In heaven with our friend Paul

Act 1

Philippians 3:21
[Jesus Christ] who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

When we one day see our Savior we will exchange our weather and time beaten earthly bodies for our heavenly one. This is the exchange I see take place in Heaven's equipment room.  Jesus is in the equipment room ready to greet each person as they newly arrive. In comes a 60 year old man dressed in his work clothes. He walks with a limp and has a large gash on his head from a fall.

Jesus: Paul, it is good to see you.

Paul: Jesus, is that really you?  Am I really here?

Jesus:  Paul, you are really here. Your time on earth has concluded.

Paul:  How did I die?

Jesus:  You were in a car accident. A speeding car crashed into you. Our heavenly angels came down and met you at the scene.

Paul:  That must have been when I felt this incredible peace.  I felt this warm glow that told me not to worry.

Jesus: You gave your life to many people Paul.  I am so proud that you became an organ donor.  Your heart is going to a young man with a degenerative disease heart a new life.  Your cornea's are going to a young school teacher with failing eye sight. Your lungs are going to a 17 year old who will now have a chance to breath and live life to the fullest.

Paul: I really love you Jesus. You were there for me whenever I called your name.

Paul::  I remember how you came and rescued our family when our young child died. I felt this warm glow when you and your angels rescued our family. Much like I do now!.

Jesus:  Paul, when you accepted me into your life when you were a kid I never forgot you.  I watched you grow up into a handsome young man.  I was proud of you for taking a stand for other kids who were defenseless and picked on.

Paul: Jesus, I could do that because of the strength you gave me.  I had nothing to fear when you were guiding me.  You helped me with all of my decisions in my life.

Jesus: I was a simple prayer call away.

Paul:  I remembered not really knowing what I should do in my time on earth and you answered my prayer and helped me to pick my vocation.

Jesus:  You were a very gifted therapist.

Paul:  I loved my line of work.  Each time I saw a patient I knew you were there giving me the right words to say and you were there helping me guide each patient.  My work didn't seem like such a burden.

Jesus: Work is never a burden if you choose something you are truly gifted in.

Paul: Almost like playing is to a child.

Jesus:  I was proud of you for volunteering on all of those mission trips.  There were many people who were strengthened in their walk with me because of your witness.  I remember one young man on one of your trips. He seemed insecure and how he walked in his own shadow.  He was impressed with how you lead the group and what care you took to make each member feel welcomed.

Paul:  What happened to him?

Jesus: That is the beautiful part.  when he returned home he rededicated his life to me and got involved in a discipleship group with other Christians.  His whole life changed and I remember all of the prayer calls he made to me. I helped him to locate a wonderful woman who became his wife. They had 4 little ones who all asked me to come into their lives. That young man is now serving me with his family in full time service.  Every once a while he will call me to tell me how thankful he was for you showing God's love to him.

Paul: Me?

Jesus: yes.  that is only one story. There are many more who were touched in ways that you can't imagine.

Paul: Jesus, what is going to happen to my wife and my kids?  I feel this glow, but they are probably missing me terribly.

Jesus:  Just as my angels were there to rescue you I will send angles to comfort them as they miss you.

Paul:  I loved my wife so very much.  and my kids. They were the greatest kids a man could ever ask for.

Jesus:  You do not need to be afraid. Already I have plans for them. Each of them have called me and I have answered their calls.  i have plans to bring Christian's into their lives who will help them recover from their grief.  The body of Christ will be there for each of them.  Their faith will strengthen because of what I will do for them.

Paul: ( FOR THE FIRST TIME PAUL FEELS THE GASH ON HIS FACE FROM THE ACCIDENT)

Paul:  am I bleeding?

Jesus: you were, but we're going to exchange your well worn earthly body for a Spiritual one. ( Jesus shows him his)

PAUL: That looks so new. Why there isn't a blemish on it!  ( Paul tries it on)  I feel like a new man.

Jesus:  Your new body won't have any limitations like you had on earth.  You will be able to run as fast as you like. your energy will be endless.

Paul:  my new eyes!  I can really see far! I won't need glasses. My new ears!  I can hear so well.

Jesus:  Well done my good and faithful servant. Go and explore your new place.  There will be a reception line of people you knew on earth and who went before you ready to greet you and give you hugs. Welcome home, Paul, welcome home.

Act 2

 Paul could not believe how brand new his new heavenly body was in comparison to the 60 year old body which had seen it's better days.  He was amazed how well he could see and how well he could hear.  Paul was told by Jesus to explore his new surroundings and that there would be a reception in his honor with people he knew that came before him

Paul: " I don't think I have ever ran this fast since I was a kid! And I am not even tired!"

