Minnie Goes to Heaven (27)

(a novel continued)

Minnie picked up the Bible she found on the little table next to the chair by the fireplace. Where was that bit? She guessed Thessalonians. She began reading at 'The Coming of the Lord.'

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”

 “Hershal is there a Bible written for people already here in heaven? This one is definitely an earthly version.”

“Heaven doesn’t need a Bible. Earth does.”

“Then why is it here?”

“Just for you, my dear. Jesus knew you would be in need of it.”

Minnie knew Hershal was right. She did need the Bible. She hadn’t really taken advantage of it while on earth. She had pondered over many books including a good number of romance novels while on earth, all the while barely paying attention to short passages from the Bible which she religiously read with her familhy after every meal. 
The words of the Bible became familiar, but if she came to a difficult passage, she resisted any temptation to ponder. She had been taught at a young age, if there was anything in the Bible she didn’t understand, that she would understand soon enough—when she went to heaven and met the Lord. “We can't figure everything out, and speculation simply leads to false doctrine.” Her dad had said these words when she asked about the book of Revelations. She wondered what he thought now. She should ask him.

“Your parents are coming up the walk,” Hershal said. “They are here to take you to class.”