So heaven has been on my mind a great deal lately. You might understand why. There’s much to be learned about what happens to us when we die. What happens in that moment when we close our eyes to this world and we awaken to the next. Hollywood has suggested that we actually experience the journey as it were, like falling up or spinning through a cloud to land in another place.

I don’t have any idea and The Bible is not really clear about the transition. It is pretty clear about a couple of things. First the difference between the people in heaven and the people in hell is one thing; forgiveness.

Think about the two thieves hanging on the cross on other side of Jesus. One curses Jesus, yells at him to get them all down from this cruel dying if he is really The King of Kings, the long awaited Messiah. The other thief rebukes that man and asks Jesus to remember him when he “comes into his Kingdom”. He hadn’t made it to the mercy seat, taken any classes, been baptized, etc. He comes to Jesus with humility and in need. That seems to be enough for Jesus and he tells him “today you will be with me in paradise”.

So from life on earth to the presence of Jesus immediately. There is no death – no sleeping for years to come – no waiting in purgatory.

Those who are accepted by Jesus because of their relationship to Him are welcomed. It is the very story that Jesus told of the prodigal son – after foolish living, wasteful living, rebellious living the son comes running home. The older son who has been living right and being with his father is not unwelcome but he becomes envious – that the Father has to deal with – but the wayward son is hugged, the father runs out to greet him, and a great celebration takes place.

There is no mention in the Bible that we are welcomed into Jesus’ presence because we lived right. Living right is an expectation if we follow Jesus, and there is lots to learn there too, but heaven seems to be a place for those WITH Jesus.

And so Dad is, I believe with Jesus. As is Floyd. As are many – the writer to the Hebrews calls them “a great cloud of witnesses”. I suspect we will be surprised by who and who is not there. But being in the presence of Jesus is the common denominator. And it is simple – ask for forgiveness.