As I drove to work Wednesday morning the sky was filled with such splendor I know I won’t be able to describe it. I started to stop and take a picture but I knew it wouldn’t do it justice. The colors were so poignant. The pinks were scattered across the sky as if God had taken a brush and wiped it dry. The blues in the background were a perfect blend of the colors in the ocean. The clouds rolled back like ocean waves. Every now and then I felt I caught a glimpse into Heaven’s gate. Every morning I pass a sign on my way to work on Route 60 by a church that says Keep Your Eye on the Eastern Sky. I have passed it dozens of times but not until that day did I actually think about it in reference to the sky I was looking at. As I was driving, the sky was only that beautiful directly ahead of me- which was east. When I turned off to go to work I was headed south and man was it dreary and rainy looking. The northern sky was pretty. The clouds were fluffy and colorful but not the brilliant hues of that Eastern sky. I asked God to give me words to be able to describe it. Well when I got to work I sat down with a pen because I just knew He was going to give me words! That verse about anticipation came to mind:
Galatians 5:5
For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
I was eager! But nothing happened. I kept thinking about the sky and how beautiful it was but like with everything, it began to fade throughout the day. The colors in my mind weren’t as bright as when I saw them. So I thought, well I am going to scrap this note. That sky will just be etched in my mind.
Last night I went to church to hear Dean Braxton tell his account and his testimony of dying, going to heaven, and then coming back. And I admit, I was going for purely selfish reasons. I was half afraid to hear what he was going to say. I wanted to know what Danny was feelling and seeing at the instand he died. I wasn’t disappointed! As he described it, in the blink of an eye he went from his earthly body to his Heavenly body and he was with Christ. Looked upon His face and felt all the love of God. The one word that stuck with me throughout his account was shiny. He described Jesus as shiny! His grandmother as shiny! And that “shininess” was the love of Christ shining through them. I was filled with such peace after being there knowing what I already knew- that “the love of God is greater far then any pen or tongue can tell” That love reached down and took Danny home. And not only Danny, but my mom and dad, my brother and sister, many aunts, uncles, church family; just as that same love has taken many of your loved ones home as well. To know the place he is in now is filled with such love that shines so bright it even reaches down to Earth that the Heavens are so beautiful that we can’t even describe them- gives me peace! That same peace that is described in Philippians 4:7.
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
So when I think of describing how the heavens looked on Wednesday morning, all I can say is they were filled with the love of Jesus. And that is indescribable, immeasurable and SHINY!
Thank you Dean Braxton for helping me describe the Heavens that I see from my earthly point of view with your Heavenly point of view. You are doing just what Jesus told you to do, even though it took you three times to get it! I will take my blessing from your re-run any day!
God Bless You!
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV)
