For What Are You Preparing Yourself? 2

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. (II Corinthians 12:2—NIV)

Speaking of feet, I think the idea of golden slippers is probably folklore. It seems to me that wearing golden slippers and walking on a street of gold could make one wish for sandals and grass. Perhaps it was poor folk that made up the part about golden slippers. Sholem Aleichem tells of a beggar who wanted a hot roll and butter when he got to Heaven. Life does beat the starry wonder of the universe out of us, doesn't it?

Of course, we hope to have no contact with Hell.

We look forward to seeing God and Jesus. No doubt there will be any number of angels walking or flying around. It will be very interesting to see and perhaps visit with intelligent beings who are not human.

We think there will be music there and many places of interest to visit. Perhaps we will see famous Christians of history, such as John Wesley or even the Apostle Paul. Maybe Adam and Eve, our great grandparents, will be there. They have a lot of explaining to do, but I will forgive them. How about you?

We hope we will be rejoined with our family, but since Jesus said there is no marriage in the world to come we are not sure how this will work out.

One fairly common belief is that even though we may have not served Jesus fervently there is no problem. After we die, or at the latest when the Lord comes, we will be changed in personality, becoming a giant of faith, a ruler over the nations. What a stretching that will be for some of us!

How governing the nations fits in with resting in peace in our mansion we are not sure. Maybe we will stay in our mansion in Heaven while the Jews govern the Kingdom on the earth.

It is generally believed that the Lord will come soon to bring us to Heaven. Numerous Evangelical Christians are looking for an any-moment "rapture" in which they will be carried up to Heaven before the rise of the Antichrist and the period of trouble known as the Great Tribulation.

Where the resurrection fits into this picture we are not sure, but its purpose appears to be to bring us to our mansion in Heaven. What we will need with a resurrected body in Heaven I do not know. Anyway we go to Heaven when we die so who needs a resurrection!

It seems to be a common practice now to prepare for the "rapture" by jumping up and down. We sent some of our young girls to a youth camp recently and they were encouraged to jump up and down to get ready for the "rapture." Personally I think a better preparation for the "rapture" would be to forgive our enemies. But aerobic exercises are usually helpful, especially for those of us who are older.

Perhaps jumping up and down next to the pews would be more necessary for the older believers and those who are overweight since the boys and girls jump around too much already.

Perhaps some of the aftershocks we are experiencing now in California are actually believers preparing for the "rapture."

To be continued. For What Are You Preparing Yourself? 3