Heaven Bound

I’m starting this by sharing my experience with you. As I was waking up this morning I had an urge in my spirit to begin writing. Only this time, as the words were flooding my spirit I saw a vision of someone standing up in front of my church reading this writing. The thing that struck me about this writing is, as it was being read aloud the words were that of someone who has already passed on to be with the Lord. They were reading about her peace and her excitement to be with her Father. It was about a story of someone who knew the meaning of suffering, rejection, pain and sorrow, but she never elaborated on the pain, she talked of the Joy and the blessings that she experienced through Christ. She spoke of healing. She talked about despite the circumstances of her past, God filled the 2^nd half of her life with His Amazing Grace. The words were that of a woman who was desperately in love and grateful to her Savior.

She spoke of seeing herself in heaven before she even arrived. She spoke of how she saw herself dancing in the arms of her Heavenly Father. Feeling a love that has never been felt by anyone on this earth. There was no fear in her words, they were the words of someone who longed for that moment. The words spoken felt as if they were that of my very own story, things I have shared in most of my writings. It was a beautiful reminder of the future God has for me. As much as I was excited that someday I will go to heaven, there has always been a fear of dying. A fear of not being with the ones I love so much. A fear of not accomplishing the things in life God has created me to accomplish. Honestly, it was always a great fear of failing and not leaving behind a legacy that would encourage my children and those around me to enter into a relationship with the Lord. I have always dreamt of such a legacy that people who didn’t even know me would hear of my story and turn to Jesus. But honestly, I can’t think of anyone in Christ who wouldn’t desire that very thing.

As I began writing this vision on paper, the Lord led me to a page that shed much light on the legacy we should be striving for according to His word that I feel the need to share with you. Especially if it’s also your desire. What He revealed to me was that I get to leave a Legacy of Joy in the midst of the difficulty that I have faced in my life (James 1: 1-2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. He has shown me that I get to leave a Legacy of Receiving and Giving Grace… By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. (1 Corinthians 3:10) We get to leave a Legacy of encouraging and inspiring others towards greatness… But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13). A Legacy of giving my time, treasures, and energy for kingdom work… But since you excel in everything"in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you"see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7).

A Legacy of modeling forgiveness… Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). A Legacy of unconditional love for my family and friends… Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). A Legacy of leading and disciplining people to Christ… Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well” (1 Thessalonians 2:8). A Legacy of hearing and doing God’s word… Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). A Legacy of doing good and productive work… Their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work” (1 Corinthians 3:13). A Legacy of looking towards my heavenly home.. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

All these things are very achievable by those who are in relationship with Christ, but what it just revealed to me is that those are the very things that I strive for in my life. Although I mess up and fall into the trap of feeling like I am failing, I now know that whenever the Lord chooses to take me home and allow me the pleasure of dancing in the arms of my Father, that I have strived for a life that models those attributes of the Father. One day my friends we will all be Heaven Bound and it will be a Beautiful and Glorious Day. I don’t know when that day will come for any of us, but I do know that through the vision the Lord has given me this morning, I will no longer fear. I will no longer see myself as un-accomplished. God’s will is for us not against us and He will accomplish whatever it is that He set out to do through us. Remember that it’s not about us in the least. He can choose to use whomever He desires to Glorify His name. So, as you go about your day. I encourage you to seek the will of God, to strive to live out His word through leaving behind acts of love, joy, grace, forgiveness and all the rest of His attributes which are all found in Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Allow His light to shine through you in all you do and strive with all your heart, filled with a new excitement and Joy to one day become Heaven Bound because on that day: He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever (Revelation 21:4)

                                                                                       *Aleeza*