Preparing for Paradise

“Set your minds on the things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2

This week Tyler and I couldn’t stop thinking about our honeymoon. Since Sunday, we have been packing, printing off cruise documents, and buying last minute travel items. If we back it up even further to March, we have been preparing by getting our passports, booking plane tickets, and making hotel arrangements. Last June, we looked at different cruises and chose one that took us to paradise.

Paradise. This word reminds me of our eternal home: heaven. What if we prepared for heaven as we do when we prepare for vacation? What if we longed for heaven like we do when we plan a trip? I am ecstatic for our cruise that is taking us to different islands in the Caribbean. I can imagine myself dipping my toes into the crystal blue waters, feel the warm sun on my face and can picture the palm trees swaying in the breeze. If this place is on Earth, I can only imagine what Heaven will look and feel like, but I do know one thing: it will be absolutely perfect.

The first step in preparing for paradise is booking the tickets. Through Jesus, we have a first class ticket to Heaven and all we need to do is accept Him into our hearts.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall never die but have eternal life.” John 3:16

This travel agency isn’t limiting who can go to Heaven. In the Word, it says over and over how much God loves all of us and wants us to be with Him. Whoever believes that Jesus saved us all by dying on the cross gets to spend forever with Him. What a wonderful reminder!

After booking tickets, it is essential to make packing lists and travel arrangements. As we journey through life, we need to make sure our eyes are set on heavenly things, not earthly things. When we want to sleep in on Sunday morning rather than go to church or are too tired at night to read our devotional, we need to prioritize and prepare for Heaven as we would for vacation. We wouldn’t leave for vacation without packing our bags that don’t have luggage tags so why would we neglect doing the things God asks us to do such as go to church, pray every day, and read His word? We must strive to be diligent servants for the Lord and be obedient in our tasks.

Another step towards paradise is getting a passport. This will be used as a form of identification as we board the ship as our identity should be in Christ alone. God created us to have our own unique characteristics and purpose, but also with a commonality of living our lives through His will. We find ourselves when we lose ourselves in Him as we are drawn to the Lord by keeping our eyes fixed on Heaven. Our identification is a part of our road to paradise and we should set the goal to live that purpose driven life He has blessed us with.

When I was younger, I looked forward to receiving my own mail, but postcards were my favorite. I saw where family members of mine were at in the world and I wanted to experience it. When we go on vacation and send home postcards or send pictures to our loved ones, they long for their next vacation, maybe even talking them into going to the same place that you were at. When we have those encounters with the miracles God performs or heard Him in making a hard decision, we need to share that with others. It is our duty to spread the good news and we can do that when we tell about our own experiences or our testimony.

Through hardships and trial, Jesus reminds us to look forward to the things to come. When life seems hectic and difficult, we have vacations and trips to get us through the struggles. We should look beyond the vacations, and think about the ultimate paradise, Heaven. This week, let’s focus on preparing for paradise and keep our eyes fixed on the things above.