Coming Attractions

When you go to the movies you look forward with anticipation to a great experience.  You have heard about a story that has been made into film and you're curious to find out of the reality of the movie matches up to your anticipation of it.  If it is a popular movie you need to plan to arrive early, to make sure good seats are available.  When you get there early you always have to wait through a seemingly endless succession of preview clips for other movies, soon to be released.  When my wife and I go to the movies and watch these clips we'll usually turn to each other and give a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" after each one to indicate whether it looks like a show we'd like to spend money to see, based on the short preview.  This morning it occurred to me that, in a sense, all of our natural days on the planet are like one of those previews of a great show that is yet to be released to us.  We know, in our heads, that everything our eyes can see has been formed our of earthly ingredients, marvelously fashioned to give beauty and life.  Yet, we can also say that everything our eyes can see will ultimately disappear...from the trees outside our windows, to the squirrels prancing across the forest floor.  Even the more substantial things, like rocks, mountains and the blue sky above will ultimately run their course and be no more.  In that sense, then, we can see that all of our lives on Earth must be a preview...a taste...of life in a place that is permanent.  Well, if that's the case, then I can begin to look for "coming attractions of heaven" in the things I see and the experiences I have while still here.  It seems that the Lord has allowed us to get to the theater early, so we wouldn't miss this great preview.  I'm confident He's eager for more folks to come to the show and there are plenty of good seats left. 2 Peter 1: 16-18 (The Message version) We weren't, you know, just wishing on a star when we laid the facts out before you regarding the powerful return of our Master, Jesus Christ. We were there for the preview! We saw it with our own eyes: Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father as the voice of Majestic Glory spoke: "This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight." We were there on the holy mountain with him. We heard the voice out of heaven with our very own ears. blessings (see you at the show!) Rob Smith