Although Tom and I had worked together for 8 years, we never really got to
know each other. We both knew Jesus, and that and Coca Cola were all we had in
common. But when I lost my job, he invited us over for diner that Saturday
night before I took off to start our new life in California. Losing a job can
be can be a life shattering experience, but Tom was faced with even more
challenges. Kevin, his only son, 12 years old, had bone cancer, and had had a
leg amputated. But Kevin was full of life, and had fooled more than one person
into answering the door when knocking on his plastic leg. And that night he was
pushing my kids around in his wheelchair, doing what he did best, being a kid.
I never saw Kevin again, and an early morning phone call from Tom was the last I
talked with him. Kevin was in the hospital, the cancer had spread throughout
his whole body, and he was facing death. The family knew it, but the day before
he died, Kevin was overjoyed. He kept telling everyone “I’m going home, I ‘m
going home...”which they didn’t get at first, for they knew the cancer was
fatal. He would never leave the hospital. It was only after he died, that Tom
and Rosie knew what he meant-he was going home to heaven. To be with Jesus.
And Tom called me to share that. Now when Kevin had his leg amputated, Rosie
lost her sight, which she regained after Kevin died. She never go to see her
son without both legs-God had spared her that.
A few days before Lee died, I asked him if he was afraid of death. “No,”
he answered, “just worried about who would take care of Sue,” his wife. I asked
him, “who is taking care of them now?” and that big old Lee smile covered his
face-he knew that Jesus was, did , and would. No words needed, because there
weren’t any. The peace filled the room.
Today marks five years since Laiken died. And although I have some great
memories of her, I realized I had never seen her well. In fact, almost all of
our times spent together were in hospitals. I never got to know the Liaken as
cheerleader, or riding her bike. Or just being a kid, I saw her through
isolation walls, and plastic gloves. I saw her much like Kevin, with joy that I
can’t put into words, for there aren’t any. I see a smile that fills the room,
and a little hand always reaching out to me, a little girl who now is home, just
like Kevin, and Lee, and others who call Jesus Lord. And tonight Stacey is
having another get together to remember her, the first one I will miss. But I
won’t miss Laiken, and I won’t miss Stacey and Jim, or Abigail either. I will
miss being there, watching as Abigail grows up, as Laiken’s friends are
graduating from high school, meeting boys, and getting on with life. And while
it may seem she was robbed of all these things, she is with Jesus before all of
us, which when we get there will make us look at things differently-on earth as
it is in heaven. Fortunately not in heaven as it is on earth. She went right
to the front to line, with Kevin and Lee.They have placed their trust in Jesus,
and they will be in my thoughts and prayers all day, as they often are, no date
or day needed to remember Laiken. Only time that will pass until we see God
face to face in heaven, and our friends will be there. It may seem like
eternity until we get there, it will take eternity to give thanks.
But heaven is not what you think. “Eye has not seen,” scripture tells us,
so any pictures, drawings, or ideas it’s not. “Ear has not heard,” it goes on,
for no one can tell you about it. Ask Moses when you see him, how do you
describe an infinite God using finite words? “Nor mind imagined,” whatever your
wildest dream of heaven is, it falls short, it is far better than you can even
dream or imagine. So don’t try. Just look forward to it. And encourage others
in it. When I was sick this last summer, I spent time with Jesus, in the
spirit. I cannot tell you if I saw heaven, but all I could see was Jesus. And
I cannot describe it-or Him. For there are no words to describe an infinite God
to an infinite world. It goes way beyond feeling, and the peace is
indescribable. The best words are God’s, from the fruit of he spirit. LOVE-not
an emotion, but the person of God. In His presence. And He is here now, giving
us life until we enter into eternal life. My feelings have been know t let me
down, aren’t you glad that God is more than an emotion? JOY-His presence, not
the absence of pain, with us through the trials. With us on our journey back
home. And PEACE-not a situation, He is our peace. The Prince of Peace. A
person. So get to know the person if you want any glimpses of heaven. As for
me, the only way I can describe it is, “I want to go back.” So when I meet
others who ask, “aren’t you glad you’re not dead?” I answer “NO.” For I want to
go back, to be with Jesus. But I am also thankful I am here for now, to
encourage others. To be where God wants me. And I know that Kevin, Laiken,
and Lee would say the same. Somewhere I can see Kevin pushing Laiken in that
wheelchair, laughing and carrying on with Lee watching. Smiling. And God
smiling too, telling us all is good, all is well with their souls. Heaven will
be fun, not because we will be there, but because Jesus is there. Much better
than I could ever imagine.
So take comfort in the words King David did, when told of the death of his
son Absolom. “He cannot come to me, but I can go to him.” And we know this to
be true, because God sent Jesus to be with us, so we can. So look forward to
heaven in all you do, just as the example Jesus gave His disciples, “On earth,
as it is in heaven.” Not the opposite that we try to make it. The only things
I desire of earth in heaven are my family and friends. You can keep the rest.
I want to go back, for you see heaven-it’s not what you think! It’s even
better!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com