I’m preparing to take a trip. Not just any trip. Probably a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip. I’m going with my sisters and mom to NYC. Now I’ve traveled with them before, but I don’t recall anything more than one night. This expedition is SIX nights. And did I mention we’re driving? Oh, wait! And we’re sharing a hotel room (for those of you who don’t know, that means five of us in a room/bathroom together). By default, as a first-born, I’m a planner and I like to manage things. Generally speaking, I just take charge. But for this excursion, I’m trying something different.
We spend an exorbitant amount of time planning trips. It seems to me it’s gotten worse the last several years. We book a year in advance. We coordinate gate passes for rides. We even design vacation shirts; going to Mickey’s house without matching shirts seems preposterous, right? There’s the reservation for Spot at the local pet resort. I think you’re catching on.
Now I don’t say any of this to point fingers, judge, or otherwise cast guilt. At some time, most of us (including myself) have done these things. Per my normal, I’m just trying to challenge us.
I was talking to Alyssa yesterday on her front porch. It’s been 18 days since Whitlee went to heaven. Certainly, Alyssa had thought about heaven before her youngest child went there. But now that Whitlee is a citizen of heaven, it takes on a whole new meaning. Alyssa wants and needs to know everything she can about heaven.
When was the last time you were focused on heaven? Specifically planning for that destination. That seems like an odd thing to say I suppose. But shouldn’t that be a trip we prepare for? Not only are we planning for ourselves, but we also want to take as many people as we can with us. That takes preparation. You don’t just accidentally end up in heaven. And not everyone is going. (That’s an unpopular statement.) So, what does all of this mean?
Every single day an opportunity presents itself. It might be at work. Maybe at home with our kids or grandkids. Our favorite cashier, Susan, at the store. We should want everyone to know about heaven and how to get there.
The Bible mentions heaven in fifty-four of the sixty-six books. It first references heaven in Genesis 1 and lastly in Revelation 21. Jesus talks about heaven non-stop it seems. And Paul is definitely focused on heaven in many of his letters.
I’m sure the majority of us believe we’re unequipped to have such important conversations. If that’s true, maybe it’s time to put down the phone, stop searching Etsy for the perfect shirt design, and pick up your Bible. If that seems intimidating, find a trusted friend to talk to.
If you have the knowledge, but lack boldness to share, ask God to put that burden on your heart. Ask Him to help you walk and talk through those opportunities. Of course this doesn’t mean being overbearing. But we do have a responsibility. And it’s one we need to take seriously.
I believe that our greatest witness is our daily life. So even if you never have spoken to anyone about eternity, your life needs to point to something that others want. Living every day in light of heaven is a tremendous story.
I’ve been intentional with the planning for this NYC trip. I’ve intentionally NOT planned. I’ve said, “Tell me when to be where and who to pay how much”. Until today. LOL! Today we started talking about snacks for the ride. Some things are simply non-negotiable: Twizzlers, Tootsie Pops, popcorn, and maybe homemade chocolate chip cookies. All joking aside, we’re also going to need to follow a specific map and road. We can’t just take off down the first interstate and expect to arrive at our desired destination. It’s a good thing my sisters can be trusted. They’ve created an itinerary and we have a solid plan in place.
Although I feel certain that this trip will result in at least a few blogs, there’s still another trip I should be thinking about. I have many waiting for me in heaven. Going to see them and my Jesus is something I don’t want to miss. Taking others with me requires action. That’s what I’m going to keep focusing on.
Philippians 3:20 ~ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.