Jesus:: "one of the many benefits of this new place!"

Paul cocks his head in the direction of a faint sound of a song bird " Is that a song bird? i haven't heard that sound since I was a kid"

Jesus:  "You remember the bible and what it said about how all things would be made new again"?

Paul; " Yes. I think that is in 2 Corinthians 5;17! i remember memorizing that verse when i was in my discipleship group!"

Jesus:  " Because of what I did for you all things are new again!  There will be no more pain and no more hurts and sorrow."

Paul:  " It seems strange that I know I have a earthly family, but this overflowing perfect peace I have prevents me from worrying for them."

Jesus:  " Just as I rescued you from that car accident I will surround your family with the things they need to be strong and get through the fiery grief."

Paul:" I have confidence in your power to accomplish that."

Jesus: " Almost forgot, Paul, I got a prayer call from your children. They wanted me to give their father a hug from them."  Paul feels the embrace of the loving Savior.

Paul begins walking toward the reception hall and notices welcome home Paul banners and helium filled balloons and cake and ice cream on the reception hall table. As he got closer to the crowd of people his eyes begin to moisten up. He sees his grandmother who he hadn't seen since he was nine years old when she died.

Paul:  Mamo?"

Grandmother: " Hi Paul and welcome home".
Paul gives his grandmother a hug as tears of joy are streaming down his face.  Paul remembers it was his grandmother who often would pray for him when he went through those difficult early years.

Grandmother: " Is Heaven everything you thought it would be. Paul?"

Paul: :" It is everything and even more.  I never thought about my new body I would be getting. It is so much better and makes me stronger and I can see and hear like nothing before."

Grandmother: " I remember how you were one of many grandchildren I would pray constantly for.  I knew that Jesus had great things for you".

Jesus:  "Paul, I do indeed remember all of those late night prayer calls from your grand mother and I answered every single one."  Paul's eyes moisten again as he gives his grandmother another hug.

Paul sees his Sunday school teacher.  He remembers the day Mr. Smith lead his class with the salvation prayer and how he fervently said that prayer.

Paul: " Mr. Smith? is that my Sunday school?"

Sunday school teacher: " It is.  I am so happy you prayed that prayer and I am so happy you are here" he paused," You are going to love this place, Paul".

Paul: " I remembered the day I prayed to received Christ. My parents wrote the date down so I would always remembered it."  Paul gives his former Sunday school teacher a hug.

Paul walked over and noticed Roy, his discipleship leader from the Navigators group he was involved in for 2 years.  He had not seen Roy since he moved to Chicago because of a job transfer.

Paul: " Is that you Roy?"

Roy: " It is. Welcome home Paul:"  Although Roy and Paul were the same age Roy went to heaven after being diagnosed with cancer and passing away several years ago.  Paul remembers Roy for his challenging references to always being in the word of God and memorizing  the bible verses.  Paul will always remember Roy for the accountability he instilled in the group and how important it is for one's Spiritual growth and maturity.

Paul walks a little further and noticed a small child.  As he approached he noticed that it wasn't just any child, but it was his son who died several years ago.  Paul choked up as his son ran up to him for a hug.

Jeremy: "Dadd !y I am so happy to see you!"

Paul wraps his arms around his son he hadn't seen in a decade.

Jeremy: "Dad, do you remember the night I left earth?"

Paul: "I sure do Jeremy.  Our family cried and grieved because we knew you were never going to be with us again until we got to heaven."

Jeremy: " Dad, you will be happy to know that the first person I saw that night was Jesus when he came down to bring me home.  I felt this warm glow as though I was being told not to worry and that everything was going to be AOK.

Paul: " The same warm glow the just before I came to heaven."

Jeremy: " Yah that warm glow. You will be happy to know Dad that from the moment I have been in heaven it has been a fun time.  Heaven is everything my Sunday school teacher's have said it would be.  There  is no more pain or sorrow because we are with the Savior."

Jesus: :" Paul and Jeremy, I just got a prayer call from your family.  They wanted me to give you two a hug from your mom and your brothers and sisters."

Jesus embraces both Paul and Jeremy.

Jeremy leads his dad to someone he really wanted him to know.

Jeremy: " Dad, this lady was my drama camp teacher.  Mrs. Anders was the one who prayed the salvation prayer the morning I  accepted Jesus into my heart!"

Paul: " good to see you again!  I remember talking with you about Jeremy's accepting Jesus. I remember how my wife and I rejoiced and praised God in heaven.  Just as my parents did for me I remembered how we wrote the birth date of his decision so we could celebrate it every year."

Jesus:" I do remember how happy you were when Jeremy accepted me into his heart."

