Growing up I used to think that when I got to Heaven I would have this big sit-down meeting with Jesus and my guardian angel. And the meeting would kinda be like a coach going over film. God would walk me through scenes of my life – the good and the bad – and explain the reasoning behind it. To use Tuesday’s imagery, He would show me where my piece fit into the puzzle. And the guardian angel would just be there to show how many times they stepped in and saved me from disaster!

But a few years back, an older and wiser Christian told me, “Cara, I don’t think that’s how it is gonna work. I think God gives us all of eternity to build relationships with all the other believers in Heaven. I don’t think we just find out the reason for our pain and suffering as we pass through the pearly gates. Instead, I think parts of God’s story are discovered as you build relationships with other believers and see how your time on earth overlaps with their time.”

Oofta. That felt like a punch to the gut. You mean I have to wait my WHOLE life for answers and THEN go investigating in Heaven too? But the more I thought about that individual’s response, I had to admit to myself, it makes a lot more sense. A God desires to be in constant relationship with us (Psalm 73:23-26), and we are made in His image (Genesis 1:27), so we also desire relationships (Genesis 2:18). It would make sense God would want to have us build relationships with one another and share our testimonies – the good, the bad, and the ugly – to bring glory to God and reveal His perfect plan bit by bit (as discussed Monday) (Romans 8:28).

We don’t know what it will look like when we enter heaven, but we know if we love God and confess our sins, Christ’s death on the cross will pay the debt for our sin and allow us to spend all of eternity in fellowship with God and that’s what matters!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:16-17