Friday, October 12, 2012

IF HE'S NOT THERE, in Heaven?

If you went home to Heaven, and Jesus wasn’t there, would you still be happy?” My friend looks me square in the eyes as she asks this.


I think quickly. With all the peace, joy—no more sorrow or tears—and endless delights in a celestial paradise—would I be content without the presence of Christ?

My immediate response is a blustering, “No. Without Jesus, of course I wouldn’t be happy in Heaven.

But after taking time to actually think the question over, and not give the automated, expected response, I realize I would be happy in Heaven without Jesus. Who wouldn’t be happy with all pain removed? It would certainly be a lot better than here on earth as it is right now.

Like everyone else walking this planet, I can look back on a lifetime of disappointments and heartaches. That's one of the benefits of living in the second half of my life. I can look back to all those difficult times and remember them at their bleakest.

But only by looking back, I can also see that God's presence was there. A sort of a spiritual trick of the light.

During those hard times His presence felt like a slim beam of light. Or He gave me just a smidgeon of strength to help me make it through to the next day. Somehow that strength was there for the day after that, and the day after . . .

At times all He gave me was the simple reminder that His word is true, and in it He says He loves me.

By looking back to those worst of times, and adding up all those seemingly small joys of His comfort, it dawns on me, how much I enjoyed His presence.

How much more joyful will Heaven be with His Presence?

Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”



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