Last night I saw some friends I had not seen in months, it was so good to see them. I enjoyed seeing what God has done in lives, I loved hearing them sing, it just made my heart smile to get to spend that time with them.
I was thinking, if we get so much joy out of seeing a friend or family member we haven't seen in week or months, what will it be like when we get to heaven and see all the loved ones we are missing so much here? Can you even imagine the joy that will thrill your heart when you see that parent, grandparent or child that made it to heaven first? The overwhelming presence of love that will consume you will be amazing.
Surrounded by the mansions, the street of gold, the walls of jasper, the sights will bombard our senses, I don't think we could handle them if were not for our glorified bodies. Sensory overload will be an understatement, the tree of life, the crystal river, all of them are things I long to see.
But as blessed as we may feel to have that heavenly reunion, as awed as we may be by the sights that surround us, the most captivating factor in reaching heaven will be the pure unworthiness of being in the presence of the almighty God and to see the face of my precious Savior. Gordon Jensen wrote a song years ago that expresses a little of what I believe we will feel. "Jesus Will Be What Makes It Heaven For Me", so clearly tells that all the sights and people are not what our soul longs for most.
As I shared hugs last night with several friends, my thoughts turned to how a hug can lift our spirits, it can take away the loneliness and replace it with comfort. Sometimes the Holy Spirit gives us little tugs or comfort that can simulate that in our lives. Now I know that in heaven there will be no loneliness, sorrow or depression so the need for that type of comfort will be gone. But I believe the need for that closeness to the Savior will be magnified there.
I don't know how we will spend our days in heaven, some have painted verbal pictures over the years. Dangling your feet in the crystal river, touring the city to meet those that have led the way for us to be there, a large reunion with those that we love are all things I hope to do.
But the first thing I want to do is sit at Jesus feet, just absorb His love and holiness. It doesn't matter what He is saying, I want to be listening. It doesn't matter if He isn't talking, just being close to Him able to worship Him in ways that down you just aren't possible, that is what my heavenly picture would be.
We often think longingly of heaven, this world is getting more and more wicked and we just want to be gone at times. Even so come quickly Lord Jesus, is our plea. But do we think about that that plea really means? It means that so many will not be leaving here going to heaven. Some of those are people we love. We pray for Jesus quick return because it is an answer out of this world that is not our home. But do we also feel the urgency to win the lost that we should before He comes back?
Do we daily share the wondrous gift that God has given us with those we meet? Do we look for ways to minister to others? Are we searching for those that need to not just hear but see the love of Jesus? Or are we so busy with the cares of this life that we just long for home?
There is nothing wrong with longing for home. There is nothing wrong with being tired of the way this world is going. But as we wait on that call from the Father, it is our job but also our honor to share what God has done in our lives. While our eyes watch the Eastern sky for the Lord to step out on the cloud, we must focus on what our tasks are until that time comes. We are to share the Gospel, we are to love each other, we are to continue reaching out to bring others with us.
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