Heaven on Layaway

The other day, Oldest Son was talking to me about how he was surprised that there
are people who actually worship Satan, and that there are people who would
rather have temporary earthly pleasures rather then the Heavenly ones that
await us upon our arrival to the Pearly Gates. But, isn't it just like us humans
to want what we want, and to want it right now?

I think that Heaven is much like putting something into layaway.
When you put something into layaway, you take your chosen item(s) to the
layaway counter, they tag the item with a number, and hold it in the back
of the store. In the meantime, you make payments on the item(s) until it
is fully paid for, at which time you may take your item(s) home with you.
Heaven, in many ways, is like that.

When we store our treasures in Heaven, we are laying them away for a later
date. A lifetime later. And, this can be a challenge. Because, unlike our earthly
purchases, we don't get to see the heavenly treasures first. We don't get to touch
and feel them. We can't pick what we want off a rack, hand it to a clerk, and
watch her put it in the back room. However, we are given a number,
we just don't know when we will be turning it in.

We don't get to see the room or house that the Lord is building for us either. It's like
hiring a contractor to build you a house, but you don't get to see it until it is finished.

And, our treasures in Heaven aren't paid for with cash. But, with blood and
sacrifice. Jesus' blood. And, the sacrifices we make here on earth.

We know there is something better awaiting us on the other side, but it
can be hard sometimes to make investments when we can't even see
our progress. Sometimes it feels like it is in vain. But, God tells us that it is not.
He tells us to keep going. To keep doing. Because someday, we will reap the
rewards. We only need to keep putting it away and to wait.

Colossians 3:23-24~ "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not
for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.
You are serving the Lord Christ."

Galatians 6:9~ "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season
we will reap, if we do not give up."

Mathew 6:33~ "But seek first the kingdom of God and His rightousness,
and all these things will be added to you."

Hebrews 13:16~ "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have,
for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."