A Note From The Year of Our Lord, 2070

I recently read an essay that a friend wrote while she was back in high school entitled "My Life in 37 years." The point of the exercise was to imagine what her life would be like in 37 years, and write a letter in that fictional present tense describing how things had turned out. I loved the idea and the essay, and it got me to thinking what would my life be like in 37 years. Well, being 43 years old, I thought I'd stretch that date out to 60 years from now just to add a touch of certitude. The following is a note written in what shall have been the earth year 2070.

Hello friends, and past self. What a privilege and unique opportunity is for me to reach back 60 years from today and speak to you from what you might imagine to be the year of our Lord, 2070. I have one word for you: JESUS. I know you think you know the Name, but you simply cannot imagine. I'm a relative newcomer to this Kingdom. I would name some of the souls I shared company with just earlier this day, but I don't want to accidentally impress you or give you the impression that any other name even compares to the one name: JESUS.

It is hard for me to imagine the word regret from this place where I stand today, but for your benefit, I will try with HIS help. Stay with me, this is on point I assure you. One dear brother here loves me so much. In 2010, I really didn't know him, but soon after I entered this Kingdom, he came up to me and told me that it was that year when he heard me play a hymn at a restaurant one night. He was enjoying dinner with his wife, and he heard "What a Friend We Have in JESUS." He looked at me, and I didn't even know it, and he said he saw sincerity in my eyes, and somehow sensed I wasn't playing for the crowd, but to Someone else. He hadn't heard the song in years, but upon hearing it that night, something stirred within him. He didn't sleep well that night, and thought about his younger days in church while he tossed and turned. He explained to me how God's own sweet Holy Spirit called out to him over the next few weeks, and led him down a path to repentance and belief in that one name: JESUS. There are a few others here that have such a special love for me, but here is the rare moment of regret that I've asked for in order to share with you something I know to be very important. Knowing HIM like I do now, I wish for a moment I was with you in 2010 again. You see, I know HIM, and I know when and where HE's at work. There were so many chances that I did not choose to take up the cross beside HIM. Oh, if I would've only shared with them this gift, imploring with them with every breath I had to trust in the one name: JESUS. Believe me, the fear and anxiety, apathy and meaningless distractions, the potential social consequences I dreaded that kept me too often silent...I can't imagine why I ever let such vain insecurities, such foolishness come between me and what mattered most to HIM. I can't adequately express the depth of this error, but it is like choosing death over beauty, sickness over strength, cold, silent emptiness over the indescribable warmth of HIS smile. To me, the latter comes the closest to the real choice I faced.

I imagine you're curious about the place where I now live. I can't explain it in terms you'd understand, but I'll try to give you something to imagine. On earth you breathe air. Here, you are filled with the glory of HIS presence fresher than the purest air you can imagine. You're so completely filled you don't even need to breathe in to feel satisfied. He satisfies your every breath. On earth you are soothed by the sound of the ocean. Here, HIS voice is like many waters, the clearest, most beautiful music you've never heard before. On earth you think that a field of lavender or a mountainside at full autumn peak is a sight to behold. Here, the glorious light that is HIM is every moment the most beautiful sight you've never even imagined. You will not take your eyes off of HIS glory for even a moment but to serve HIS purposes, and you will return to HIM as soon as HE is pleased with your work. You probably cannot understand this, but HE is definitive beauty. You'll never again long for another sight. There is so much more, but I can no more explain them to you than you can explain colors to eyes that cannot see. Trust me, the Best is yet to come, even for me everytime I see HIM again.

I'll leave you with this. You have such a brief, yet precious, gift. You can please HIM with your faith...please, please, please do this, and do this now. Once you've seen, you can never please through faith again. The opportunity to exercise faith through the works that are pleasing to HIM is such a blessing...you cannot imagine how precious it is, and how many souls will love you deeply for it. With the time you have left on that side, seek after, love and serve what matters most to HIM with all that you are. Harvest while there is still light to work. And finally, prepare yourself...for in a moment you will all be changed. See you very soon. :)