Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - A Perspective From Heaven

"Is this heaven?" This question was asked by the famous Major Leaguer Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) in the movie Field of Dreams. After showing up at a baseball field in the middle of Iowa that was built by Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), Shoeless Joe knew he happened upon something extraordinary, something mystical. I have actually been to the Field of Dreams in Iowa where the movie was made, and let me say that there truly is something very unique about that field.

But unfortunately, it is a far cry from what the Bible describes as heaven. What are your initial thoughts and ideas of heaven? For some, it is a mythical location somewhere "up there" where angelic beings float around with their wings and play harps. For others, it represents the place where their loved ones have now gone because they were "good people." And still for others, it is a place that is beyond imagination and words. Even the Biblical writers struggled to find words to describe the vastness and glory and perfection of heaven.

Here are some interesting quick facts about heaven as described in the Bible:

• Heaven is up (2 Kings 2:1 ).
• Heaven is God's throne (Isaiah 66:1 ).
• We can store up for ourselves treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20 ).
• Heaven throws a party when someone repents (Luke 15:7 ).
• Our hometown is heaven (Philippians 3:20 ).
• Jesus will come down from heaven to take us home with Him (1 Thessalonians 1:10 ).

In Revelation 21 , we are told that God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. There will be no more sorrow, death or pain. Heaven is described as shining God's glory in its fullness, and is made of jasper, gold, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, and eight other precious stones. It does not need the sun or moon for light, and it is reserved for those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

But here is the point I want to make. Too many of us are sitting back waiting on heaven when there is work to be done to help others make sure they get there too. Are you satisfied with just having a salvation experience without asking and allowing God to use you to help reach others whose names are not yet written in the Lamb's book of life? If we looked at your calendar and your checkbook, would they reflect an eternal value system or an individual who is "grabbing all they can" in their time here on earth?

There's nothing wrong with having "stuff," but the problem comes when our "stuff" becomes the focus of our life, instead of storing up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy. When it is all said and done, no one will care if your NFL team won the Super Bowl. They won't care what kind of car you drove or how big your house was. What will matter is what you and I have done with Jesus and His message of hope. Let's get ready for heaven, and let's take as many people with us as we can!