Destination Known

I love to travel! I firmly believe that God Himself placed this desire inside of me and then blessed me by giving me a career as a flight attendant to explore and enjoy numerous places and its people. Not only did I go to places I desired to visit...but I also experienced (and enjoyed) places I would never have thought to go visit, if not for my flight schedule which took me there! 

Regardless if my destination was one I had on my “desire” list or was on the company’s list for scheduled over-nights...I most often looked forward to exploring or discovering something new about each place. One of the great benefits of being a flight attendant was being able to return to a favorite destination repeatedly and either explore it in a new way or relax in the familiarity of it.

My love for travel has not been limited to my life as a flight attendant, thank goodness! I have since retired and continue to enjoy the adventure of traveling to places I have never seen before... or revisiting a place as familiar as an old friend, yet still holding a few secrets I long to discover. 

Perhaps like me, you plan your vacation trips by researching what you can expect to see and perhaps imagine what you will do while there. Even plans to revisit a familiar place will have you “googling” for ideas and events or areas nearby to visit. This kind of research always heightens my excitement and increases my anticipation for what I will see and find to do.

When anticipating my next travel destination, not only do my thoughts travel... but I will be found talking often about them as well. I will talk with excitement in my voice and I will share how wonderful and beautiful this chosen place is! Because of my excitement, the one who is listening to the details and descriptions usually ‘catches’ a portion of my desire to be there too. I have to admit, when I have finally put on my calendar that long awaited trip to a place I’ve desired greatly to see and experience...I spend time every day thinking and dreaming about the different aspects of my adventure... beginning with the day I will arrive! 

Soooo....I can’t help but find it interesting that for someone like me who enjoys the anticipation of an exciting travel destination almost as much as the trip itself...that I have spent so little time in researching and exploring what Heaven will be like. After all, Heaven is the most exciting future destination I have waiting for me!

So, I have decided to change that. Beginning this year I have immersed myself in reading and exploring books and sermons about Heaven. I desire to have greater wisdom and understanding and to increase my excitement about where I will one day live! What joy this pursuit has brought me!  

Perhaps the reason so many Christians are not heartfelt excited about Heaven is because they only think of Heaven in the abstract like I once did. You know... like the ending of a love story that closes with the thought or words: “They lived happily ever after...”  When we hear about Heaven...do we think about it in an abstract form and remain unable to envision what being “happy ever after” in Heaven will look and feels like?  For some...perhaps they even fear that Heaven might be boring...at least compared to what we know here. Or... that we will lose the wonderful and fulfilling relationships we share with our loved one here.

I strongly encourage you to join me in reading books about Heaven. Ponder, explore, and reflect on what great biblical teachers and scholars and Christian writers have to say about Heaven. God through His Word reveals to our hearts and minds many of His wonderful promises and gives us beautiful descriptions of what Heaven will be like. 

I have a new excitement of how we will relate to each other in the New Heaven and New Earth... The things we will see and the things we will do. Our abundant God who has given us such beauty here on earth...who has given us such diverse interest and talents and people to love... Would this abundant God give us less in Heaven? Would our abundant Father remove all our passions and desires and enjoyment in seeing and exploring life? Are these things only for our earthy pleasure? No... God does not give us a “boring” beauty in Heaven...one we will grow tired of seeing. Heaven will hold many hidden treasures to discover ~ explore ~ and experience. We will also have emotions that fill us with joy and laughter and excitment. Our hearts will know the purest of love...and we will feel its power pulse through our whole being! 

 Yes... I am immersing myself in thoughts and prayers about Heaven...and in doing so I have discovered a heightened sense of anticipation for heaven in me!  Glory! I love anticipating my final destination...It will be the Destination of a lifetime! Will you join me? I would love to be there with you....

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

   “No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
      and no mind has imagined
   what God has prepared
      for those who love him.”

But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.                                     ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NLT

Glory!

Kathy