Heaven

The last few weeks at church we've been discussing the topic of Heaven. I don't think I've really ever given a ton of thought to some of the things we've been talking about. What will Heaven be like? What will God be like? What will we do when we get to Heaven? We also learned some of the most popular misconceptions about Heaven vs. Hell.

I have to say, I was a little disappointed to learn that reincarnation just isn't in the cards for us believes but today learned that if God created us and all the animals and the entire universe then there's still hope that he could create other things...So does this mean we might have a chance to come back and do this life thing again, even at the risk of never seeing the same people or knowing the same thing? A do-over we're not aware is our second chance to get things right?

I must admit this series couldn't have come at a better time, since I've been thinking back to my past and have been living with some exhausting and sometimes all-consuming guilt over the choices I've made. I am definitely far from perfect but this series and my latest Bible study have been a great relief that God still forgives if we're truly sorry and I have a second chance, and a third, a fourth, and so on...Granted I know I'll be judged, and it might be a harsh punishment in my opinion, because I did many things, that I knew were wrong, after I came to know Christ.

I've never thought that Heaven would be boring, that there would be nothing to do. I've never wondered whether my pets would be there with me or if my family members would greet me when I got there or maybe I'd greet them, but now I've come to fear something more...What if I don't get there? I've learned that "good people don't go to Heaven, forgiven people go to Heaven".

That brings up something else, and maybe I'm the only one who's ever thought it but here goes...I can say from the bottom of my heart that I'd never wish for someone not to make it to Heaven, buuuuutttt...I can definitely say that my little sinning Christian heart has certainly wished that should we all make it to Heaven that I might be fortunate enough to never run into those people that annoy me here on Earth. The "porcupine people". How would I treat them in Heaven? Or would we get along? I mean, there are those who've treated me pretty badly at times or done things I've thought were just lousy in general, so the idea that they will receive blessings too is sometimes a little frustrating and always a little humbling.

Am I the only one who thinks like that? I understand that we'll all be held accountable for our actions according to what we know and whether we're believers or not, which frankly scares me a little (for my own sake). And I just kind of expect people who aren't believers to be more relaxed about things, you know the "oops, was that really a bad idea" kind of thing. But I just don't like when people who are Christ followers, knowing every single scripture in the Bible, maybe they even go to your church, but they turn their back on you when you need help the most or they actually have the nerve to scowl at you behind the scenes or spread rumors about you to people you greatly respect.

Honestly, I don't think they deserve the same blessings other people are getting. Not that I think I deserve them, but if we're supposed to be following the words in the Bible and living a life like Christ then how are these behaviors acceptable? If we are sorry for our actions we should repent (truly meaning it) and move on but don't keep repeating the same crummy acts you've been doing all along. I guess we just won't know until we get there, right?