A Heaven-Bound Perspective

So ok, right... there's this place called Heaven for those of us who call ourselves Christ-followers. A place of never-ending communion with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. A perfect environment filled with no shame, no sorrow... only praise and admiration for the Kind of Kings and Lord of Lords.

But... what will it be like? You know what I think? I don't really think it matters that much to be quite honest. You know why I think that way? Because if God designed it, and He resides there, then those are the only 2 facts I need to be made aware of in order to look forward to going there one day soon.

We are going to be spending eternity praising the one who set us free from bondage... from slavery... from sin... from ourselves. He alone paid the price so that we don't have to. All we need to do is believe in Him and then FOLLOW him. No, not on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram... but with our lives, our souls, all of who we are.

If Jesus was on social media though... would you follow Him? If you would, is there a specific reason why, or just because he's a super cool guy who performs miracles and stuff? Or, because he's the God of all creation and you look at him as your Lord and savior?

We are destined for an eternal existence that resides outside of space and time. If some things don't seem to make sense here on earth, it's because we aren't home yet. Get this... we are only here for a moment, then we are gone from this place. We think we have aaallll this time to live out our days, but do we really?

Follow Jesus with your life. Believe in who he truly is and in what he has done for us on the cross 2000 years ago that we could never do ourselves. He alone is the one who gives and provides us with everything we could ever imagine because he's the one who made us. He knows each one of us inside and out way better than we know ourselves.

The here and now is simply a blip on the radar compared to eternity. What does that mean? It means don't spend your days worrying, stressing out, or getting distracted with silly time-wasters that leave us feeling empty after partaking in anyways. Be fully energized by the relationship between you and God since that is what we were created for.

Life without God is empty. It's void. You will spend a lifetime searching for possessions, fortune, fame, power, or anything in-between to make you feel whole... but it won't in the end. Spend time with the one who can and does make people whole. He died, He rose, now he lives so that we may have life in him today, tomorrow, and forevermore.

(I'll tell you what though... I do hope there are hot tubs and food in Heaven, two of my favorite things.)

Does It Really Matter?

Some of the stuff we get wrapped up with in our society... is it really worth our focus? Is it really worth the worry? Do current events need to completely take over our minds in an unhealthy manner? The answer to those questions depends heavily on our perspective.

If these 80 or 90 years is all that we get, nothing else, then yes, they may mean more to that person. But, for those who believe in eternity with Jesus, their mindset should be built upon the bricks of a heavenly perspective.

Because, think about this... if heaven is real, which I believe it is, then everything that we do here on earth should be in preparation for that timeless, never-ending existence. There is a verse in scripture that reads,

“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

The sinful life we live on earth is so short when compared to the perfect life we obtain once we pass away. The main questions on our hearts and minds, in the light of eternity, may look like this...

What am I spending my time on each day? Am I storing up treasures in Heaven today or just on earth? Where does my treasure lie since that is where my heart will be also. Am I loving others with Christ-like love? Am I sowing seeds into other people's hearts so that they may get to know God personally?

Storing up treasures in Heaven is definitely a long-term play, but one that will pay off over and over again forever and ever. The real prize, perhaps the ultimate one, is to hear our Lord say to each of us,

“Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:34-36

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

-Ken Melendez