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Topic: Reward (09/27/04)
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TITLE: Pearly Gates and Chocolate Shakes By Jennifer Deibel 09/28/04 |
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Streets of gold; pearly gates; shimmering glassy seas. What wonderful images brought to mind from scripture about our eternal home, our final reward for being sons and daughters of the King! Now, I don’t know about you, but when I picture heaven, this Ultimate Reward, I envision all of the saints, walking slowly about, barefoot in long white robes, on the golden streets, singing angelically. It is a very reverent place, with solemn, but content, faces and inside voices. However, as I imagine my Heavenly Father’s home, He brings to my mind another scripture that reminds me that He is a much more personal God than I give him credit for. Just look at Psalm 139:13-16, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
All over scripture we see examples of how personally God has been involved in our lives since before He even created us! Why should we think that our time in Heaven, face to face with Him, would be any less personal? God has given us each unique gifts, talents, likes and dislikes. He did not make a mistake when He created me to be a lover of all things chocolate. Granted, it is up to me while I am on His earth not to take advantage of this love affair, but it is a desire given to me by my Creator. Therefore, I am not ashamed to admit my affection for the silky substance. So, what does chocolate have to do with Heaven? I am here to tell you that I believe it has everything to do with it!
Because of the sacrifice Jesus made for me through His death and resurrection, I am allowed to spend eternity kicking back with the God of the universe. I lay claim to the promises in His Holy Word that state He is preparing for my arrival. It is going to be a very special time indeed! When I go home to visit my mother and father, even though I have not lived in their house for nearly ten years, my mother always stocks up on my favorite snacks and goodies. She plans special activities that she knows I enjoy doing, and doing with her specifically. We go to our favorite coffee house to sit and chat and catch up on the latest happenings in our lives. We find the biggest sale and a local department store and spend an afternoon browsing, laughing, and reconnecting. She does all of those things because I am coming home. How much more must my Heavenly Father be preparing for my final homecoming?
Do I believe that the streets are made of gold and the gates of pearls? Absolutely! Do I believe there will be singing and praising? Without a doubt! However, I do not believe that it will be a solemn, quiet, boring occasion that will take time for me to get used to. As soon as I enter those gates, it will feel like home. Why? Because my Daddy has been preparing since He formed the world for me to come back home. My street may be gold. Then again, it may be gold-foil wrapped chocolate! My seat at the banqueting table may be set with chocolate shakes, Belgian waffles, and a good caramel macchiato. He is so intimate with me in every stage of my life, I fully expect my eternity to be even more so.
What are your favorite things? What brings a smile to your face and a butterfly to your stomach? Don’t be surprised if when you collect your reward, you see a large, icy, dripping chocolate shake - a gift from your Daddy.