Camp Meeting in Heaven

Psalm 19:1 The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship.
Psalm 97:6 The heavens declare his righteousness; every nation sees his glory.

For those who live in Florida, lightning and thunderstorms are a normal part of life. Indeed, if we go through a single summer day without the usual afternoon thunderstorm, it is noteworthy.

I live in a rural area of the county where there are few lights to interfere with my view of a velvety, midnight sky strewn with glittering diamonds. When there are no clouds or visible moon, it is a wondrous sight to behold. Just standing in the middle of the property with my head thrown back, taking in the massiveness of the universe’s star-encrusted blanket … there is nothing else like it for reminding me of just how small I am and just how huge God is.

However … there is a very different night sky that equally fascinates me and makes me anticipate Heaven unlike anything else.

It all begins with flashes of light in the sky, as though someone were taking flash pictures behind the thunderhead. First, there will be a flash of light backlighting a cloud to the south. A second later, a multi-legged jagged lightening bolt sprays out from one cloud to another on the north. The flashing lights continue to call and answer each other for nearly an hour. At first, there is practically no thunder to be heard. Soon, cloud-to-cloud lightning begins: slowly at first, then increasing with strength, length and frequency and escorting in the sounds of deep thunder rolling through the clouds. I find myself captivated by the grandiose sight and unable to move.

The camp meeting in Heaven is seriously cranking up.

I imagine a huge gathering in heaven with the saints and angels singing praises to The King. I’m talking about an old-fashioned summertime camp meeting – where there is shouting and singing a the top of your lungs, stomping and dancing before the Lord. Just imagine this with me for a moment. Imagine an amazing worship service taking place on the floor above you. You can feel the rumbling of the foot-stompin’. And you can hear the voices crying out in worship and adoration to the Lord. Doesn’t it make you wish you were there?

We exist in this temporary body on the first floor of creation. Above us, there is an unending, all-out worship service going on, whether or not we are immediately aware of it. Maybe it’s those nights that God is just letting me get a tiny glimpse of what’s to come. When He sees me watching the night sky, maybe He draws back the veil just enough to let the incredible lights and sounds of heaven escape for mortal eyes to see. Sometimes living can obscure our view of eternity, and He knows that. So He opens the windows of heaven every once in a while to remind us of what’s waiting for us.