With the encouraging reports coming out daily, we are beginning to think about what our lives will be like when the corona virus shut-down is behind us. Most of the comments I hear are about how different everything will be, spoken with an undercurrent of fear of the unknown.

The optimists among us are hoping our “new normal” will include improvements brought about by the changes in the last few weeks, concentrating on the silver lining principle. The pessimists seem to expect a downward spiral into a previously unknown level of chaos and poverty. I suppose that is simply human nature when trying to predict the future. Usually the reality falls someplace in between these two scenarios.

I tend to lean toward optimism and I haven’t really been giving too much concern to the long-term effects of the pandemic. When I think about, “when all this is over,” I’m usually thinking about when my physical life is over and I begin my journey in eternity.

When a Christian dies, we often talk about how we will miss that person, for now, but that one day we will all be together in Heaven, never separated again. I have to confess that I sometimes have the uncharitable thought that I might not want to share eternity with a few of my fellow believers whom I find annoying.

It was only recently that I had the stunning insight (for me) that we will all be our best selves in Heaven. There will be no need to complain about aches and pains, no need to try to impress others, no political disputes or snide remarks, no jealousy or resentments; in short, nothing to get in the way of loving, respecting, and appreciating one another.

What a blessing it would be if we could live that way now. That would be Heaven on Earth, indeed.

⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:43 English Standard Version (ESV)