Heaven-Ready

In this day of instant-goodness in kitchens and the fast food availability, we have lost the wonder of preparation of food in the kitchen. One of my earliest memories was the toothpick test for the readiness of a chocolate cake. Putting the toothpick in the center of the cake determine whether the baking time is finished or not. If some of the batter stuck to the toothpick, it needed more baking.

Then Mother taught me the basics of making homemade, from-scratch pudding. My introduction was being given a spoon and told to stir and stir in a definite pattern and wait for the kettle of milk, sugar, eggs and corn starch to thicken and come to a boil. Standing in the warm kitchen and stirring around, and then across in parallel motion to the pan, was interminable at the age of 10. “How long do I have to stir?” Mom’s answer, “Until it thickens, then it will be ready.” To this day as I make vanilla wafer pudding, I can hear her voice, “Stir until it thickens, then it will be ready.”

When I thought of the title of Heaven-Ready, I thought how much preparation of the heart and mind and soul is necessary. How God stirs our life over the heat of allowed trials to help us attain the perfection in life that prepares us to be ready for Heaven.

While perusing for quotes on heaven, I saw many derisive comments downgrading the value of Heaven. This I know. Heaven is being in the Presence of God for an eternity. We live in the expectation of living in Heaven. Expectation on earth is often geared to the next eating out experience, making more money, the career, the possession of a new car or house, a family. But the greater expectation is the purposefulness of being in the presence of God for an eternity where there is no time or schedules.

Many writers have described Heaven – what it looks like, what happens there, what we will know or not know, what we will do. But that is immaterial to me. For Heaven and being there is a matter of trust in the God who created us and the world we live in. When I think of Heaven and being there with God, I will trust Him and give Him praise, saying, Glory, Glory, Glory to the Lord God most Holy. Will I stand? No, I will fall down in humility. Will I ask questions? No, I will wait for God to reveal what He wants me to know. Will I know my earthly family there? Yes, but all who are there from all nations and all ages are my brothers and sisters in Christ and that is my family.

At the end of the Love Chapter, I Corinthians 13, is this verse 12 – For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

We shall see face to face. We shall know fully. How do I prepare for that. How do I know when I am ‘toothpick done’ and Heaven-Ready?

The ‘recipe’ is in Galatians 5:22-23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law,”

Each day I ponder these qualities and measure my life. Do I have these qualities, these characteristics? Who has them all? What sets people apart from others who do not possess them. Where do they come from? These qualities are not for sale at Walmart. In fact, these characteristics paint a picture of who Jesus is. The Fruit of the Spirit is singular, for one characteristic does not stand alone, and comes from the Holy Spirit that we receive when we accept Jesus as our Savior.

Love gives us joy and it gives us peace and from these qualities we learn patience (forbearance), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The phrases, ‘it is my right’, ‘it is not fair’, ‘I deserve it’ are known as the antithesis of the Fruit of the Spirit.

Last Sunday I spoke to a young man who is 74 years younger than me. He looked at me, smiled and then gave me a hug. Who taught him this behavior? His godly parents, parents who ‘live Jesus’. Kindness, patience, goodness and self-control is not easy in the world of stresses that seem to multiply by the day. There has to be a reason for living this way. I often say – that those who are just being good are good for nothing when their goodness is not based in and through Jesus.

Why is there a Heaven? Because God loves us and wants us to choose a relationship with Him. John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Why is Heaven often called Home? Because Home is where the heart is! Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The surety of Heaven is real. The longer we live the more our thoughts turn to our Creator. Jesus sets us free from the fear of death and sets our minds on Heaven.

John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

II Corinthians 5:6-8 – Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as w

e are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.