Friends, if you were like me, you grew-up with images of heaven as a location where angels perched themselves upon fluffy, white clouds…lounging peacefully, without a care-in-the-world. Beautiful and yet, if we are completely transparent, dull and impersonal. In addition to these characterizations of the afterlife, Scripture was taught predominantly via flannel graph and cartoons. Most often portrayed as “stories” to be memorized, not as God’s inspired Words, both rational and historical. It’s no wonder that our postmodern minds receive what the Bible says with skepticism! And our hearts abandon the solid ground of absolute truth for the shifting sands of emotionalism!

Because of this, we often find ourselves “wishing” our days away with unspoken lists of what we hope to accomplish before we die! Our self-bent hearts holding ever-so-tightly to the temporary rewards of this world (money, self-esteem, power, the praises of others, etc)…and our weary minds just wanting to be numb (ie., binging Netflix in lieu of reading the Bible, etc).

But, please consider this…

The same Creator who intentionally fashioned the entire universe, along with every living organism within, has promised to provide both a new Heaven and a new earth one day! The Maker of all things will have a brand new home for us! Why would we create bucket lists for this fleeting moment when all of eternity contains God’s perfect design!? A beautiful world without brokenness and heartbreak! Who can fathom it?!

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luke 12:33-34

With this in mind, Sisters, take a deep breath and relinquish your Bucket List into His hands. Being in God’s presence for all of eternity is one’s best life! A gift which only God could provide. A gift that came through God’s rescue plan. A rescue plan which involved God’s one and only Son coming to earth and paying a debt that we deserved to pay. It’s a reality that should both humble and amaze us daily. Gals, let’s live this life not making temporary lists which change “with the seasons, but instead let’s rely upon God’s strength in sharing the Gospel! It’s the most important endeavor we could undertake. (1 Peter 3:15; Gal 2:20)

“I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”
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Philippians‬ ‭1:23‬

His,

Meridith