Heaven Looks Like This

He is the embodiment of our peace, sent once and for all to take down the great barrier of hatred and hostility that has divided us so that we can be one. Ephesians 2:14 (VOICE)

This week I have been privileged to attend a Christian conference. This conference is about growing God’s Kingdom. It’s about how we, as Christians, are to follow God’s mandate to “Go.” We dive into the Bible and see what God has charged us to do and then we talk about it (in lots of different forums.)

Each year God impresses me with the next step in my journey and to tell you the truth, I have not met one person that has not experienced God impressing something on their heart while here. But that’s not what continually amazes me.

My absolute favorite part is that Gods Kingdom is represented by many nations, tongues, races and denominations. When we come together to celebrate, the room (about 5,000 people) is full of people from many countries, who speak various languages, who have different beliefs and who look different on the outside. But not on the inside.

On the inside we all have one desire; we are here for one thing. We are here to celebrate Jesus but we are also reminded of our mission. Our mission is to love each other and see each other as brothers and sisters. Our mission is to take our love and share the gospel with as many brothers and sisters as we can because the King of our lives told us to.

As I stand in a sea of people and hear the Word of God, as we sing and praise together, I am reminded that this is what Heaven will look like. All of God’s people standing together with one purpose….to worship our King.

I truly wish that our world would live like this. That we would remember that we are all God’s children. We are all beautiful Masterpieces in the Father’s eyes. I long for the day when we stand together united, loving one another and celebrating each other.

We are not in heaven yet but we can have heaven here on earth. It starts with each one of us who believe in the sacrificing love of Jesus Christ living that love in our world. It starts with us refusing to give in to the lies that permeate our world that tell us we have to be separate because we are different. We must live the way Jesus lived. Loving everybody always.

Worn Out For His Glory

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.  Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)

As I began to clean my house, I started noticing how worn things were looking. With the mop, I swept passed the white chair we have that was speckled with dark spots. Those would never come out. I noted the same old rugs in the hall by the front door that have been there for ten years. And the hardwood floors were marked with scratches and worn spots.

There was a part of me that wanted to shout "Enough!"  I need new stuff!

As I continued to move through the house, I started reflecting on how it got this way. The dark speckles on the white chair were from a party we had where a little girl spilled a glass of grape-colored juice. I remember the horrified look on her face and everyone rushing to her, hugging her and telling her not to worry....it's just a chair.

The scratches and worn spots on the hardwood floors?  Well, some of the scratches were from a hospital bed that sat in our living room to care for an elderly parent. And the worn spots were from lots of traffic with people and pets. They were from years of family gatherings, church meetings, Bible Studies and parties. People have laughed, cried and prayed on those floors. And those old rugs.....oh the stories they could tell. Many feet have come and gone on them. 

And life has continued on. Even though I want to fix some of this stuff (and one day I will), life has brought us challenges that make us delay updates.  But even in it's well-used state, God is still using all of these things for his glory. And really, that's OK with me.