Minnie Goes to Heaven (48)

(a novel continued)

“I don’t have my going-to-see-God gown with me.”

“God looks at the heart.” Sarah took Minnie’s hand and instantly they were in the Holy City. 
Why did God want to see her? Minnie thought she might explode with anticipation.This was definitely something she would have worried about in times past (seeing God and exploding, both). But now, she simply delighted in the joyful expectation. 

As they approached the throne area, she could smell the sweet fragrance of Jesus. She wanted to be with God more than she wanted anything else.

At the throne God stepped down to meet them. He took Minnie’s hand. “Minnie, my child, I told you that I have something I want you to do. You are ready to hear it and you are free to choose. It is not easy, but I will always be with you. My Holy Spirit will counsel and guide you through the entire mission.”

“What is it Lord? I am listening.”

“Minnie, Your body is still in the hospital in a deep coma. I would like you to go back. I have much for you to do on earth.”

“Such as?”

“Do only what you see me doing. My Spirit will guide you.”

“You mean you are not going to tell me now.”

“It is better this way. Trust me.”

“I trust you Lord, but can I trust myself to hear you clearly?”

“My Spirit will guide you.”

Minnie thought. She thought about all the people with whom she hadn’t shared the Good News of the gospel. God was possibly giving her a second chance. “God I’m scared I’ll mess up.”

“You might.”

“What then?”

“Call on me. I have all the answers.”

“God, do I have to tell you right now?”

“Are you waiting for something? Will you know your mind better in a few days?”

“Lord, I want to obey you. I want to do whatever you give me to do, but I’m afraid. Heaven is such a safe and wonderful place. Earth is full of demons and sin and darkness and opportunities to disobey you. Help me Lord to do this thing you are asking.”

“I Am.” God said.

Minnie Goes to Heaven (45)

(a novel continued)

A little farther up the road they came to a castle the size of a cabin and made of sand, hard packed glistening sand. The entrance was such that only one person could fit through the doorway at a time. There were no angels here. There were no people here...just a cute little castle made of sand. Minnie and Lydia toured the rooms, all four of them and then squeezed back out the front door.  

“Why is that here?” Minnie asked.

 “Jesus said not to build your house on sand, but he never said anything about building a sand castle,” Lydia said.

Something else to ask Hershal, Minnie decided.

“How much further do you want to go?” Lydia asked.

“Let’s just see what’s around the next corner,” Minnie said.

Around the next corner they found another stream, a swift stream. They could hear water rippling, falling, thundering somewhere up river. “It must be a waterfall,” Minnie said. She loved waterfalls. Judging by the melodious sounds she judged a waterfall in heaven would be beyond her imagination. They followed the winding stream toward the bubbling orchestra. Around the last bend, they saw a ribbon of water which looked more like sparkling light glistening as it dropped from the sky. Rainbow light danced around the streaming ribbon. They stood in awe for several minutes.

“That was the highlight of the day,” Lydia said.

“Getting baptized was,” Minnie said.

Lydia smiled.

Minnie pulled her whistle out. “Shall we?”

Lydia nodded.

As soon as Minnie and Lydia blew their Fox whistles, Hershal and Ramone appeared, as if they had been with the girls before the whistles had actually blown.

“So, now you’ve visited Castle Row,” Hershal said. “What did you think?”

“Was an interesting day,” Minnie said. “Hershal, those men in the big castle with all the arches, who are they?”

“They, my dear, are very serious men. In every generation there are leaders among men who love the Lord, claim Him as their Saviour, love their fellow men, and put themselves in charge. The Lord lets them play king of the castle until they tire of it. Usually they end up calling on Jesus to rescue them, just in time for the next crop coming through.”

“What about the sand castle?”

“That is a visual aid. There are some among men who claim Jesus as their Saviour and yet believe that the good life they have led has earned them a way into heaven. So Jesus brings them to the castle made of sand and lets them choose. They can live in heaven as provided for by the sacrifice on the cross or they can choose to live in the castle made of sand. The sand represents all their good works. Every grain of sand represents some bit of self-righteousness.

