“Why haven’t we gone to Heaven yet?” We were driving to grab a bite to eat and from the back seat out of nowhere came the frustrated question from my five year old. She then said, “I have already been waiting my whole life, can’t we just go?”

First, I love that this is what was going through my child’s mind. We weren’t talking about Heaven at the time. We weren’t talking much at all. Listening to the radio, mentioning things that happened that day, nothing deep. Then BAM this expression of deep longing from a five year old heart. I suppose she is experiencing that which is described in Romans 8:21-25 (look it up.) Kylie loves to get lost in her own thoughts and occasionally we’ll get an expression like this that tells us where she has been. What a beautiful mind!

Second,  Have you ever asked this  (Why haven’t we gone to Heaven yet?) I have. I look around all the time and think. “Enough, will you come get us already.” My heart too often longs for that home I’ve ever known and can barely even begin to imagine.

So, what’s the hold up? What is He waiting for? I think the answer is me – maybe you: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance - 2 Peter 3:9.” He doesn’t want to leave anyone behind . . . In the book, The Shack, Sophia (God’s wisdom) poses a dilemma to the lead character. Pick two of your children to go to heaven and two to go to hell. Name the ones you have decided to send where. Could you do it? I couldn’t. I couldn’t choose for either Kylie or Eli to go to hell. And I know that God’s capacity for love is so much greater than mine and so, he is patient. Waiting for you, for me. BTW – if you read the context   of the verse above Peter is writing to Christians . . . so maybe what God is being patient about is not so much my personal choice, but my following though with what he has asked me to do. You know, the whole “go ye into the whole world” sharing that the kingdom of heaven is at hand thing. Maybe he’s being patient with me, waiting for me to tell you and you to tell others . . . so that more of us can go. After all, which of your children are you willing to leave behind?

On a final note about which of your children would you choose to send to Hell. I couldn’t do it . . . I would end up with send me instead. And so did God – and so he did – through Jesus – for you, so you wouldn’t have to.