Straight to Heaven
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Going straight to the Cross
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Hmmm, yum. Better than a Bavarian nut!
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COLUMN: Final Phase
Straight to Heaven
by J. Randal Matheny
After lunch at one of the three shopping centers
in our city, I wandered over to the Bavarian nut
cart for a different choice in desserts. As I
walked up, the salesgirl said to a friend at her
side, "... and nobody goes straight to Heaven."
"I'm going straight to Heaven," I interjected,
without thinking twice.
In Brazil, you can jump right into a conversation,
without even introducing yourself.
And I didn't even know the context of the
conversation, but I knew I wanted in this one.
They didn't back up to explain much, but just
included me in the flow of the discussion.
I never did find out whether the delay or detour
to Heaven meant Purgatory or Hades or some off-
brand of reincarnation.
After ten minutes of chatting and buying my paper
cone of nuts, I handed them my business card,
"Want something more out of life?" and headed
toward the car and my next commitment.
But my answer to the unknown issue kept bouncing
in my mind.
I'm going straight to Heaven.
Oh, sure, I believe that at death one goes to the
world of the dead -- in the Paradise department, I
hope -- to await the judgment. (See the story in
Luke 16:19-31 as an example.) But my thought
wasn't on that doctrinal question.
My thought was how much of a beeline I'm making
for an eternal seat at the greatest Place beyond
the universe. And how much I want everyone I know
and see to go there with me.
The real detours are the ones we make down here on
earth. They can be deadly. They can keep us from
ever coming back to the Main Road.
But I'm going straight to Heaven. And nothing will
get in my way.
What about you?
"My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for
that is far better" (Phil. 1:23b, ESV).
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