At the End of the Journey - Martin Wiles

No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. Hebrews 12:22 NLT

She lay in a hospital bed in a local nursing home waiting to end her journey. What kept her hanging on, I didn’t understand. She had come here after leaving another nursing home—the one she and my grandfather were in together…the one from which he had made his final journey. Now it was her time, but it was as if she didn’t want her journey to end. My aunt called, “You need to come see her. She’s waiting to see you before she goes.” I had just started a new job and was afraid to ask for time off. “Well, can you just talk to her if I call you?” my aunt asked. I could, and I did. I told her it was okay to go home. And she did.  

Mount Zion was literal and figurative. Literally, it was the place where the Jerusalem temple was built and where some say it will be constructed again. The figurative temple is more important, however. It represents heaven, the end of the journey for all who chose to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. 

I’ve heard it said, “I have more miles behind me than I do before me.” Those I heard say that I classified as old. As I calculate what their age was then, however, I realize they were about my age now. 

Suddenly, I’m the one with more miles behind than in front of me. On some days, knowing that comforts me; on others it causes a wave of fear to wash over me. Not fear of missing heaven but of journeying where I’ve never been before: death. 

My confidence for the final journey is built on a decision I made when I was nine years of age…the decision to follow Christ…the same decision my grandmother had made. Forgiveness of my sins gives me the fortitude to close my eyes in death and know that I’ll immediately open them in heaven. 

Is heaven waiting at the end of your journey?

Prayer: Father, thank You for the assurance of an eternal home with You. 

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