Mrs. Anders: "I always get a lump in my throat when one of my students prays the prayer!"  ''

Paul spent the next couple of hours meeting family and friends he hadn't seen in many years.

Jesus: " Are you enjoying yourself Paul?"

Paul looks around the room full of friends.  "Jesus, I am having a great time... It is good to be home." Paul turns and looks out the large stain glass window at the  amazing  beauty he sees outdoors.  The lush green trees, the blue lakes, and the song birds chirping which he can hear with his new heavenly body.He knew that  he was going to love this place!

Act 3

On this day we find Paul looking out of his workshop at a landscape of beautiful flowers with shimmering colors he had never seen before on earth and looking at a small lake with water much more cleaner than anything he had ever seen where he came from and tall mighty oak, elm and birch trees with their leaves gently blowing in the wind. In one oak tree he noticed several kids playing in one and decided to set down his carpenter tool and walk over to talk with them.

Paul: " Hi It looks all of you are having fun up there!"

The kids look down to see who it was that was talking to them. One young girl was the first to speak up.

Girl: "We're having so much fun being up here."

Paul: : "When I was a kid I use to love climbing trees. Say, what are your names?"

All the kids volunteered to say their name first before the girl who seemed to be the leader put everything in order.

Girl: " The boy up there is Matty and the one way up there is Joshua and the other girl way out on that limb is Suzanne"

Paul: " And how bout your name?"

Girl: " My name is Maria"

Paul: " Can you kids tell me  a little more about yourselves?" He paused to reflect on his words. " When I first came to heaven I was brought into this equipment room where Jesus gave me this brand new heavenly body."

Matty: " I know that room. It was the same room I came into when I got this awesome body that allowed me to do the things I never could do on earth."

Joshua: " Me too."

Suzanne: " also me".

Maria finally speaks up. "  I never could climb trees before I got this brand new heavenly body. I remembered watching my brother and his friends climbing and having so much fun and wishing I could just once sit on a tree branch" Maria paused before continuing, " I remembered my dad making this two level playhouse/tree house just so I could have something to play in without climbing like my brother could."

Paul looked quizzically at each of the kids and wondered more about what their lives were like on earth before Jesus brought them home.

Paul: " Matty can you tell me a little more about yourself about your life on earth?"

Matty chirped up. " My parents told me that I was born with Spinal Bifida. I never did learn how to walk right and I remembered using this especially designed."

Paul: " Joshua, how about your life?"

Joshua: " I was in a car accident when I was a kid and was in the hospital for many months until the doctor told my parents that I would never walk again.  One night I remembered going to sleep and the next thing I knew Jesus and his angels were standing at my side. I came into the equipment room of heaven and Jesus gave me this body where I could climb trees, run, and do all the things I never could do in my accident prone body on earth."

Paul: " and how bout you Maria?"

Maria: " My mom and dad adopted me from Guatemala.  When I was in my new home they noticed I wasn't walking as well as most kids my age and took me to see doctors. I was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy and with my mom and dad's help I went to see a physical therapist every week. Then I had this surgery to help me walk better, but the first night I came home from the hospital I remembered going to sleep after my dad kissed me on the forehead and saying "see you in the morning". It seemed like only minutes later when I saw Jesus at my bedside. Next thing I knew I was brought into the equipment room in heaven where, like Joshua, Matty and Suzanne I was given this awesome heavenly body that allowed me to do many things I couldn't even do on earth."

Paul: " Those are awesome stories!" He pauses before continuing, " Anyone want to race? I bet you can't beat me?"
All the kids jump down and began running at full speed. Paul takes off in his own mad dash, but slowed up at the last moment to allow the kids to win.

Paul quickly learned that God had fulfilled his promise of making all things new again. Through Matty, Joshua, Suzanne and Maria he learned that life in these new heavenly bodies would not compared with the ones they had on earth. Each of them had families who like his own are missing them terribly, but he knew that all of them would see their loved ones again some day 

After saying so long to his new found friends Paul heads back to the carpenters workshop where he picked up his tool and continued to work on the grand piano that was beginning to look like one.As Paul worked  he remembered the conversations he had with Matty, Maria, Joshua and Suzanne and how in their earthly lives a physical impairment prevented them from climbing the trees they were now climbing in heaven. He thought of his own earthly impairment which seem to take it's toll on his earthly body before it  gave out the day of the deadly car crash when he felt the instant warm glow and the very presence of  God's angels who brought him home to the equipment room where he was about to see first hand God's promise of making all things new again.

