Many people in this world do NOT believe in anything that exists beyond what they can see on this earth.  So many of those, who do NOT believe in JESUS,  who have NOT received GOD’S GIFT of SALVATION, seek to see and to experience all they can while alive on earth.  Definitely, they seize the day, living a Carpe Diem existence, as they should, for if they continue to NOT believe in JESUS,   this is the BEST they will ever receive—what they can experience and see and do—while they are alive and living this life.

However, there are others, many people in this world who DO BELIEVE in what exists beyond what they can see on this earth.  So those, who DO BELIEVE in JESUS, who have received GOD’S GIFT of SALVATION, are called to share this experience they have received while alive on earth.  Most definitely, these BELIEVERS are to seize every single day, living a Carpe Diem existence, as they have been commanded by JESUS HIMSELF.  If they do not, then others, who do not believe in Jesus, will die and face an eternity of eternal damnation, of torture, and of separation from God forevermore.  For the believers—what is experience here on earth—while they are alive and living this life is merely a glimpse of what they will see and experience when they are home, in Paradise, enjoying the eternal presence of JESUS CHRIST, their LORD.

We use the word ‘heaven’ rather loosely, and truly, ‘heaven’ can have several definitions depending on which context one intends.  For instance—

• Heaven is the sky we see, where the birds fly and where the airplanes rise to fly.
• Heaven is the solar system, where the planets exist and where meteor showers are displayed.
• Heaven is the place where God’s throne is located, where the believers in Jesus will someday go, when their life on earth is finished.

The apostle Paul was alive, living an earthly existence, when the LORD gave him a vision of heaven, an opportunity to peer into the ‘third heaven—Paradise.’

“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago . . . such a man was caught up to the third heaven.

And I know how such a man . . . was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, . . .”

Death is something every person will experience.  Some may become sick and pass away while young and living the prime of their lives.  Then there are others who will live into their seventies, eighties, nineties, or even past 100-years-old, but then they too will die.  Everyone dies, except for those few the Bible records that the LORD whisked away to heaven while those individuals walked through their earthly life.  Just this week, three individuals I knew passed away.  One person, a pastor, lived until his elderly years and died.  Another person, a business owner who also lived into her elderly years, died this week.  Then there was a third individual who suffered with a disease, a younger man my brother’s age, also died.  However, as Paul reminds us, “God knows—” how much time, how many days, each person has been allotted to live on this earth.

There are others, like the apostle Paul, who were given glimpses of the ‘third heaven,’ of Paradise while they lived.  My grandpa was one such man.  He suffered with kidney disease and, in his final earthly days existed by resting in a hospital bed that had been placed in his dining room.  In doing so, my grandma and their children, grandchildren, friends, and neighbors were able to stop by and visit at my grandparents’ home.

My mother tells the story of grandpa’s last days on earth, of how my grandpa received a glimpse of Paradise, of the third heaven.  You see, my grandpa lost his mother when he was a child, and he spoke often of being excited to see his mother one day in ‘heaven.’  She professed to be a BELIEVER in JESUS (grandpa said), and my grandpa also professed to be a BELIEVER in JESUS.  I had heard his testimony many times while he lived.  As noted earlier, my grandpa suffered with kidney disease and was forced to exist in a hospital bed in the dining room.  For several days, grandpa had not even moved his legs, as he neared death, as his body shut down and prepared for death.

As that day approached, Hospice Care was present, as were family and friends, taking turns, giving grandma a break, a time to step away from the dining room where grandpa lay.  My mother speaks how one particular day, my grandpa raised his legs and began moving them, as if running.  Those present in the room were amazed, in shock no doubt, for soon after, my grandpa died and went home to be with JESUS.  Maybe you are reading this and asking:  Why were they in shock and amazed?  They were in shock because when grandpa was alive and healthy, he often spoke of ‘heaven’ and someday going home.  When we asked him what he wanted to do when he arrived, he always responded:  “I want to see JESUS, and then I want to run to my mommy.”  That day, when they saw grandpa’s legs move, as if running, they remembered his words and were AMAZED—for they just saw the miracle of PARADISE—for all who BELIEVE.

On the day JESUS hanged on the cross—

Therefore, I ask you, dear reader:

• “Are You a Believer in JESUS?”
• “Are Your Eyes Looking Toward Paradise?”