they laid him in a tomb and raised him from the dead.  Lazarus comes out of the tomb live and well.

I believe that’s what Jesus wants us to know about heaven and our salvation.  We are raised from the dead!  We are made whole, well, and alive!  Whatever was hurting us, no longer hurts.  Whatever we were suffering from, we no longer suffer.  Whatever has made us sad, we are no longer sad.  If we are lonely, we are no longer lonely.  

There is a catch here…I don’t believe that we have to wait till that last day on earth to experience the joy of being made whole. It can start right now!  Jesus comes to us and raises us out of this life into a life with Him.  We just have to open our hearts and let Him into our lives. 

Let us pray.  Gracious God, open our hearts to hear your Word.  Help us to know that your kingdom can be found right here on earth and that we don’t have to wait till our last day on earth to spend time with you.  In your name we pray.  Amen.