A Glimpse of Heaven

This past week, I spent 5 days in Panama City Beach with 17 students at a Bigstuf camp. God really did some amazing things there. He impacted students with the Gospel for the first time. He impacted some, directing their focus toward the mission fields (here and abroad). And, he pushed all of them to think about how they think. The worship was awesome. The fellowship amongst students and leaders was awesome as well. Toward the end of the week, I began to think about going home, and how much I desired to stay. I thought about how little I wanted to interact with those who don't know Christ.

They don't understand love. Neither do a lot of Christians. But, when you get into an environment where people are concerned more about the name of Christ than their own selfish desires, you don't want to leave that environment. We taste the heavens. We feel the presence of Jesus Christ. We grow. We love. We live life abundantly. And, unfortunately, we go home.

I actually had the thought Thursday (Day 4 of camp) that I didn't want to go home. I didn't want to think about the stressful work environment. The people who are so discouraging both spiritually and mentally. The people who hate Jesus Christ and hate you for trying to follow Him. I didn't want to go back into the world. These two forces are in opposition. The things of this world hate the things of God. And, the Kingdom of God is at war with the world.

I wanted to stay in the little bit of heaven that I got to be a part of. Which is an interesting thought, that we don't pursue that in our churches. We get so focused on the money, or the strategy, or the mission. We forget to stand tall and pursue Jesus Christ with everything we have. If we'd stop focusing on moving up the church ladder (both pastorally and as a lay-person), or picking fights over stupid garbage, or If we'd stop thinking about whose church is cooler, or better, or more "effective," but just push into Jesus Christ, desiring to bring glory to Him in all things, perhaps we'd all get to experience God together. Perhaps we'd get a glimpse of what Heaven will be like...

"For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked." II Cor. 5:2-3