Streets of Gold

I have grown up in a family that loves Asphalt. Dozens of my family members have worked in the road construction business for over 75 years, including my dad and my husband. There have literally been hundreds of times while on road trips with one of these men, that smooth roads, poorly constructed roads, quarries and the dreaded concrete roads have been pointed out to me. I have watched these mild mannered men get passionate about roads. They love building them; they love their industry and they celebrate the very important product they produce. I wish each of you could get to witness how they express their enthusiasm for asphalt roads. I can’t imagine the thrill they will receive when they get to heaven and see the streets paved with gold.

“And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.”

Rev 21:21b (NLT)

Because God knows everything and He has since the beginning of time, and because He is the maker of heaven and earth and the maker and savior of my dad and husband, I bet God might have even had them in mind when he created the streets of gold. It seems entirely possible that while He made these golden streets, God might have thought, “Rick and Pat are going to LOVE this!” That thought blesses me so much.

We are all created in God’s image. The fact that you love asphalt, or dogs or the mountains or the beach or laughter reflects God’s passions. God created all these things and He loves them.

 “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!” Gen 1:31 (NLT)

He knew you would love them too, and He knows you are going to love Heaven. Just think about it for a minute: I get to witness all the time the pictures you post of your beloved pets, or a beautiful sunset, or your children, or the clear blue ocean, or sugar white sand. You celebrate the beauty of God’s creation. When he created these beautiful things that you are enjoying, he knew you would love them. You have been on his heart since the beginning, and it must have pleased him so much to know how you would savor his special creation. He still has so much for you to savor and enjoy, so spend some real time thinking about and praising God for Heaven.

If you love his son, there is a beautiful home in heaven, perfectly constructed for you and it will be awesome.

It is so much fun to imagine what it will be like, and here is some great news: We are instructed to spend some serious time thinking about it.

Colossians 3:2 Tells us to “Set our minds on things above, not on things of earth.”

Here are some things we know about heaven:

Heaven will have trees and water and fruit (Rev 22:1-2)

There will be animals in heaven. (Rev 6:2-8 and 19:11)

We will be given rest from our labors on earth. (Rev 14:13)

We will have conversations, build relationships and participate in corporate worship. (Rev 1-22)

In Heaven we will be delivered from our current sinful condition–including grief and illness. (Rev 21:4)

In heaven, we will know God… We will know Him like He knows us. There will be no more mystery. (1 Cor. 13:12)

Y’all, It is going to be awesome. There are lots of things we don’t know about heaven, and we will not have those questions answered on earth. We should always concentrate on our relationship with Christ, because in heaven we will be with Him.

Now is also the time for all of to praise the Lord for the things to come. Praise Him for Heaven and for His perfect time and plan to show it to you. Turn your eyes on Him… Look full in His wonderful face…. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim…. In the light of his glory and grace.

 

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. “

Genesis 1:1 (NLT)

“There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2 (NLT)