When Heaven is Mine...

in my happy place

I haven't had as much time to kayak lately as I would like. My work as a pro-life counselor on the sidewalks of the Southeast's busiest abortion center has increased exponentially. I love seeing so many babies saved and new lives surrendered to Christ, but I do miss kayaking. It is how I recharge when my batteries are nearly drained dry.

So I finished my work early in the morning yesterday, and hustled out to the Catawba River. It was a beautiful day. Not another soul was on the river, but there were lots of turtles, herons, and osprey. And then, a party boat with the name of the nearby marina on it began following me. Someone with a very professional looking camera was clearly taking pictures of me in my kayak with the marina in the background. I assume it was some sort of promotional photo-shoot for the new apartment buildings by the marina. Still, it was a little creepy...

I passed by some really spectacular homes with huge boats docked by lavish piers with gazebos on the fancy docks. I gazed a little longingly at those gorgeous homes. Somehow, that got me thinking about heaven. Right now, here on earth, we get glimpses of the joy, delight, comfort, and glory of heaven...but they are only out of the corner of our eye; fleeting glimpses. Heaven doesn't yet belong to us.

But we are promised that one day we will dwell there. A room is prepared for us, and we will live there forever.

We will not just float by, wistfully gazing at something we could never afford. It will be ours...priceless, yet bought not by us, but by the blood of Jesus in His sacrificial death which paid the penalty for our sin. By His payment on our behalf, we are gained access to God for all eternity, our debts paid, our relationship to our righteous, holy Creator restored. Wow...just wow.

As I kayaked by the beautiful mansions, I prayed. I prayed for all my loved ones who don't know Jesus as Lord, and all the women I work with who chose life over abortion, and all the lost souls who have rejected the only One worth knowing and trusting. I prayed all of them would glimpse heaven and desire it so strongly that all the barriers of pride and doubt would fall away and it would be their promise, not their loss.

Maybe the party boat cameraman was doing a photo-shoot titled: Heaven bound! How about you?

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I long to give this vision of Heaven and a right relationship with God to the women who will flock to the abortion center this morning. My team and I and two new volunteers will be there pleading with the women with the power of the Gospel and real hope and help through Cities4Life. Please join us. E-mail me to set up a time when you can shadow experienced sidewalk counselors at vkaseorg@cities4life.com
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Revelation 21:4

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.”

John 14:2

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.