Visa for Heaven

For our abiding is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

My wife woke up with a dream this morning. She was alone, contemplating moving to Heaven, or Hawaii (what's the difference, anyway?). She knew that she needed a visa, and that the visa would be very difficult to get, very costly and a lot of hard work. She wanted to invite her sisters and brothers to come, but they were indifferent. Nora knew that it would be safer to make the journey with others, but her family was not willing to come, they were not understanding why they would want to leave their country for Another one. 

This dream blessed my heart! For indeed, there is a Visa into Heaven, very costly, and no one could pay the price on their own. But God "So loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever might believe in Him might not perish, but have eternal Life" (Jn 3:16). Surely Heaven is a wonderful place - OK, even better than Hawaii! Why wouldn't anyone want to go there? The Proverbs tell us that for lack of a vision, the people perish. Indeed, the god of this world has blinded the eyes of the unbeliever, telling them that God is not good, and Heaven is not anyplace they would want to go to. So they don't see that there is value, being blind to the Love of God in Jesus Christ. 

Doubtless we all know people who are like this. They are enamored with the here and now, and know nothing of Another country. Many times we witness to them, but to no avail, for we are answering questions that they are not asking. Any salesman knows that unless he can create value in the eyes of his customers, he will never make a sale. Surely, they are watching us, we who are in the church. They know the difference between phony religion and Life, not being impressed with the former at all. Our message, though, is not religion but Life (I John 1:1-4). As we abide in Him through disappointment, suffering and sorrow, His Life is formed in us, a life that is indestructible and eternal, and this life the world cannot deny. Having seen true value in the Kingdom of Heaven, they will want to know more. When they are ready, the Holy Spirit will be there to "guide them into all Truth"