Some say this is paradise. What is paradise? Maybe then this will be paradise to you. Or maybe this will set your dream on the paradise that is awaiting the followers of Christ – like it did for me.
I remember the time when I thought of heaven as a meaning of escaping hell, or just to be in “my happy place” forever. I’ve come to know that the true substance of heaven is to be in the immediate presence of God forever. I believe that being in this presence will be something far greater that we can ever dream or imagine – Revelations shows us that the angels are still singing “Holy, holy, holy...” after they have been doing this for as long as time exist, implying that they did not yet reach the point of explaining God’s holiness. Off course, if the creator of Hawaii would design His own home, He would certainly create something magnificent! Now all of that is paradise, isn’t it! I wonder if the splendor of the surroundings would matter to us once we join the angels in singing. So the song “I can only imagine” by Mercy Me keeps on ringing in my head.
Hawaii is certainly the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Lush green mountains rise vertically out of the clear ocean to form a resting place for the smoking clouds. Here and there palm trees cover the beaches, creating the most idealic scenes at sunset. And as you would have guessed, an atmosphere of serenity fills place.
What was supposed to be a time of rest in our journey turned out to be an intense experience of the awareness of the Spirit’s leading, as well as God’s interest and provision in our lives. A day of debriefing over India organized the closet, preparing us for stepping into personal uncharted territory by taking on a Luke 10 journey for two days. My life will never be the same after I learned to be constantly searching for the leading of the Spirit during those two days. It led to so much joy and amazement to see how God can work through and in us if we are willing and searching. Me and my group has been spoiled beyond human ability, even so that within the first hour we knew that God had to be interfering with our paths. I’ve learned that God delights in a life live to the fullest while the eyes are set firmly onto Him. All praise and glory to the mighty God we serve! And the other groups had just as awesome stories to tell.
We met some wonderful God followers. Thanks to Ann, Rosely, Paula, and Heather. However, coming from India, I was struck by the Godly abyss in some of the rich people’s lives. Ashamed of myself, I found that just after a few days I grew accustomed to the easy living and almost lost my sense empathy for empty people and despising of the need for earthly treasures. But God again purified me in this area by putting two Hopeless people on my path during the last few hours on the island.
And what would a trip in Hawaii be without creating some special memories with the person you love with all your hart...
All in all I can only echo again that there’s nothing on earth that comes close to knowing and following Jesus Christ.