I’m sitting in the Portland airport waiting for my flight to San Francisco to board. In preparation for this trip there were many things I had to do: book the flight, reserve my hotel room, register for the conference I’m going to, schedule a shuttle to get me to and from the airport, pack my luggage, request this laptop from work to take with me, make sure my presentation was on a flash drive, pack some books from work for another speaker’s presentation, check out a credit card from our accounting department to pay for my food and lodging, and I’m sure there was something else along the way. So much preparation for a 4 day trip!
Then I also was compelled to make sure my family was taken care of while I am gone. I made 2 dishes this week that always have leftovers — Texas Skillet Dinner and Lasagna — so they would have something to eat. I went shopping and got cat food because we were out. I wrote out a schedule for the week on put it on the fridge. And I encouraged my son to study for his final exams this week.
It got me thinking about another trip that we all will make some day. That is the trip from this earthly life to eternity. It’s a much more important trip than the one I’m going on this weekend and will last much longer. But how much time do people spend preparing for this most important trip? Some people don’t spend any time at all; some don’t even believe the trip will ever happen. Others spend a little time thinking about it, but not much. But sometimes Christians can be too focused on heaven and forget the joy of the journey to get there. I’m reminded of the song by Johnny Cash called “No Earthly Good.”
Come hear me good brothers come here one and all
Don’t brag about standing or you’ll surely fall
You’re shinin’ your light yes and shine if you should
You’re so heavenly minded and you’re no earthly good
No earthly good you are no earthly good
You’re so heavenly minded you’re no earthly good
If you’re holdin’ heaven then spread it around
There are hungry hands reaching up here from the ground
Move over and share the high ground where you stood
So heavenly minded and you’re no earthly good
Thankfully, the only essential preparation for our trip to heaven is to trust in Jesus. Your ticket and mine have already been purchased and all the travel plans were taken care of at Calvary. That gives us the luxury of focusing on the journey and on being a blessing to others on the way. If you are certain of your final destination, then there is less time spent worrying and more time available for spreading around the love of Christ.