There are no surprises in heaven. This is a thought that I have been breaking on for a week. It’s the inverse thought that most will think when they first see the title. I have time and time again heard the sayings that explain that not everyone who thinks that they are saved will be going to heaven. You know like “make sure you are really saved”. Kind of like a scare tactic for youth ministers or evangelists. They say stuff like you will be surprised in heaven when you don’t see “such in such”. Anyways, the inverse though hit me while listening to last Sunday’s sermon. My wife and I watch our old church on our tv and then talk about it with my in-laws over lunch. Anyway, this whole idea of surprising in heaven grabbed me. I realized that there will be no surprises in heaven. Now I explain…When I get to heaven and awe in the wonder and majesty of God, then look around to see who else is with me, I will not be surprised.
I have a buddy named Shawn, and he was a best friend in grade school and to my knowledge right now he would not be in heaven. I don’t know maybe this concept sounded better in my head but the verse that comes to mind is
Matthew 7:15-20
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
And Colossians 1:10
10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Pretty much any other verse or passage that describes what we should look like as Christians in our obedient walks with Christ. Not the stuck up fake stuff, but the genuine believer. The thought that revisits my mind is of a party or a reunion. Where you see longtime friends but for the most part you know who would be there. But then your best friend comes in and you are like “WHAT THE HECK MAN!!! I CANT BELIEVE ITS YOU!!!”
Knowing that isn’t going to happen when Jesus comes back is a kind of sobering feeling. I can probably think of about 20 people that I know I won’t be surprised by in heaven. Why doesn’t that bother me? Why doesn’t that provoke me to do something about it? Do I not care about my “friends” enough to pry and poke at them, or live my life more intently for God. I need to fight more. I need to live out there on the limb. I need to fight with my bothers…. I want surprised in heaven. I want to plant the seeds so that when I do get there I can say “WHAT THE HECK MAN!!! I CANT BELIEVE ITS YOU!!!” and then they say in return, “God used you to reach me”.
Well I know i had the thought in my head, and hopefully 10 years from now i will still understand what i was talking about.
Nos & Rehtaf, Dnabsuh 