‘He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.’

After Jesus overcame death, came out of that tomb, showed himself to the disciples and others which included showing his scars, he hung out on the beach cooking fish, then went back to heaven, where he’d started to begin with. I believe in Heaven, as a real place. Those who have acknowledged their sinfulness and inability to do anything that will cover it, and accepted Christ's payment in full, will go there. I assume it's 'up' since that's the direction he went when he left this earth. We're also told to watch the skies for his return, someday.

This life on earth is easy to cling to, for me anyway. When it’s an unusually wonderful, blue-skies kind of day that I'd like to go on forever, or a day spent riding roller coasters or water slides, or eating corndogs with mustard at a state fair, or sitting on the deck, bundled up in blankets and watching shooting stars move across the night sky, or smelling fresh-cut grass, I start to cling. Then I remind myself that's just silly, considering what waits for those of us who have placed our trust in him. If this earth is so wonderful, heaven will be off the charts.

I believe we’ll all have jobs in heaven*, things to do, and it won’t just be singing praises all the time, although Scripture does say we'll all do some of that. I wonder what my job will be. Hopefully it has nothing to do with administrative duties. Surely there's no paperwork in heaven. Just one Book of Life, and I won't be responsible for keeping it. Maybe I can run a little bookstore, or work in the library, or tend flowerbeds. I'd like it if heaven has a library with no overdue fines.

I can't wait to meet so many who are already there. Ruth - she married Boaz, a family name. Esther - you go girl, a regular Wonder Woman in my book! Job - how did he keep from cursing God, and how did he put up with that wife of his? Noah - talk about faith, building an ark and it had NEVER rained at that point! Can you even imagine that we get to meet Moses, and Daniel. David - what a heart. Peter - I can identify with Peter. Rahab, what a makeover story! Then there's Ruth Bell Graham, and by the time I get there probably Billy too, and Elisabeth Elliott. I'll avoid Oswald Chambers because I think he'd be a bit intimidating to try to have a chat with. Maybe I'll stand back a bit from Paul too - I suspect he's a little deep for me. I wonder if he'll tell us whether he wrote the book of Hebrews or not... I think I'm going to look around, and see all those I loved during my time on this earth, who had placed their trust in him, and we're going to be rejoicing to beat the band, that we're there, that we're together, that we're there forever. I imagine I might meet a few sweet bloggers too :-)

I've seen those photos of the 'wonders of the world', or even the Grand Canyon, or majestic mountains covered with snow, mighty waves rolling in from the ocean, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, rainforests across the world, and nothing, no nothing, no nothing can compare to what we're going to see when we get there. And that's not even taking into account seeing Him. Stop for just a minute and think about it - take it in. To stand there, face to face, and finally see his eyes. Haven't you ever wondered what his eyes look like, what it will be like to look at him and have him look back at you? Awesome.

Elisabeth Elliott believes pets go there. I don’t know about that. I used to love the idea, but I’m not so sure anymore. Maybe dealing with shedding should be confined to this earth. If Heaven is as wonderful as Scripture makes it sound, then I probably won’t miss my cat Miah if she isn’t there. I'll enjoy her now, but hopefully I won't get too clingy. While I won't have to keep that Book of Life, I know my name is written in it with permanent ink, and that gives me a whole different perspective on this life, here and now.

*For a great read on what Heaven is like, taken from Scripture, read "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn. I'll finish up this series tomorrow morning.

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