Glimpses of Heaven

“You know, lady, you have to put quarters in those things.”

“I know,” I whispered back. “Shhhh!”

My three little ones were happily “playing” a video game outside the grocery store where we’d just finished shopping. Sitting in the booth, each took turns driving the car down the road… and then crashing off into a tree. I didn’t have the money to keep them occupied with the real thing, and they seemed content to think they were still in control of that screen, no matter how many times it followed the same path to destruction.

Our life can be like sitting in that video game booth, especially when Jesus isn’t a part of our daily drive. If we don’t even know Him it’s like playing a game with no quarters, thinking we’re in control when we’re not.

Even when Jesus has put the quarter in, saving us from eternal destruction, we sometimes just sit in the booth and enjoy it for ourselves. We don’t get out of our limited view and savor the real life He wants us to have.

Some people have a limited view of heaven too… the life that comes after this one… the real life we are destined for. Some see it as a boring video game… the same thing over and over. I’ve even heard people joking that they don’t think it will be any fun so they’d rather go where the real fun will be with all of their friends. What a sad joke courtesy of Satan himself!

When my fourth graders asked me what heaven was like I could only give them the glimpses we all are given. We see Jesus in all of His glory at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:2). We read Jacob’s description of the ladder to heaven with the angels going up and down (Genesis 28:12). We know our bodies will be changed and they will be amazing (1 Corinthians 15:52). We have assurances in Revelation that there will be no more sadness, hunger, tears, sorrow ( 21:4).

And I know I’ve had those “heaven on earth” moments and days… the ones I wish could go on forever. I used to tell my students to imagine the best time of the best day they’d ever had… and heaven was 100,000 times better than that… and much more! It will be fun… all of the fun without the twists from Satan.

My favorite verse that comforts me when I wonder about heaven comes from I Corinthians 13:13: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully…”

When I get to heaven I’d like to see a video of all the wonderful things that I read about in the Bible… the parting of the Red Sea, the Feeding of the Five Thousand, Jesus coming from the tomb alive! Perhaps there is a video library where I can check out all of my favorite events. No, I suppose not. That’s my limited view again.

I’ll have all of my answers when I see my Lord face to face. I won’t ever be stuck in a game that goes nowhere. All of the mysteries of life will be solved. All of the glimpses will come into full view.

And all of my joy will finally be complete.

Leaving my guilt at the cross,

Christin