Do you believe in Heaven? The Bible tells us that if we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior when we die, we go to Heaven to be with Him (John 14:2-4). I’d like to tell you two stories that certainly made a difference in my life in how I view Heaven.
Larry and Viola were our neighbors. This wonderful, elderly couple became like grandparents to me. I loved them dearly. Several years after they moved in, however, Viola passed away suddenly from a stroke and heart attack. Because Larry was in the early stages of dementia when Viola died, he moved to a care facility. While there, Larry began taking other residents to his Lutheran church with him. For the next year or more, Larry and I went out to eat together every month. It was so fun deciding which restaurant to go to with Larry. He always wanted to try a new restaurant to test their chocolate cake.
Over the next year or so, Larry’s dementia progressed rapidly. He began to speak less and less about Viola. The final six months of his life, Larry did not speak of her at all.
Larry sat in his wheelchair one afternoon, lost in the confines of his ever-diminshing world. One of the staff members looked up when Larry began to move more than he had in months. Larry lifted up his arms and said, “Viola!” As the lady looked on, Larry reached up, lips puckered to kiss, draping his arms around what appeared to be an imaginary neck. Just as suddenly, Larry dropped his arms to his side and slumped in his chair, suffering a massive stroke. We lost Larry days later but were comforted knowing without a doubt that he was with his beloved Viola who had come to take him home. (The Bible tells us we will be with our loved ones in Heaven. See 1 Corinthians 13:12).
The second story is about my wonderful dad-in-law. For several years, Garrett had clung to this world in spite of ravaging pain. His love for Mary, my mother-in-law, was so great that they were inseparable. It was as if he simply wouldn’t let go of life because he didn’t want to leave her.
As Garrett’s pain increased to an unbearable level, the family decided to call in Hospice to help him manage the pain better. After a single dose of morphine, the following morning he was sitting up in bed, looking relaxed and smiling. The following day, however, Garrett slipped into a coma. We kept by his bedside, not knowing what would happen next.
I was with Garrett the morning he came out of the coma. I asked him, “Dad, where have you been?” He simply pointed up… to Heaven.
“Was it wonderful?” I asked. I will never forget the incredible look of joy on his face as he closed his eyes and simply nodded yes.
Within days (and after yet another promise from the family that we would look after his precious Mary), Garrett passed from this world into eternity. Although we still deeply miss him, we know where he is and, even better, where we will find him when our day comes. Before he left this earth, Garrett gave us an amazing gift… a glimpse of Heaven. I believe it was just like this song by Bill and Gloria Gaither: Going Home
“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:2-4
We welcome your comments! Please let us know if you have had a personal experience with Heaven.
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