I had not heard it for many years, but during the past week some of the words of this haunting song have entered my mind and I start singing it to myself. Why? I know that the song is not a spiritual, nor was it intended to be anything more than a love song. But some of the lyrics reminded me that when we go through the Pearly Gates, at first we may be ‘strangers in Paradise’. There will be Angels there to guide us, but it will all be new and far different from our earthly life.
“Take my hand I'm a stranger in paradise
All lost in a wonderland. A
stranger in paradise
If I stand starry-eyed That's a danger in
paradise.
For mortals who stand beside an angel like you.”
The song was written about an earthly ‘angel’, a woman that the man loves. But our Angel will be far more beautiful and will not be fickle or ever deceitful.
“Won't you answer the fervent prayer, Of a stranger in paradise
Don't
send me in dark despair, From all that I hunger for
But open your angel's
arms, To the stranger in paradise
And tell him That he need be A stranger no
more.”
I can’t imagine that we will have to appeal to our angels in Paradise, as it will be their duty to welcome us and help us get orientated. From several books I have read written by persons who have actually briefly experienced Heaven, I know that it will be awesome, just as our God is awesome.
Our job right now is to make sure that we will see Paradise. Jesus said that only those who are pure in heart will enter Heaven. (Matthew 5:8) No human is completely pure in heart, as we all are sinners no matter how careful we are. But Jesus came to earth and died so that our sins would be cleansed. All who accept His wonderful invitation to be our Lord and Savior will be saved and can enter Paradise. But we must take this step. He will not barge into our lives without our invitation. (John 3:36)
So many signs are coming from all over the world that the ‘end times’ predicted in the Bible are on us, right now. Even if we are not in end times, and I believe that we are, no one knows what day will be their last one on earth. Many of us think we don’t have to worry about losing our lives. But people die every day even in our own community. Will everyone you know be alive next month? We hope they will but don’t bet on it. So no one should wait to be ready for Paradise.
Now we are in the most beautiful season of the year. But many spend their time worrying about what presents they will give others. In its own way, this is a lovely thought. But if we were to search the world for a gift, we would find none to compare with the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Will we spend any time thinking of how we can give this gift to another?
If we truly have Christ in our lives, we may know what it took to have Him there. What has He done in our lives? Each of us can be an effective witness to Jesus and tell others how our life has changed by His wonderful blessings. Is the way we live, in itself, a beacon that shows the Lord to others?