Am I Ready for Heaven?

Written by Marilyn Ehle

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“What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him – and in seeing him, become like him” (1 John 3:2, The Message).

A good friend of mine recently died after a long bout with cancer and an extended stay in a care facility. Strange as it may seem, when I heard the news of her death, my first reaction was, “Heaven will be no surprise for her. She’s been living for years in the presence of Jesus.”

My last visit with Susan – just two weeks before her death – was just like all my other visits. Her first question was about what God was doing in my life. Her face, now thin from the ravages of disease, was lit with a brilliant smile. Susan’s work with international students through the years was continuing as she met twice weekly with one of the kitchen staff who wanted to improve her English. She spoke lovingly by phone every day with her mother whose confused mind was withering because of senile dementia. She asked if we could pray – not for herself but for her patient, tired and loving husband. “This is so hard for him,” she said.

When Susan stopped breathing the air of earth, I know she swelled with love at the sight of her Savior. She had been becoming like Him for a long time. Heaven wasn’t really a surprise; she had lived its reality for years.

Father God, help me look longingly at you each day and live increasingly like you so that when I see you face to face, I will not be surprised, only overcome with joy.

Questions: How do you think we can better prepare ourselves for heaven? What characteristics need to be developed?

About the Author Marilyn J. Ehle

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, The Purpose of Live, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Tags: cancer, care facility, death, dementia, extended stay, friend, heaven, international students, patient, ravages of disease, Savior

2 Responses to “Am I Ready for Heaven?”

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kanj says:

February 12, 2009 at 2:43 pm

Marilyn, thank you so much for this devotional. For me personally, experiencing the death of my mother-in-law last july was experience in something i had never dealt with before. seeing first hand someone pass before your eyes, holding their hand, (she had slipped into a coma). i heard her last gasp, it was a long one. i knew at that moment that the Lord told her it was time to come. she put up with many years of dragging around an oxygen tank and rarely did she complain. when dementia set in near the end i was fearful that she might not know the Lord would be with her. that was 7 mths ago. in those 7 months there have been a few spirts of growth in me and today I am blessed to know the Lord just that much more.
the more I read Scripture each day, i feel a relationship evolving. now i have days where i feel overwhelmed by His mercy on me, there are days when He must get tired of listening to me. but i know these days and the many trials and experiences to come are only preparing me for Jesus’s arrival. for me, being able to listen and be patient, to wait when I feel the Holy Spirit. these are the two things I know are in me, and need more nurturing. an anxious child I am.
sharon says:

February 12, 2009 at 12:38 pm

i think we should try every day to be more like Him