May 19, 2022. Six years ago today, my dad stepped through the gates of heaven into his final reward: heaven. I have never been there, but I have heard that it must be amazing, far beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Daddy has now experienced it. My husband, my father-in-law, my sister, my brother-in-law, all of my grandparents, some aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and many of my acquaintances have all entered into heaven.
This week, I have been thinking about heaven, specifically about my dad and Randy and their experiences when they arrived in heaven. Oh, how I miss them, but I know that as much as they loved me and our families, they would never make a choice to come back to a place of pain and heartache.
One of my daughters had a dream about Randy and in her dream, hekept telling her that heaven was sweet, just so sweet. I can believe that. One of my nieces had adream about my grandmother in heaven and Granny was so excited that she wasturning cartwheels. Maybe. All I know is that in the last years of herlife, Granny couldn’t walk so maybe she does turn cartwheels in heaven. BUT these things cannot be proven. To meproof is important, and the word of God is my baseline for proof. It is infallible and completely truthful.
I don’t normally read books about people who have been to heavenand returned to earth to tell us about it, because I can’t confirm what theysay! Ever the skeptic, I am. Maybe they are legit or maybe theyaren’t. It doesn’t really matter to mebecause I must form my own opinion, based on the truth in the word of God. WhenI dream about Randy or my dad, which isn’t very often, I mostly remember seeingcomplete peace on their dream faces.
I think the American society is illiterate about many things butespecially about what God’s word says about eternal things. What does the Bible say about heaven? Is it real? Do we just float around on clouds for eternity, enjoying eternalrest? Is it a productive society? Will I know people there that I knew here onearth? Will I be married to Randy? Will I still be taking care of kids? Will I get angel wings? Will I be allowed tolook back on those I left behind and see how they are getting along inlife? Will I drop pennies from heaven asa sign that I am thinking about them? Did my dog go to heaven? So many questions about heaven cannot beanswered but there are many that can be answered. I do have some ‘inside information!’ Look atthis:
1. Jesus is there. Jn. 13:36, 14:1-3,Col. 3:1-7
2. God is there. Matt. 6:9, Rev. 21:1-4, Col. 3:1-7
I could stop right here and not write another thing and that wouldbe enough. Just to be with my heavenlyfather and my Savior is plenty of reason for me to want to go to heaven andnever look back on earth with all of its difficulties!
3. There are gates of pearl, streets of gold and walls of jasper. Rev.21:9-12, 19-21
4. There is peace. Is. 65:25
5. There is no need for light because God is the eternal light. Rev. 22:5,Ps. 50:2
6. There is no sin, no evil. Hence, no pain, no heartache, no onebreaking the Big 10. No gossip, backbiting, addictions, no road rage, no anger,none of the junk that we deal with daily. No hunger, no thirst, no tears. Thereare not even unruly or rebellious children! Rev. 21:1-27, 7:15-17, 22:15, 1 Cor. 6:9-11
7. There are no blind, no deaf, no crippled. Is. 35:6
8. There are homes for us. Is.65:21, Jn. 14:2,3
9. There is no sorrow, no tears. Rev. 21:4
10. I will beknown, and I will know others. 1 Cor.13:12
11. We willworship God. Heb. 12:22-23, Rev. 7:9-10
12. There is ariver of the water of life and a tree of life. Rev. 22:1-5
13. There is noentry fee. Rom. 6:23
14. God wants me there. Luke 12:32
15. Once I move there, I get to live there for eternity. Is. 57:15, Rev. 22:5, Rom 6:23
What is heaven like? All of this and more. Daddy probably doesn’t know that we have missed him for six years. He is probably just getting started praising Jesus and the worship that was always on his lips, under his breath, is probably now really loud shouts of gratitude. Doesn’t scare me at all.
