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Jacob Braude tells the story of a man who hadn't seen an old friend in years. "How is your wife?" the man asked.
"She's in heaven," replied the friend.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Realizing this was not appropriate, he added, "I mean, I'm glad." Trying once again to say the right thing, he said, "Well, I'm surprised."
Friends, I'm surprised about all the stuff you're packing for your celestial journey. Nicole, 8, says she'll pack her toothbrush and toothpaste along with her blanket and stuffed animal.
The good news from Natalie, 9, is that we won't need our toothbrushes or dentist appointments: "You can take your spirit and you will leave your old body. You will get a new body in heaven."
Yes, Natalie. The Apostle Paul described this new body as incorruptible, glorious and spiritual (I Corinthians 15:35-58). The new body is patterned after the resurrected body of the Lord Jesus Christ. The mortal, fleshly body of Jesus that was nailed to the cross was transformed into a spiritual body when he was raised from the dead.
Other items my friends plan to pack in their heaven-bound suitcases: pizza, football, dogs (cats didn't make it), snowboards (from Joey in Alaska), Beanie Babies, money, a violin, a glass angel, flowers, a dove, Mom and Dad.
Emily, 12, says to leave all that stuff behind. "We can't take anything to heaven with us because we won't need anything in heaven besides what's already there. God is there, and He is all that anyone needs. You won't need CDs or TVs or any of the things that we use every day."
Emily knows God will fill the lives of his people. We won't need toys. The Apostle Paul wrote that in Christ "dwells all the fullness of the Godhead" (Colossians 2:9). He added that Christians are complete in Christ. God wants to fill you with his fullness now!
Being complete in Christ and living in a body of flesh is something like having an unlimited checking account. The money is in the bank, but checks must be written to draw upon it. When Christians rely on their own resources, they act and look like bankrupt paupers when they should be drawing upon Christ for their strength.
Janie, 11, understands what this means when she says the Bible encourages Christians "to lay up treasures in heaven," and explains, "Treasures are not gold and silver, but your heart and soul." Adam, 10, agrees: "I will take a loving heart" to heaven.
Janie and Adam realize that the gold of this world is so much asphalt in heaven. Christians are assured of entrance into heaven because they stand upon the foundation of heaven, Jesus Christ. But some will enter empty-handed because they didn't make deposits into their heaven account. They preferred to follow their own plans instead of living God's way.
Take a tip from Katherine, 8, when she says, "You can bring anything you want to bring in heaven as long as it's small."
Think about this: Something small such as giving a cup of water in Jesus' name will make it into heaven. The seemingly insignificant becomes significant when given in Jesus' name.
Memorize this truth: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19-20).
Ask this question: Are you ready to make a heavenly deposit today?
Listen to a talking book, download the "Kids Color Me Bible" for free, watch Kid TV Interviews and travel around the world by viewing the "Mission Explorers Streaming Video" at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. Bible quotations are from the New King James Version.
COPYRIGHT 2007 CAREY KINSOLVING