Most understand the concept in quick order.”

Minnie Goes to Heaven (33)

(a novel continued)

“Samuel, how should I prepare?”

“Well to be truthful, you should have prepared on earth. Most Christians live on earth as if that is all of life. They store up treasures down there instead of following the explicit advice of Jesus, ‘Store up your treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust will destroy them.’ This is a shame. On the Great Judgment Day, they won’t have much to take into the new earth.”

Minnie thought back to her life on earth; she did have a few treasures stored up down there, although, there wasn't anything nearly as wonderful as here. 
“Samuel, what can I do now?”

“Learn as much as you can. Worship the Lord from morning till night in all that you do. And, spend time each day interceding for all of humankind back on earth. Many are lost and our God wants everyone to enjoy Him. Use the lake God has given you.”

“The empty lake in front of my cottage?”

“That lake should be constantly filling up.”

“Oh Samuel, I’m so sorry I didn’t know.”

After class Minnie walked back to the cottage. She stood at the edge of the empty lake and watched the stars twinkling beneath. “Dear God,” she said, “Please forgive me for walking by this lake without once interceding for the people down there. Dear God, be real to them. Put a love for you in their hearts. Let them love you most of all and love each other in word and deed. Dear God teach me what to pray. And, Lord, give the people down there a lake-filling desire to pray.” 
A gentle rain began. Minnie danced with delight. “Lord, I praise your name.”  Several big drops splashed into the tiny pool at the bottom of the lake. Minnie promised the Lord, she would be back at lakeside first thing in the morning.

The next morning, even before Hershal had breakfast on the table, Minnie was dressed—this time in a green shift with a leafy belt—and out at the lake, peering down. She saw her town. A few people were up mowing their lawns and washing their cars. Others were still lying in bed. Her husband John was one of those. Not too many were going to their work. It must be Saturday.

Yes, of course, today was the seventh day, all of heaven would be gathering to worship God. She wondered about Sunday. Hershal will know what happens on Sunday. Minnie wanted to run right back into the cottage to ask him, but she forced herself to look at her town. It seemed so dismal there. “Dear Jesus, tell me what to pray.” In her mind she heard the thought, ‘Pray for John.’

“Lord Jesus shine your love on John. Help him to be motivated to use this day for your honour and for your glory. Lift his heart. Let him want to praise you. Fill him with love for those around him. Assure Him that I am here with you.”

John stirred in his bed. A rainbow bent across the lake as a steady rain drizzled down. 

Minnie Goes to Heaven (32)

(a novel continued)

After supper the five walked to the meadow where the others left Minnie with her tutor. Samuel greeted her with a hug and news that there would be a break in their sessions. “School will be suspended during the heavenly game. Heavenly game...here in the meadow, beginning Monday.”

“What about tomorrow?”

Tomorrow is the seventh day. Tomorrow all of heaven gathers in one place to worship Our Great God, Yahweh, the “I Am” who is your Father here in Heaven.

“At the throne?”

“The very place. You will want to wear your white robe.”

Minnie’s heart filled with excitement. She felt as if her chest would burst. She danced a circle around Samuel.

“For, today’s lesson we’ll talk about grass.”

“Grass?”

“Yes, grass.”

“This grass?” Minnie sat down beside Samuel on the soft green grass which immediately formed a chair around her.

“Have you wondered why the grass is so different that the grass on earth.”

“I suppose because this is heavenly grass. There is no sin here.”

“Exactly.” Samuel went on to tell her about the Garden of Eden before the fall and painted a picture in her mind of the new heaven and the new earth where everything would be even more perfect than here.

“It’s hard to imagine a place more perfect than here?”

“This is still the old heaven. This place has seen a lot of grief. We still see much grief through the windows. Once Jesus returns to the earth as the triumphant Messiah, then this old heaven and the old earth will pass away and the new will come. That truly will be a glorious day, when the saints on earth hear the great trumpet call and they rise up to meet us—who are dead to them—and Jesus in the clouds.

