Our lives here on earth pale in comparison to what we were intended to be. Our lives are corrupted by sin, detoured by our own free-will, and perhaps even tortured by devils. The life of the rare saint, one who is entirely striving to please God, reveals but a glimmer of the life that is in store for us after this life.
There’s an old joke about a Sunday school teacher who asks her students if they want to go to heaven. Everyone raise their hands but little Tommy. The teacher asks why he doesn’t want to go to heaven, he responds, “I do. I just thought you meant right now.”
Most of my life, I felt that way. I wanted to go to heaven, but not yet. When I was a child, my Sunday school teacher was also my first and second grade school teacher, Mrs. Alice Ada Orrell. I thought she was ancient, but she was only about 60. She taught nearly 20 more years after teaching me. She played piano when called upon, organized Vacation Bible School, and was always ready to testify when given the opportunity. I remember many times she testified that she was ready to “go home.” She meant that if she were to die that very day, she would be happy, for the life that awaited her on the other side would be far superior to this life, weighed down by the burdens and cares of this world.
I didn’t understand that then. I do now. I am ready. I am ready end the battle against sin and death. I am ready to be done with health issues. I am sick of the struggle of wondering where my next meal is coming from, and wondering if I will make enough money to pay my bills next month. I am sick of the aches and pains of an aging and abused body. I am ready to go home, and ready to be the person God intended me to be.
That’s not to say that I will be discontent to stick around until God calls me home, even if it is many years in the future. My prayer is for God to continue to sanctify me, lead me into holiness, and allow me to continue to feel His presence on a daily basis. Still, I let Him know that I am ready.
The Apostle Peter tells us that Christ has prepared us a new life in heaven…
according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5
Are you ready? We never know when we will be called home.
