“I’ve been going through hell.” How many times have we heard that, even said it ourselves? Countless. At least we are saying through and not to. Hell is one of the two realms currently existing on planet Earth. The other is heaven. It doesn’t take an Einstein or rocket scientist to answer which realm we’d prefer to live in.

War is hell.

Poverty, contagious diseases, cancer, divorce, joblessness, homelessness – all hell. Situations that our gracious God does not desire for us. Situations that give fuel for Satan’s lies about a merciless, uncaring God.

We the disciples of a risen Christ can bring heaven, the kingdom of God to Earth. Our prayer is to have that kingdom come, that will be done HERE, just as it is “up there.” Both realms are present realities. Life here is not entirely predicated on that “golden ticket” to the pearly-gated mansions. The purpose is not escape.

States of existence: heaven and hell. My favorite scene in my second favorite movie happens at the end of “Field of Dreams.” Kevin Costner’s character, Ray Kinsella, is encountering the ghost of his estranged father. Ray asks his dad if there is a heaven. “Oh yes. It’s the place where dreams come true”. Ray looks back at his house, his wife and daughter sitting on the front porch swing, the beautiful sunset and then says, “then I guess this is heaven.” We don’t have to wait. We get the “sampler” all the time. When we receive the reminder of who and whose we are – the body of Christ. People are heaven-sent. Experiences are heavenly. We go through our personal hells and then emerge on the other side. We can attest in moments of beauty and sheer delight that “it doesn’t get any better than this.”

Oh yes it does.

Faith and hope remind and assure us that there is an unconditional love that is ours in Christ Jesus.

Pastor Art