Hosanna Restoration Church

Do you ever wonder if there was a shepherd who did not go along to see what the angel told them about? If in fact one did not go, do wonder how that shepherd might have felt having missed out on seeing the baby? Then of course there are the people who heard the shepherds story and wondered why they got to hear the angels and they didn’t, do you wonder how they felt? Do you ever wonder how you might feel if you miss out on being in the presence of the Lord?

Before the Angels appeared to shepherds, there had been a long history of people waiting for the Messiah to come. There are many who are still waiting for the one who is already here. As for me, when I first met Jesus I wondered how I could have missed Him for so long. Now I sometimes wonder how often I still miss Him. Lately I have wondered what I might miss in heaven for the times I miss Him here.

I know that the Word of God says there will be no more tears, pain, or suffering in heaven, but I wonder if there will not be some disappointments. After all, we are told that some of us will get in but will really have nothing to show for our time here on earth as everything that was useless will be burnt off. It will be good to get in, but I wonder what it would be like to get in and find out that I missed some things that could have been mine eternally because I would not let go of some things for the short term on the earth.

A picture that came to my mind was what if I won a ticket to the Super Bowl? Now to be honest that may have been a desire when I was a kid, but now I always say that I like the TV and the replays etc. But still I won the ticket and was excited and got there and that would be good. Then when I go into the stadium I find that my seat is so far away it is like trying to watch a game on a phone because the players look so small. Well, at least I am there right, so that should be good enough! But then I see someone on the jumbo screen that looks just like another person on the bus of ticket winners, but he is on the sidelines with the team getting all kinds of perks that I am not getting. I am still paying eight bucks for a hot dog while he has wonderful people serving him shrimp. He is right there as they are discussing strategies. He gets to go in at half time and knows what the plan is for the second half. At this point, I grab my packet and discover that if only I had read all the information and paid attention I could have been right there in the same spot. So yes, I am there, but not in as good of a spot as I could have been. I cannot complain. It is my own fault. However, I can be more than a little disappointed that I robbed myself of an even greater experience.

I for one want everything that the Kingdom of God offers me here and now. At the same time, I do not want to miss one benefit of heaven. I want to be right there where the plans are made. I want to be in the front row of the worship and the passing out of rewards. I want to be sure that I do not miss one message the Lord has for me. I want to run in such a way as to win the prize. I want to finish the course and enter heaven with the cloud of witnesses cheering. This will bring great glory to God for all that He has done.

When I was a kid there was a song with the line; “Together we will see how lovely heaven can be.” Anybody remember that? This is the season that we celebrate when heaven came down to earth. He came down to dwell with us and in us and so that we could spend eternity with Him. Don’t miss the message. Let’s see just how lovely heaven can be together!