Act 4

On this day in heaven Paul decides to hang up his carpenter's tools and head down to the outdoor amphitheater where he would  enjoy listening to praise music at the shore of the pristine and sparkling lake with smells that were free from milfoil he was so use to smelling on the lakes in Minnesota. 

As he headed for the area where the singing would take place he could hear the crisp sounds of the blue jays, robins and chickadees as though they were their own angelic choir. He watched as other little kids were playing and having the time of their lives and as he watched he wondered about each of their stories of what their life might have been like in their previous earthly existence.

In the distance he could see Jesus milling around giving people hugs.  Then Jesus saw Paul and walked toward him. When he came closer he could hear him.

Jesus:  " Paul, I got a prayer call from your wife and children. They were each asking for strength to help them through their weak moment and each of them asked me to give a hug to their daddy."

Paul got his hug from Jesus.

Paul: " How is my family doing?
Jesus: " Paul, you do not have to worry for them.  I have sent good and well grounded people into their lives to help them through this time.  Your wife is involved in a support group of Christian's who lost spouses and she is finding a common bond with these people.

Paul: " and my children?"
Jesus: " I have covered each of your children with a protective shield at this time and once their mom has worked through her grief I will begin to help each of your children work through their grief."

Paul: " Jesus, I can't wait to tell my earthly family all the new friends I have met here in heaven. Nor can I wait to show them the sheer beauty of this place. It is never a boring moment."

Jesus:" Remember when you were down there I encouraged you to read the bible where you could learn God's story and how out of reading you came to know me as your personal savior?"

Paul: " I sure do."

Jesus: " and how I walked with you and helped you with some of the critical decisions of your life? and how you honored me by being my witness to all who needed to hear my story of salvation.?"

Paul:" I do ."

Jesus: " It is the same way now for your family and unsaved friends down there. I desire that  God's word reach every person on earth because I do not want to see anyone to perish.

Paul: " It is too bad we couldn't just televise real time images back to them and then they will know and believe."

Jesus: " If it was that simple. But even without  doing the things you suggest I continue to be working in the lives of many men, woman and children who are every day bringing people to completely changed lives."

Paul: " I believe."

Jesus:  " Paul, when you accepted me as your savior you began to experience the abundant life,  I became your anchor to help stabilize you through the storms of that life. Those who accept me as their savior will also experience the abundant life and I will reveal to each of them how I will use them."

Paul:  " and when their time has come and they come home to this place they will equally and truly be amazed how all things are made new again".

Jesus: " that's right Paul"

Jesus continues walking and giving more hugs from loved ones on earth.
As Paul continue walking he began to hear the crisp sounds of the children's choir and up on the stage he saw his new friends, Matty, Joshua, Maria and Suzanne all singing to the delight of those present. He took a seat on the grass and let the sounds of the choir and the beauty of this place soak in.

Act 5

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.
                                                             

Paul decided to take a break from polishing the piano he was building. He hung his apron on the hook in his workshop and decided to venture outdoors to breath in the clean heavenly air.   As he strolled through the grass he came upon a lion playing with a small child. He watched in wonderment at how playful the lion seemed to be and then realizing he wouldn't ever see this scene in his former life. The last time he remembers seeing a lion was when he took his children to the zoo and the lion was behind a secure fence.He remembered how there have been tragic deaths at the hands of the lion because parents did not heed the warning not to place their child on the fence for picture taking. But, this was heaven where sin no longer reigns and where he could stroll with the once feared animals with total peace of mind.

 Often Paul would be lying on the ground  reading one of the great works of the Old or New testaments.   One day this huge head  reached down and lick his face with it's tongue and sitting up he realized it was one of the many wolves that he had seen in this place. The wolf merely wanted to have it's ears scratched and Paul was more than happy to accommodate his request.

Paul waves to the Matty, Joshua, Maria and Suzanne who appeared to be playing hot scotch with a small lamb  just below their favorite climbing tree.  The children wave back before returning to the fun they were having.

He continued walking along the cobblestone path lined with beautiful pine trees toward one of many chapels.  He was yearning to listen and perhaps worship at the chapel. Since his arrival he has leaned that this is one of the many perks of this place which is the ability to worship at will. Paul loved going to church every Sabbath in his former home and the thought of being able to worship the God of the universe anytime was a great feeling for him.

 Since coming home to heaven Paul had been blessed with a wonderful singing voice which was something he was not as fortunate to have in his former home. He remembers how friends would jokingly refer to him as the shower singer because it was only when he was showering that his voice had any tone. 

Paul remember one particular Christmas years ago when a group of carolers encouraged him to find something else to do with his time because they were afraid he would draw them off pitch. It was when he entered the equipment room that he was  blessed with a brand new spiritual body that included well oiled vocal cords for praising the Lord.

