Tag Archives: heaven

What I Saw at 5:30 AM

Daily living, Personal Thoughts,

It’s 5:30 AM and I am the only one awake in the house — the only human that is. Gideon is awake and patrolling the backyard. While I lounge on the patio, he is keeping me safe from evil squirrels and the occasional blue jay that sails into the yard.

The sky is growing brighter, slowly, but the moon still shines brilliantly against the backdrop of the heavens. A few translucent clouds waft lazily through the air as if they had just awakened.

The birds sing happily like tiny alarm clocks arousing nature from slumber. I count at least a half dozen singers greeting me this morning.

To cap it off there is my morning cup of coffee, a sublime gift from God created on the third day, one of the “plants yielding seed” of Genesis 1:11.

I am tempted to think that it doesn’t get any better than this.

I’d be wrong.

For all the glories of this present life, I know there is something far better. Something that supersedes everything eye can see or ear can ear.

There is a new place called heaven. It is the place of God. While God dwells within me (2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:22), Jesus is within me (John 17:23; Galatians 2:20 ), and the Spirit dwells within me too (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16), I await something brighter.

My finite mind cannot comprehend what an infinite treasure God has in store for me. Jesus has gone to prepare that place (John 14:1-4) and will take me there. It is a place where God’s brightness shines and where nothing vile or decaying will enter (Revelation 21:27).

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit will be there. And they will outshine the moon.

Dreams

Daily living, , ,

I saw an old business office that is now closed. The small building is overgrown with vines and weeds. The grass has not been cut all year and it is certain the building is deserted. Near the street is a large, professional sign. At one time, it called to passersby to bring their malfunctioning computers in for service. There was a day when the owner stood proudly looking at his sign and building and dreaming of a growing business with employees and maybe even multiple locations. That didn’t happen.

Life is full of failed dreams. Our hopeful visions of a grand future are snuffed out by harsh realities of life. The saying, “life happens” is a perfect description. Nevertheless, we keep on dreaming, hoping that tomorrow will be better.

Christians ought be dreamers. Jacob was a great dreamer (Genesis 28:12), Joseph was a great dreamer (Genesis 37:5-20). Of course, their dreams were a means of communication from God. But God has given us something to dream about. We should dream of eternal life in his presence (Revelation 21:1-7).

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new. (Revelation 21:4-5).

A beautiful thought to dwell upon every day!

But like so many earthly dreams, this one can be lost too in the busyness of today. Schedules to follow, children to raise and careers to develop can blur the vision of a heavenly. Don’t let it happen. Remember, God comes first (Matthew 6:33).