What Can We Take To Heaven?
Jacob Braude tells the story of a man who hadn't seen an old friend in years. "How is your wife?" the man asked.
"She's in heaven," replied the friend.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Quickly realizing this was not the appropriate response, he added, "I mean, I'm glad." And that was even worse. Finally, he said, "Well, I'm surprised."
Friends, I'm surprised about all the stuff you're packing for your celestial
journey. Nicole, 8, says she'll pack her toothbrush and toothpaste along with her blanket and stuffed animal. Nicole, your dentist will be glad to know you intend to have the brightest smile in heaven.
The good news from Natalie, 9, is that we won't need our toothbrushes or
dentist appointments: "You can take your spirit and you will leave your old body. You will get a new body in heaven."
Yes, Natalie. The Apostle Paul described this new body as incorruptible (no tooth decay!), glorious and spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:35-58). The new body is patterned after the resurrected body of the Lord Jesus Christ. The mortal, fleshly body of Jesus that was nailed to the cross was transformed into a spiritual body when he was raised from the dead.
Other items my friends plan to pack in their heaven-bound suitcases: pizza, football, dogs (cats didn't make it), snowboards (from Joey in Alaska), Beanie Babies, money, a violin, a glass angel, flowers, a dove, Nintendo 64, Mom and Dad.
Emily, 12, says to leave all that stuff behind. "We can't take anything to
heaven with us because we won't need anything in heaven besides what's
already there. God is there, and he is all that anyone needs. You won't need CDs or TVs or any of the things that we use every day."
Emily knows God will fill the lives of his people. We won't need toys. The
Apostle Paul wrote that in Christ "dwells all the fullness of the Godhead" (Colossians 2:9). He added that Christians are complete in Christ. God wants to fill you with his fullness now!
Being complete in Christ and living in a body of flesh is something like
having an unlimited checking account. The money is in the bank, but checks must be written to draw upon it. When Christians rely on their own resources, they act and look like bankrupt paupers when they should be
drawing upon Christ for their strength.
Janie, 11, understands what this means when she says the Bible encourages Christians "to lay up treasures in heaven," and explains, "treasures are not gold and silver, but your heart and soul." Adam, 10, agrees: "I will take a loving heart" to heaven.
Janie and Adam realize that the gold of this world is so much asphalt in
heaven. Christians are assured of entrance into heaven because they stand upon the foundation of heaven, Jesus Christ. But some will enter empty-handed because they didn't make deposits into their heaven account. They preferred to follow their own plans instead of living God's way.
Take a tip from Katherine, 8, when she says, "You can bring anything you
want to bring in heaven as long as it's small."
Katherine, if you’re thinking of something small such as giving a cup of water in Jesus' name, I'm with you. How incredible to imagine something so small and seemingly insignificant could make the transfer to heaven. Make a deposit today!