Sometimes, when I think about what heaven will be like, I have a tendency to think of myself as being kind of in the background. After all, there are so many great Christians that will be there. All who have done many greater things for Christ than I will ever do.
I imagine Christ having conversations with these great men and women, as I listen in with awe and wonder. Of course Christ acknowledges me, and welcomes me with genuine love, but still imagine myself as a little more than a “tag-along.” What, I think, could I possibly say to Christ that would be more important, or more profound, than what these great Christians have to say?
When I think of heaven in that way, I wonder if it will be as wonderful as everyone seems to think. Will I be a second class citizen in God’s kingdom? Will I have to wait in line to get some one-on-one time with Jesus? Will He notice me out of the corner of His eye, and feel compassion for me, but make me wait my turn?
I don’t want to be in a heaven like that. I don’t want to have to exist throughout eternity with just the knowledge that God really does love me. I want to be with Him. I want to enjoy His presence without interruption.
So, when I think about heaven in this way, I turn to His Word to find the truth about heaven. And I discover that what I want is exactly what God wants. He desires to spend eternity with me. Not as a second-class citizen; not as a God who, though compassionate, makes me wait my turn for an “audience” with him; but in a one-on-one relationship with me.
God wants me to be in heaven because He wants to spend eternity with me. he wants to hug me, laugh with me, and walk with me throughout His creation; for all eternity.
And the even greater thing about this relationship with God is that He desires to start it now. He is not content to wait for me to get to heaven. He wants to have a one-on-one with me right now. And so do I!,