Experiencing Heaven On Earth

Experiencing Heaven On Earth

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Colossians 3:1-2

On July 4, 1980, I had a dream of heaven that changed my life. In that dream, I experienced the sights, sounds, and smells of heaven. That one experience changed me from an atheist to a believer in God.

Ever since that night, I have searched the world for signs of the heaven to come. I truly believe it is closer than we think—perhaps just on the other side of the veil between life and death. I know this because, as I’ve paid attention, God has given me glimpses of heaven.

In fact, I believe God marks the pathway for all of us to our eternal home, drawing us onward toward heaven. But we must be spiritually awake and aware of those bread crumbs to experience them in this world.

Often, while walking around my farm, I will get a whiff of a tantalizing aroma or see a majestic butterfly, and I’ll again experience that sense of heaven. Those moments take me back to what I experienced in my dream.

C. S. Lewis said, “If I find in myself a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”^a

Standing at the bedside of a believer who is ready to cross the threshold into eternal life is like standing on holy ground. It is an opportunity to witness the veil blowing open momentarily to welcome a new saint into heaven. I have treasured every chance I’ve had to be a part of these transitions. Each experience is slightly different—yet, at the same time, familiar.

We must be fully awake and spiritually aware of the bread crumbs that lead us ever so gently toward home. Who knows? We may just get the opportunity to escort a loved one to heaven’s foyer. If that happens to you, inhale deeply and fully experience the moment. You might just be breathing in heaven’s air.

TODAY’S RX

You don’t need to run toward heaven; heaven is walking alongside you.

Father, I long for a glimpse of what awaits me—to shed the weight and pain of this life and to experience the majesty of your Kingdom. Until that day, send me reminders of your glory so that I may remember that I was made for more than just this world.