Reaching over the peak of the hill he now could see the English Tudor style chapel and as he got closer he could hear the sounds of Christmas emulating from it. Paul was about to experience his first Christmas in heaven and from the sounds he was hearing he was looking forward to the experience.

ACT 8

So don't let anyone judge you in regard to food or drink, or in the category of festival observances, be it of new moons or Sabbaths. All these things are shadows of what was to come, but the reality has to do with Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17

One day while he was working on one of the baby grands 3 gentlemen came into his shop where they immediately admired the hand crafted pianos he had been working on. Each of them represented a different culture.  Paul set down his sanding gloves and walked over to greet them.

Paul: "Hi " as he came over to greet them with a handshake.

The first guy reached out to him. He looked to be middle eastern because of his darker complexion.

"My name is Sari"  

The second guy looked oriental as he reached out his hand.

"My name is Arashi"

Paul:  "Nice to meet you: I am Paul"

The third guy reached over to greet Paul. " I'am Abraham"

Paul:  " Just like the biblical Abraham!

Abraham:  " My Jewish parents named me that because they admired him."

Paul was curious about their stories and asked each one how they came to know Christ.

Sari:  " I was born into a Muslin family. I was raised by Muslin parents to read the Quran and taught about the importance of daily prayers and doing those prayers from a prostrate position pointing toward to Mecca."

Paul: " and how about you Abraham?"

Abraham: " I was raised by Jewish parents who taught me that one day the Messiah would come to redeem the world."

Paul: " How bout you Arashi?"

Arashi: " I was raised by a father who taught me about following Buddha.  I remember having these rituals of keeping  my body healthy and avoiding certain foods. I was also told about the importance of doing good things in life."

As each of them began to tell their story Paul was becoming more and more fascinated.  He knew that on earth these three would not be friends. The earthly existence they lead discouraged them from mingling together. He knew that Sari and Abraham were taught to hate each other. He remembers hearing about the Jewish/Arab conflict ever since he was a young child, but in heaven all three of them became close friends.

Paul:  " How did you guys get to know Christ Jesus?" There, he said it. Now that he said it Paul began to wait for their responses.  Paul was always fascinated  as his heavenly friends shared their journeys to Christ.

Sari: " I remember being in college. My parents sent me to the American University to study business and finance.  America had very good schools and they knew I would come here to learn well and then go back home and work for a business.  One day I met a fellow Christian student.  I was studying. I was always studying."  Sari paused to reflect. " Mark comes over and starts talking with me about the weather, what I was studying, what I was planning to be when I graduated.  He told me about his plans about wanting to start his own business so he could have time to do trips around the world to do mission work."  Sari pondered on that thought before continuing. " Mark had a bible that I could tell had been read cover to cover because he seemed to have so much knowledge. We talked about the Koran and the bible over lunch over the rest of the school year. He invited me to meet his parents and experience a American holiday. I was given a gift which was the bible in the Arabic language. I read it and immediately a light bulb went off in my head. Then one spring day I prayed to receive Jesus into my heart.

Paul: " Sari, what was the one thing you noticed after your received Christ?"

Sari reflected on this question before answering.

Sari: " It was how Christ took the way the burden of performing the daily rituals. He also took the hatred I was taught to have for other religions.  I remember reading in the bible how Christ makes all things clean and we were no longer obligated by the customary law of sacrifices.  For the first time in my earthly life I felt freedom almost like sucking in a batch of clean air for the first time."

Sari's two friends nodded in agreement.

Abraham:  " Total freedom. I remember when a friend gave me the new testament being struck by the knowledge that the Messiah did come and He died on the cross for me!

Arashi looked on and exclaimed.  " Living the life of a Buddhist was a life of rituals,  I remember an American friend giving me a bible and when I read the gospels of Mark, Luke and John how relieved I was knowing that Christ accomplished it all with his death and resurrection on the cross. I didn't have to do anything but put my trust in Jesus and get to know him as my personal savior. My salvation wasn't dependent on trying to be perfect."

Paul looked on with a smile knowing that these three unlikely brothers would be discouraged from becoming friends on earth were now heavenly friends because of what Jesus did for each of them.

Sari looked at the 4 grand pianos in the shop. " Would you mind if we all sat down at a piano and played?"

Paul  showed approval as each of them took a piano. Since there were 4 pianos Paul decided to sit down at one.

Each of them began, on cue, to play Handel's Messiah.  

As the music emulated out of the shop the song birds flew to a tree limb outside and the children who were playing nearby ran over to watch them play. It has turned out to be another beautiful day in heaven after all, Paul thought, as he played on the hand crafted piano he made.