Maybe God wants us to show up in heaven ready to love one another

​In hard times like this, I find myself asking God, what are you up to? I mean, why can't you just zap us and take us all to heaven right now?

God never answers me really. But he sends me hints.

Yesterday, I shared an interview on my Facebook page I did with Greg Armstrong. Greg is an accomplished ultra runner. Last year he won the Vol State 500K race in record time. He ran the over 300 mile race across the state of Tennessee in a little over 3 1/2 days. And oh by the way, he did it wearing sandals.

Greg is a man of great faith, so I wasn't surprised when he said this in our interview:

"I committed a long time ago that, yes, it's great when you can win or you can break a course record, but let's just face it, that's gotta be secondary. Because that pales in comparison. Me winning a race or setting a course record, that in and of itself doesn't make me a better human. It's the lessons I learn about myself along the way are what ultimately allow me to be more compassionate, a better father and husband and a better contributor to the world in which I live."

It's the lessons I learn about myself that allow me to be more compassionate... lessons he learned in the suffering that comes from running over 300 miles in just a few days time.

You know, as Christians, I think sometimes we place too much importance on just "getting" to heaven and too little on being "prepared" for heaven. Something about our learning to love one another here is going to have great value there. I won't pretend to know exactly what that is, but there's a reason that our own suffering here makes us better at loving the people around us.

How many stories do we have of Jesus entering into someone's suffering, with compassion, as a way of saying I love you? I don't know, but it's a lot more stories than we have of him showing up at someone's birthday party, full of joy and bearing gifts, ready to celebrate the night away.

There's a reason for that, I think.

I find it interesting, in 1 Peter chapter 4, Peter gets to talking about how the end is near. Wow, the end is near, so surely Peter will say next it's time to celebrate. Party on - the grand prize is near.

But that's not what Peter says. Instead, he says this in verses 7-10:

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.

*Be self-controlled*Be sober-minded*Love earnestly - love helps us overlook any faults we might see in others*Cheerfully offer folks a place to stay*Use your God-given gifts to offer God's grace to others.

When I read verses like that from Peter, I'm reminded God has much bigger plans for us on earth than simply zapping us to heaven. God clearly places importance on us learning as many lessons possible about ourselves, in order that we might be better prepared to earnestly love the people around us.

One of the definitions I found for EARNESTLY included the word EAGERLY.

It made me wonder, maybe God wants us to show up in heaven just flat out eager to love one another.

Maybe the greatest joy will be found in loving one another. Here - and there.