I Am Almost Certain I Went to Heaven but They Called It First Class

Well it seemed like a disaster. A trip across the country to see my extended family and my neice’s wedding was on the verge of collapse. Nasty weather up and down the entire east coast had closed the airport hubs. After sitting for several hours in the airport, it was clear my flight, the day before the wedding, was not going to happen. Due to the multiple closures and thousands of rerouted passengers, who must have been more savvy than I, there was no flight possible to Seattle for the next two days. The wedding would be over, the family members all returning home.

I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t. But I did. I collapsed in a puddle of tears as the gate agent told me there was no way I was getting to Seattle in time for the wedding. And here is the final kick in the rear: no tissues in my purse. I had every other emergency equipment known to man in my huge backpack and belly pack but not a single tissue to stem the flow of snot and tears.

Something broke in the heart of the beleaguered gate agent. She disappeared for twenty minutes while I wiped my nose and cheeks on my soggy sleeve. When she returned, she had a flight. It would get me to Seattle the following day, two hours before the wedding. I may or may not make it in rush hour traffic, with the venue an hour and a half from the airport...but it was a glimmer of hope.

And I was booked in first class. I was to be wined and dined like the rich people. I’d always envied them in the past as I’d mooed my way into cattle class in the back of the plane. What did they have that I didn’t? Besides oodles of money?

I am here to tell you: spend the extra $300,000.000 for a first class ticket. Who cares about retirement or eating next week? It is worth it for one hour in first class.

OH. MY. LORD. AND. SAVIOR.

If heaven is EVEN CLOSE to as good as first class, we believers are in for a real treat.

First, they show up with smiles and beautiful ladies tell us that they are there to serve us. Then they take our drink orders. We can have anything we want. As much as we want. Then the menus are rolled out. The lunch offerings would be half my monthly grocery allotment. By the time they reach me, they only have one item left. It doesn’t matter. I am convinced Jesus has returned and is sitting in the first row. Nothing else explains it.

Then they bring the food. Now I had not eaten for 9 hours which may have something to do with how I responded, but folks, I was groaning out loud with every bite. I would have licked my plate if my seat mate was not already shooting concerned glances my way.

They brought warm washcloths for us to clean our fingers. Held out to us with tongs...like we were royalty.

As I write this, I don’t know if I will get to the wedding in time. It doesn’t even matter. If my First Class experience is only metaphorically a taste of heaven, I am ALL IN. Seriously, if you are on the fence, ask Jesus to be your Lord now. Submit your life to Him. Now. You cannot believe what you have been missing.

Update: I made it. I saw the lovely bride and groom exchange vows and loved every minute of the evening. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. I love how God gives us glimpses of His Glory. While I was using a humorous analogy in the joys of First Class air travel, one of the most telling glimpses of His glory is when His love is revealed through others. Family gathering from afar, despite rather daunting obstacles to celebrate the love and major events in each others’ lives is one of the most beautiful examples of love, I think.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13:35‬ ‭NIV‬