Bruce Springsteen said his father "was always fixated by money." The elder Springsteen would take the family to look at a big house outside of town. This house represented aspiration. It was a symbol of success, and something better than their blue-collar life. The Boss captured this image in his song Mansion on the Hill.
Do you have a symbol like that? Something that points you to something better or that inspires you to pursue your dreams and goals?
Personally, it's the Florida Keys. My stepfather and I always talked about moving there someday. That was our better place.
As Christians, we carry a similar vision. Our hearts point toward heaven. "Our citizenship is in heaven," after all (Philippians 3:20). When someone passes, we say they went to a better place: Home.
Heaven, then, is our reward.
Heaven is also our inspiration. Yes, we believe one day all things will be made new. God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. But does that mean we merely bide our time here and now? Just because things can never be perfect here doesn't mean we don't join in God's mission to bring peace and reconciliation now. 
In Revelation 21, John's vision includes the measurements of New Jerusalem. These blueprints of heaven convey something to us. They tell us of God's vastness and great desire to draw all nations to faith in Jesus. One commentator suggests the size would stretch as tall and wide as from Maine to Florida. In other words, there's room for everyone.
Can we not take that vision seriously today? Heaven is our home, but can it not also be our model?
It is a place shaped by the sacrifice of the lamb, not wealth or status. Love fixated its building. So, let's make sure we are building that kind of community here and now. One that points the world to something better God has given us. Let's make church a better place now.
Stay blessed...john | 
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