By Rick Carrol

I remember growing up, praying to God that he wouldn’t come until I accomplished my list. I wanted to get married, because it wasn’t fair that I would be deprived of sex and marriage because I was being faithful to him and the he comes back. Then I wanted to get to be a real adult, make real money, visit Hawaii

I thought I was bargaining with God, making sure he didn’t take away all the amazing experiences from me on earth before he returned. What I was really demonstrating is that I didn’t understand how amazing God’s gift of heaven is going to be.

God has prepared a place for us that have no pain, or sadness or death. It also means I’ll never feel like I’m lacking an experience, or comparing myself to others. I’ll never feel inadequate or less than.

It’s not that Hawaii or marriage or anything else is not fantastic, it’s just that they pale in comparison to what God is offering to us.

“I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil[f] will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:22-27 (NLT)