Almost Heaven

“Vacation – 2007”

July 29, 2007

My vacation this year seemed a little incomplete to me. Julie, Ben and Monica, and consequently all the grandkids elected to stay home for various reasons. That left me feeling a little alone – but the good news was that my mom and all of my brothers and sisters were there. We had a family portrait taken with mom and her siblings and then of all the kin that could be there. There were about fifty of us. It was a neat time.

My vacation started out great. The first morning I woke up at the Sure Game Wilderness Resort, near Wirt, in Northern Minnesota. You need to understand that this resort is a very special place for me. When I was growing up, from my earliest memories of living in Wirt, we lived in tar paper shacks with no running water and usually no electricity. The nearest paved road was over 10 miles away. Nearly every day, in the summer time, we would walk or trot by the Sure Game on the way to Noma Lake to go swimming. Parked in the drive were new shinny cars driven by wealthy people from southern Minnesota or Iowa or some far away place. Inside the cabins they actually had running water and electricity. We had our stinky outhouse and slop buckets and water basins and had to carry water in a cream can. It left a boy feeling second class, inferior and, in my case, angry. And I wasn’t the only one. Many of the people up north have sort of a grudge against wealthy folks. Sometimes it taints a person’s attitude and makes them bitter and angry. It’s a sad thing to be jealous and envious.

I don’t feel that way anymore. My Father has unimaginable wealth. He owns all the gold and silver in the world, the bible says. (Haggai 2:8) And not only that – but I am an heir! (Romans 8:16-17) Some day all that He has will be mine. One of the wonderful things receiving Jesus as my Savior did was to take away my second class status. I became a part of Royalty. I want to tell you, if you are a Christian, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You can walk in the presence of kings and presidents and not feel inferior. Soon after I became a Christian, God gave me this promise:

“He raises’ up the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.” Psalms 113:7-8 (KJV)

When I came to the Lord, I felt like the world had cast me out on the manure pile of life. I felt like a loser, tossed aside in the dirt. God said to me that He would set me up as a prince, a prince of my people. One day, as a delegate to the state convention in Nevada, elected as such by my peers, and as the chairman of the Mineral County Republican Central Committee, I realized that God had literally made that prophecy and Scripture come to pass. But there’s more. God has plans for us. He says,

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer 29:11 (Living)

There is more to come! There is more blessings to come in this life and also for eternity. God’s Word says,

“…no mere man has ever seen, heard, or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord.” 1 Cor 2:9 (Living)

But the Spirit and God’s word gives us a little glimpse. It says:

“And I, John, saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. It was a glorious sight, beautiful as a bride at her wedding. I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, "Look, the home of God is now among men, and he will live with them and they will be his people; yes, God himself will be among them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever." Rev 21:2-4 (Living)

I know where I came from and I know where I am going. And thanks to Jesus, it will be incredible. And you are invited, too. A number of times during my vacation someone would say, “This is what heaven must be like!” They were talking about the beauty of the area and the feeling of love and sense of belonging. But you know what? Heaven is going to be so much more than the greatest experience you have ever had. There is going to be more joy, more love, more peace, more pleasure, more fulfillment, more of anything that is good, than you have ever experienced or imagined here on earth. Jesus is preparing a place for you right now. He said,