Heaven

What do you think Heaven will be like?

The Twilight Zone episode “A Nice Place to Visit” from 1960 starts at the moment Rocky Valentine, a stereotypical bad guy, dies, and follows him through the afterlife. Rocky believed that in Heaven everything should go his way, and during the story, everything does. Surrounded by his favorite ways to gamble, the Rocky exclaims “Dis must be Heaven!”

But he never loses at anything. Ever. He plays poker, horse races, craps, and blackjack. The results? Win, win, win, and win, without stopping.

In the closing scene, Rocky tells his afterlife guide he’s tired of Heaven and wants to check out “the other place” for a change of pace. His guide laughs, and replies, “Heaven? Whatever gave you the idea you were in heaven, Mr. Valentine? This is the other place!”

Based on the descriptions in Revelation 4:8-10 and 5:11-14, Heaven is not where everything goes our way. The focus in heaven is not on us, or our own wants and desires. Rocky got everything he ever wanted for himself, and he eventually realized he was in hell.

Instead, the focus in heaven is where it rightfully should be – on Jesus.

So if you are planning on going to Heaven, let me ask: for practice, are you giving Him the glory, honor and thanks for everything in your life now? Because a glimpse of Heaven here on earth does not occur when you get what you want.

It comes when you praise and worship and say thanks to Jesus, keeping your focus where it ought to be, like it will be in Heaven. We need to rehearse now so that we can join with the thousands upon thousands of angels in their praise.

Even just a simple “Thank you, Lord” for the seemingly mundane, everyday events in our lives can help prepare us.

Look around at your blessings, and say “Alleluia” as part of your training.

Say “Praise the Lord” any time, just for a dry run.

That way you can get ready for Heaven, join the praise that goes on for ever and ever, and feel right at home.

How are you prepping for Heaven?