Heaven’s Entry Point
Why is this young woman hesitating? The doorway to Heaven is one flight up. She doesn’t have to climb a divine stairway or go up Jacob’s ladder (Genesis 28:12). Instead the artist has provided an escalator. There’s no effort required. Yet this young woman is clearly distracted and gazing at something else.
Maybe Heaven doesn’t seem very appealing.to her.
Well, I can understand that. For a long time, from the little glimpses I’d received from the Scriptures, Heaven looked boring to me too.
But not anymore.
My Early View of Heaven
Remember this scene in Revelation?
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelations 7:9-10
A stirring scene certainly; but I have an earthbound understanding and my mind immediately perceived a problem. My thought was so silly, it made me laugh.
Confession time; I’m a short woman. So when I’m standing surrounded by a crowd, all I see is other people’s backs. To find out what’s happening, I always have to worm my way to the front. So being part of “a great multitude that no one could count” doesn’t sound appealing. My mind pictures me frequently leaping straight up, trying to see over the taller people standing in front of me. Obviously, my view of eternity is a little cockeyed.
Maybe there’s stadium seating in Heaven?
No, probably not.
And “the streets of gold” leave me cold.
But one day I had a sudden insight that changed everything.
Only One Creator
Physically God created a endlessly fascinating and beautiful natural world for humanity to live in. And He did it in less than a week. Friendly dogs, cats the size of mountain lions, sunsets painting the sky, oceans full of strange and wonderful sea creatures. Mountains, volcanos, desert regions, falling ice crystals, microscopic life. Our world is a living work of art.
Suddenly I realized that the same Creator who fashioned this world created Heaven too. So that insight alone makes me excited to see what the Divine Artist comes up with next.
Thinking about eternity now, I’m excited. I can’t wait for my mind to be blown.
Earth is only a pale version of Heaven, not the other way around. (Greg Laurie)
My Other Misunderstanding of Heaven
I also feared subconsciously that eternity would be one long dull “retirement” Not a very appealing thought. But I no longer believe that.
Retirement is a man-made concept; I’ve never found it in the Bible.
I am who God uniquely made me to be. He created me for a purpose. Strangely, I believe God’s purpose for me doesn’t end when I die. He’s also hard-wired me to love variety and enjoy overcoming challenges. Added to that, the Potter has been busy molding and shaping me into someone new, ever since I came to know Christ years ago.
What’s true of me is true of you too.
