What everybody ought to know about heaven
Dollying my hefty couch down a vertical set of stairs, the mover confessed years of drug abuse and sin. Sweat dripped down his face. At the bottom of the stairs, as he regained his breath, he told me about how Jesus set him free while in prison.
We continued talking.
He said his hands have not touched his addiction for several years and neither has his mind. He spoke of his sons — how he thanks God each day that they choose the right paths. I told him about my job and my upbringing.
We then talked about our churches—how we love their diversity and unity. We spoke of how encouraging it is when people of varying backgrounds, races, political opinions, hopes, and dreams join for worship.
“That’s one of the many reasons why I’m looking forward to heaven,” I said. “That’s how life will be every day, not just Sunday.
“I never thought about it like that, but you’re right.”
I may never meet that man again this side of heaven. He’s received a lot of names on earth: mover, Mexican, addict. But I know him by a different name now. It’s “brother,” the name I’ll call him when we meet again.
We’re all dealt labels on earth. A few of mine are privileged, white and hot-headed. Our choices warrant some of our names; others we receive out of ignorance and hate.
In heaven, all our labels dissipate.
Jesus sought God’s will “… on earth as it is in heaven,” (Matthew 6:10). So should we. In heaven we will call people of all races and ethnicities “brother” and “sister.” We should remember what Christ taught us about our role as his followers.
As the clock ticked toward Passover, Jesus taught at the Temple in Jerusalem. The Pharisees approached him, hoping to catch him in a crime. They were a sect that called Jesus a fake and a heretic. They even labeled him demon-possessed (Matthew 12:24).
The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” (Matthew 22:36).
Jesus responded with:
“… You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets,” (Matthew 22:37–40).
Love God. Love people. That’s our role. No matter how different we are, no matter how seemingly impossible it is for the world to see eye to eye, Christians should be different. We may hold little in common, but Jesus is enough to bind us together. He’s all we need. It’s Christ’s name we seek to glorify on earth and in heaven.
Let’s get to those gates together. Starting now, let’s call each other family, which we are, in the name of our Lord. And one day, we’ll hear “Well done, son. Well done, daughter.”
