KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Before leaving my Delaware beach home last week, I made a deliberate tour of each room that is especially meaningful to me. The reason is that I want to be able to close my eyes and go to this beautiful place when the weather in Virginia is rainy, or perhaps when the “climate of my personal life” is threatening to storm. Maybe you can join me for a moment by closing our eyes together and imagining we are standing on the sandy beach. The temperature is perfect! Do you hear the ocean waves gently rolling onshore and feel the breeze blowing through your hair and smell the salty air? You may even listen to a singing seagull or two as they dive for fish. The sunshine envelopes our body like a warm blanket.

Now, let’s imagine another lovely place called heaven. Jesus often spoke of His home place. Of course, He understood none of His listeners or future followers could fully comprehend the description of such a beautiful place since He alone had experienced living there. So, to help us try and picture it, Jesus would say, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” then told of earthly experiences to which people could relate. He tells us parables or stories about gardens and sowing seeds; yeast in bread; fishing, and finding hidden treasure to help us picture heaven.

If you are like I am, the more years I have behind me, the more I think about heaven. The reason is, I am traveling on a road that each day is taking me away from this world and closer to the home God has prepared just for me. When the trials of this life threaten to disrupt my peaceful environment, I open my Bible and read the letters from Jesus. Then, I close my eyes and bask in the Son-light of His promises. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20, NIV.

Sherry Sharp