January 8, 2010

Thoughts About Heaven
January 6th, 2010 by Joe Gibbs

As you know, each week I try and share a little bit of my life with you
and what I'm learning and reading. This past week, we lost a good
friend: George Michael. George was a sportscaster in Washington D.C.
and was famous for the 'Sports Machine' that many of you watched on
Saturday nights. He lost a two-year battle with cancer. His death made
me stop and reflect on my time here on Earth. In James 4:14-16, God
describes life here on Earth as a mist. That's how quick life is going
to pass. God says it's going to take us 1,000 years to appreciate
heaven. So, how much time do we have here on Earth? We're not sure.
I'm of course older than George was when he died. I often mention Sean
Taylor who was 24 years old when he died. So, you never know. God
describes our time here, though, as being very short.

So then, that leads us to focusing on heaven. In Hebrews, heaven is
described as awesome place where the saints have gone on before us. I
think about this often. That's my mother, that's my dad, that's close
friends (such as George) who have gone on before us. That gives us a
picture of them cheering us on as we run the race here on Earth.
Another thing that gets me thinking about heaven is the chapter by Randy
Alcorn in the Game Plan For Life. For a lot of years, I didn't think
about heaven. It had been described to me as a mist, floating around
playing a harp. That's not the case at all. If you study what Randy
Alcorn says about heaven-it will get you excited. We're still going to
recognize each other, we're going to achieve, and there will be
competition. As I've said before, I believe it's going to be a place
where there are 1,000-year races and football games. So, I would
encourage everybody to read the chapter in Game Plan For Life about
heaven.

Steve Hudson, who is the chaplain for our motocross team, was speaking a
while ago during the funeral for Max Helton. Several people had spoken
before him and it was a very somber atmosphere. Steve came barreling up
on the stage, points to the coffin and says, "We're all going to wind up
right here! The question is, what are we going to do between now and
then?" That statement will always stick with me. So, the challenge for
you and I is: are we storing up treasures in heaven? In the sixth
chapter of Matthew, God talks about what our goal here in Earth should
be: storing up treasures in heaven. I don't know about you, but
sometimes I can get caught up in all I need to achieve. Is that really
the most important thing for you and I to focus on? I think not. It's
about investing in those around us. For me, my focus is on the Game
Plan For Life in witnessing to others. It's also about investing in my
friends, my family, and particularly, my grandkids. That investment in
others is storing up treasures in heaven.