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My dad passed away on May 19, 2023. It’s not the first time he died.
While still alive, Dad shared his story with my family, and others about going to Heaven. He also put it in words to my family in a letter. Now that he can no longer tell anyone about his experience, I’ll share it in his words from that letter (Love you, Dad!):
“On Nov. 19, 2015, Mom and I were walking across an intersection in Davenport, Iowa, when a big truck going 35 mph ran a stop sign and plowed into both of us sending us flying over 10 feet. Mom was unconscious for approximately one hour but I immediately upon impact died and went to Heaven I believe. All of the colors of the rainbow and more were very vivid, there was no feeling of anxiety or pain only peace. My mouth did not open but I asked if it was our time and was told by thought that it was NOT my time. At that moment I was in a world of pain on the cement of the road trying to call out to Mom who I could see was in a pool of blood 15 feet from me but she did not respond..Mom had 10 staples put in her head. I had broken my knee in 3 places, pulling all of the muscles over the knee and tore the cartilage from between my left knee leaving it bone on bone. All of my ribs, pelvis, etc on my left side were dislocated. After this incident I have PTSD with symptoms every day for the past 3 years.”
Mom made a full recovery, and though it’s been emotionally hard to deal with the loss of Dad, I’m happy for him that he can be with Jesus!
Here is another story about a trip to Heaven:
When my dad described heavenly colors, and the woman said she can’t convey what Heaven looks like since it’s so above what we could imagine, this verse comes to mind:
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Dad mentioned no pain, and the woman brought up a feeling of joy.
Revelation 21:4 says, 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
The woman seemed to have a longer experience in Heaven than my dad. She pretty much said that flowers, grass, and trees were swaying to music worshipping God. She also said she couldn’t look at the bright light. Here’s Scripture I found related to what she said:
Psalm 96:12
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Revelation 5:8-9
8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Revelation 14:2-3
2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
Revelation 15:2-4
2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.[a]
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”[b]
1 Timothy 6:14-16
14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
John 14:2-4
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
We expect “RESERVED” signs in parking lots to be the prime parking spots, right? This was not the case with a couple of signs I saw. I think the two signs were placed to reserve about four parking spaces. It was hard to tell because of the sprawling ice, and a thick wall of snow to boot. I actually feel bad for the ones that are assigned to park there on the icy opposite of the building’s parking lot. It’s no wonder no one was parked there. Those reserved spots would seem like punishment.
For followers of Jesus, He’s reserved desired places in Heaven. In John 14:2, Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
2 Corinthians 4:17, 5:1-10, John 14:2, Revelation 21:1-4
It’s commonplace for business employees to say to customers, “Have a good day.” I feel confident that in Heaven, nobody will say, “Have a good day” because to say it implies that it’s possible someone could have a bad day. In Heaven, everyday will be a good day with what sounds like personalized mansions and no crying, pain or death. But until we Christians can get to Heaven, “Have a good day!”
John 14:2-3, Isaiah 11:6-7, Revelation 21, 22, 4:3-5
My family has a habit of reading the devotional, Our Daily Bread each day. Recently, one writer wrote about someone who assumed Heaven is boring. The writer quickly mentioned that when they went to the Grand Canyon, they were in awe at one part of God’s creation. The author concluded that Heaven would not be boring. I would like to add reasons I think Heaven will not be boring:
- Jesus will be there!
- Wolves, lions and bears can reside there (like a beautiful zoo with no cages).
- The sun is not needed because God Himself provides all of the light with no night.
- The River of Life is in front of God’s throne.
- Lightning and thunder come from God’s throne.
- There is a rainbow encircling His throne (no more waiting for the weather conditions to be just right for a rainbow).
- The main street is made out of GOLD. God doesn’t have to mine for gold, since He can just make it.
- New Jerusalem’s walls will be decorated with jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, amethyst (my favorite), etc. Is that enough precious stones for you?
- There are lots of mansions in Heaven.
- Jesus said He’d “prepare a place for you” which implies individual things might be included, like your favorite wild animals.
Will Heaven be boring? Maybe one day’s highlights would be strolling down the golden street, hugging a lion, and doing a backstroke in the River of Life while watching lightning shoot out from God’s throne. That sounds exciting to me! Why would God make Himself a boring place to live? That’s an insult to Him. God is GOD and everything will be perfect. Trust Him to provide eternal entertainment.
Big Bible Fan 