So, while you are here you should use your time wisely in preparation for that great day.”

Minnie Goes to Heaven (31)

(a novel continued)

Minnie popped into a game of twenty questions. “Are you related to Peter?”

“No.”

“Are you married?”

“There is no marriage in heaven.”

“Did you meet Jesus when He came to earth?”

“Yes.”

 “Did you know each other on earth?”

“Yes.”

 “Did you live in Jerusalem?”

“No.”

“Were you at the cross?”

“Yes, but you wouldn't know that.”

“Are you related to Jesus?”

“Here in heaven, but not on earth.”

“On earth were you friends with Jesus?”
“Yes.”

“Friends with each other?”

“No. Although we loved each other.”

Suddenly Minnie knew, “Are you Mary, Martha and Lazarus?”

“Yes.”

“Hershal served tuna sandwiches and a spinach salad.

“Mmm, long time since I’ve had fish. It’s quite good,” Peter said. He related how he had had enough fish to last two lifetimes while he was a fisherman, and never thought to have fish while in heaven. “This definitely beats all the fish I’ve ever caught or tasted on earth. Although, that fish Jesus fed us at the seashore after He rose from the dead was pretty good.”

“Peter, you are my favourite disciple.” Minnie ventured.

“I’m partial to John,” Mary said.

“I believe Matthew was always the most thoughtful,” Martha said.

“No one comes close to Jesus.” Lazarus laughed. I owe Him big time.

“What was it like going back to earth, after you had been in this most wonderful place?” Minnie asked.

“If I didn’t love my sisters so much, I would say it was a real let down.”

“Very punny.” Peter said.

The four visited all afternoon. Mary and Martha were both interested in the life of a 20^th century woman on earth. But, much of the time Minnie just listened to the others reminisce about Bible times. She felt entirely privileged to be among them, treated as a complete equal.

Hershal prepared the most delicious salmon supper. Peter swore he would be eating a lot more heavenly fish in the future. 

Minnie Goes to Heaven (30)

(a novel continued)

Minnie woke in the morning to brightness and whispering music. The cottage was filled with it. The music sounded like a million-dollar sonic stereo system, or so she imagined. It penetrated her pores and filled her with joy everlasting. The heavenly light in the room seemed a thousand times brighter than any brightness on earth and yet her eyes were able to take it in. The colours around her enhanced a thousand percent. Yesterday seemed black and white in comparison. When she opened her closet, her linen going-to-God gown shone like a a star. She smiled as she remembered Samuel’s “You’ll see.”

Minnie dressed in a soft yellow shift with a daisy belt.

Hershal served croissants for breakfast.
 Life here was simply heavenly.

“How did you know I would like croissants this morning, Hershal?”

“I’ve been around you much longer than you realize.” Hershal said.

He told her how he had first come into her life when she first came to life. “I was there when the sperm touched the egg, so to speak.”

He told her how he watched over her while she slept, how he protected her when she was in danger, how he responded to God’s direction when she prayed and how his hands were tied when she had the accident. “I couldn’t help you then.”

“Why not?”

“God directed me not to.”

“But why?”

“Always full of questions aren’t you? Only God knows the answer to that one.”

“I’ll ask Him about it,” Minnie said.

“What are you plans for the day, Miss Minnie?” Hershal asked.

“I don’t have any, but I would very much like to meet Peter.”

“That can be arranged. We’ll invite Peter for lunch.”

Sure enough at lunch Peter walked up the path to the cottage. He had three others with him, two women and a man. 
“Who are they?” Minnie asked Hershal as they watched the four coming up the path between the flowers.

“You’ll know soon enough.”

Minnie greeted the visitors at the door. “Welcome, Peter,” she said to the red-headed one. “And, who are your friends?”

“You know us,” they chorused. 
“You do if you’ve read your Bible,” Peter said.