Heaven
He followed me to my car, pulling a basket full of groceries behind us. Golden sunrays spilled over the clouds just enough to wrap us in warmth. The constant breeze that lives in our part of the country had taken a rare day off, and a peaceful stillness was substituting in its place.
“The weather is amazing today, isn’t it?” I popped the trunk open and we began loading bags of food. “Probably what Heaven will feel like!”
A tender smile worked back the wrinkles from around his mouth, pushing them up his cheeks. “I don’t know about that, ma’am. No telling what it’ll be like.”
“Whatever it’ll be, I know for sure it will be even better than this. It will be perfect.” I reached up and pulled the trunk door closed.
Turning his head to the side, his weathered eyes held mine. Eyes that had likely viewed about seven decades. Eyes that had undoubtedly witnessed both good and bad, experiencing twice my lifetime. “I’m just glad you know it exists. And that you know how to get there.”
We didn’t discuss our theology, as he was on the job and more customers awaited assistance. But the peace that filled his voice, the joy that shone on his face, gave me good reason to believe he, too, knew how to get to Heaven.
Better yet, through who to get to Heaven.
Heaven isn’t a resting place for good people. For those who’ve collected a lot of accolades. For those who’ve served and given and sacrificed for the welfare of others. Heaven doesn’t open the gates for the people who are kind and mean well and have superior intentions.
Were that the case, none of us would stand a chance of getting in.
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. – John 14:1-6
Heaven is a promise for God’s children. For those who have willingly, who daily, put their trust in Him. For those who do not just know of Jesus, His son, but for those who personally know Him. Who have staked their life on His claim that He is the way, the truth, and the life -declaring Him their Savior.
Because without Him, we are a hopeless bunch. There is no amount of good we can do to earn a spot or win His favor. Our standard doesn’t measure up, and even our best attempts are often rooted in selfish gain.
But God has made the way for us. Through sacrificing His only son for our sin, He made Heaven a possibility for the taking. An option for anyone who repents and believes.
Our best days on this side of the veil won’t hold a candle to the glory that awaits. The most beautiful weather, the sweetest experience, the happiest occasion, the richest reward – all of it but a dim foreshadowing of the unimaginable goodness God has in store for His children on the other side of eternity.
