A View From Heaven

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

Have you ever had a dream that seemed like more than a dream when you awoke? And the clouds of your mind had to clear to realize it was only a dream? Nine months after Daddy died I found myself feeling like I wasn’t really providing any purpose. It was a time of insecurity and a time of searching for meaning of my walk on earth. I went to bed with an empty heart but experienced something through the night that I've never forgotten. In the dream my dad had appeared to me at work and asked me to go with him, so he could tell me some things. Once I took his hand, I realized that we were moving forward in a realm of space above earth but below Heaven. We were moving forward by no effort of our own, and his message to me was a string of Scripture from different parts of the Bible. One of the verses from his sweet mouth was the verse above. One of the reasons I was feeling insecure was because the only thing I was doing was blogging on the internet. At the time, I was caring in my home for my father-in-law who had Alzheimer's so my time was limited. My audience was invisible, and so was the fruit of the service. Daddy encouraged me that every single thing we do on earth affects heaven…not later…but in that moment. He said that I wouldn’t believe what heaven was like, and that every painful thing he experienced on earth was worth it because of the glory he was experiencing. Every time I hear this verse I picture my Daddy’s face and the joy he had in his eyes during that dream. The peace and comfort that I experienced as I awoke rooted in my heart that night. Now I know that every single act of kindness that we do on earth has an effect above. When we bless…Heaven is blessed… when we pray…the saints of Heaven also pray…when we love, love in heaven is activated.

Like you, life has most likely been tough but when we consider the glory that will be ours once we lose our life here to gain our life there, it will seem like nothing compares. We will walk in the glory of God as His glory will be revealed in our bodies. I’ll take that dream any day, and for every tough challenge I will remember that nothing is random, and no act of worship is futile. I cannot even imagine the view from Heaven as they witness our worship. Does it prompt their worship? Does it encourage them to cast their crowns at the feet of the Lamb? What if it was more than a dream? What if it was a call for the revival of my heart? Whatever it was…it was encouraging…it was anchoring…it was lasting. We fail to know what is happening above as we are focused on our temporary. I pray that each of us will measure our temporary pain against the permanent gain we will receive as we cross over into that beautiful realm of heaven. Through God’s power we are invested with His spirit to act on His behalf. May our lives on earth prompt movement in heaven and our fruit be plentiful.

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19