Who do you want to meet when you get to heaven? I know that first and foremost we want to see Jesus. The other obvious answer is family members and friends who have gone on before us. But, what about Bible characters? Is there someone from the Bible that you want to talk to when you get to heaven?

Do you want to ask Mary what Jesus was like as a baby? Would you like to sit and listen to Moses describe how he felt when the red sea parted? How exciting will it be when we can hear for ourselves the women at the tomb talk about finding it empty? And, we can finally find out what Peter’s was calling his thorn is the flesh.

I just returned from the Blue Ridge Mountain Writers Conference. Over five hundred writers gathered there to grow in their craft. There were writers there from all levels of the game from best-selling authors to those who have never published anything. Many times over the week, I heard encouragement, whether it was an expert writer saying, “You can do it!” or people who had just met sharing their tips for getting started in publication.  One of the most impressive sights of the week was awards night. I watched as the best-selling authors applauded those who won an award for the very first time.

I couldn’t help but think this is what heaven is like. The Bible tells us that those who have gone on before us are encouraging us in the faith, that not only means our loved ones and those that we knew but it also includes those experts in the faith that we admire from the Bible. So, if you are discouraged, close your eyes and hear the applause, just for you. 

“Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1) (TLB)