Welcome to Buoy, a Life in Deeper Water podcast.

Episode 53. Heaven’s Place in My Heart Right Now (for a mindful and mobile mentality)

Hello human.

If you are jumpin’ straight on this BUOY, episode 53 is part 2 of my witness about heaven’s place in my heart right now. I started this path in Episode 52 if you want to circle back.

I shared a little about what would not be in heaven:  no death or mourning, crying, pain, that God will wipe every tear away. That there will be no more curse from our Fall from God, and no day, or night. And that Paul tells us to set our hearts, and our minds on things above (Colossians 3:1-4)

That Jesus speaks of His heavenly home, His Father’s mansion of many rooms. (John 14:2-4) … that He is preparing a place for you.

And that our lowly body will be transformed like the glorious body of Jesus (Philippians 3:20-21).

I obviously haven’t been to heaven yet. A little grace for my journey, please. My hope is that my witness helps open your heart toward heaven, that you will join me in also preparing a place in our hearts and minds for a longing of Jesus’ return and a life of packing for our eternal journey with Him.

Don’t freak out. You don’t have to be old or older to think about heaven. In fact, the younger you are, the better. Because the spiritual abundance of an earthly life powered by Jesus is most fully realized with your eternal destination in mind.

Divine Anticipation Prioritizes Earthly Service

When we seek God’s nature to gain vision about our destination, we arrive at a place called clarity. It’s on the cul de sac of peace. The road to it is narrow, but those on it, find each other.

The waiting, and watching for Jesus, is not a distraction, it is a divine anticipation that prioritizes our earthly service to others.

The emotional, mental and physical battles we face every day, when our human nature is never quite redeemed, never quite claims the victory in our daily earth-grind. All that will be left behind.

Think earth-grind conquered. This is why I love what the apostle Paul tells us:

2 Corinthians 5:5-8

5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Our true forever home. Our final destiny.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” The Greek verb translated “see” (horao) is in a tense that denotes a future, continuous reality.

Picture Heaven

So, what are a few visuals for my forever home?

My heavenly home has:

• The river of the water of life
• Tree of life
• Twelve pearly gates, each made from a single pearl
• A street of gold, as pure as transparent glass
• Twelve crops of fruit
• The Throne of God, and the Throne of the Lamb
• Servants who will serve God, who see His face

We inherit all of this, as citizens of Heaven. If you want to read descriptions of heaven, turn to the book of Revelation. I will read one passage, that paints an image.

Revelation 22:1

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

But how does God prepare us? I asked you to think about what God wants in our spiritual backpack.

As a reminder, Jesus tells us to sell our possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses (moneybags) that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail.  Luke 12:33

Spiritual treasures are how we prioritize our faith walk on earth.

In heaven, we won’t need earthly treasures like a house, a car, two cars, clothes or a walk-in closet, food, jewelry, books, drinks, a toothbrush, Starbucks, shopping therapy, French fries, praise, new tires, the dentist, a lot of shoes, vacations, a break, a job, better pay, followers, likes, to pay taxes, a government, lightbulbs, dessert, a toilet brush, a toothpick, a scouring pad, a phone, internet service, theology, clean socks, showers, bath soap, dark chocolate, and… (pause)

We won’t need water. Or oxygen.

His Divine Power Motivates Our Earthly Efforts

But the amazing, and paradoxical thing is this: God has given us everything we need for a godly life right now. In the midst of, and to transcend all the earthly assurances we surround ourselves with.

2 Peter 1:3-7

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

Spiritual Treasures – Mindful and Mobile

My focus on heaven is about how to accumulate treasures in heaven while still here. If this were a focus on physical health, our backpack would include a water bottle, a protein bar, a resistance band, athletic shoes.

So, what’s in my spiritual backpack? Building spiritual character is about bringing God-attributes to everything I do. It is how we participate in God’s divine nature. I read it like this in one translation:

Faith, supplement with Virtue

Virtue, supplement with Knowledge

Knowledge, supplement with Self-Control

Self-Control, supplement with Steadfastness

Steadfastness, supplement with Godliness

Godliness, supplement with Brotherly Affection

Brotherly Affection, supplement with Love

Love

The sequence of these eight attributes, how Peter layers them is another BUOY down the road, because I want them to be embedded in my witness. But today I begin by memorizing the order.

Because spiritual treasures serve an immediate earthly purpose. They are about being mindful and mobile. Mindful about the home I am going to. And mobile in how I exemplify my divine anticipation of Jesus returning for me. How I spread my joy about His return by giving to others from my faith, my virtue, my knowledge… and so on.

We are told to watch for Jesus. What do I want to be doing when He comes? I want to be talking to someone about Him, encouraging a sister or brother in the body, naming people who are in need in my prayers, recording BUOY… and of the more tangible earthly things, taking bread out of the oven to give away, putting together Christmas cookie boxes for neighbors and lonely people, people who feel unloved, and continuing to write about God’s nature, and His amazing love for me.  And His amazing love for you, human.

Matthew 24:42

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

What do you want to be doing when He comes back? And what’s in your spiritual backpack for the journey to the room He has prepared for you?

What My Heart Recites, What Lights My Way

The Holy Spirit has given me this string of spiritual pearls to commit to a simple picture of heaven that my heart recites through my actions. That my heart recites through my actions. How I live my earthly life in Christ.

I am working on a little phrasing that I can claim and recite from within, like a spiritual protein bar, for good and bad days. When I am on the move. I am fine sharing this with you in draft format, and am dedicating it to a beautiful lady who is celebrating her 80^th year on this earth right now. She lives and gives to others with such a clear vision of her heavenly home. Thank you, Doris.

What Lights My Way

God’s glory lights my heavenly home,

No sun, no moon, or day turned night.

My place prepared by His only Son,

Counted righteous through His sacrifice.

God’s nature designs my heavenly home,

I praise His sovereign deity.

On the other side of humanity’s fall,

Beyond the curse, to a home truly free.

God’s loving me fills my heavenly home,

With my redeemed and resurrected heart.

My forever rest in His many rooms,

Where I see His face, and fully know His love.

God’s power hallows my earthly walk,

With knowledge for a godly life.

My divine anticipation of Jesus’ return,

Defines, no lengthens, my earthly stride.