I've been thinking a lot about heaven lately. With little Sok being so sick in Cambodia I've found my thoughts wandering to my sweet friend, Jenn. We met in college where she majored in Missions, taught me about kayaking and she'd bake blueberry muffins when she was stressed. Sophomore year she was diagnosed with cancer and 3 years later she died. Before jenn died she would always talk about heaven and what things would be like in heaven when she got there. She'd tell us not to be sad because she was going to be so happy-she'd have new mountain bike tails to explore everyday and she'd get to hang out with Jesus!
In an email abuot Sok (a 6 year old boy in Cambodia who has been very close to dying a few times recently), a friend of mine wrote about how this sweet, precious boy wanted to ride a bicycle. He's not had ample opportunities to do that as 6 year olds should. Another friend told me about sitting in Sok's hospital room with him while the two of them shared a white board and some markers to take turns drawing pictures of heaven. The thought of this scene brings a huge smile to my face every time!
In the middle of what could be seen as and understood to be some of the most sad, hopeless and painful hours of life both Jenn and Sok have shown me that Jesus offers a living hope...even to the dying ones. When we know Him and believe His words that tell us that He has gone to prepare a place for us we are blessed. Not only are we able to hope in what He's prepared but we can take it a step further by choosing to dreeam of it now.
As Jenn told us of all the things she looked forward to about heaven we were able to rejoice with her. We didn't stop asking for her healing, we wanted her here, with us! But, we knew she'd also be just fine there.
As we teach Sok and countless others how to look forward to what awaits us in Eternity we offer freedom for them to have faith in something more than what the doctors and tests can tell them.
More importantly, we offfer freedom for those who are sick -and for those who love them- to let God be sovereign. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours and we can't begin to understand why He does things He does. But we can choose to believe that, just as He says, He has the best in mind for each one of us. I really do trust that.
The Bible tells us that heaven will be a new earth. That makes me think that we will enjoy the types of things we enjoy now except they will be untainted. And, we will be constantly in His presence, uninterrupted companionship with our Maker!
I don't know about you, but personally, I love thinking of Jenn enjoying those new mountain bike trails! And, I can't wait for the grandeour of heavenly sunsets...
