A little while ago, our daily Bible reading referred to the WOW experience of the Queen of Sheba when visiting King Solomon (1 Kings 10 and 2 Chronicles 9) and it reminded me of our first visit to the USA.
As part of our long-haul flight, I recall looking out of a window and seeing the awesome sight of Greenland, and it was lovely to be reminded of that as a friend had a similar experience and response when travelling to Canada.
On arrival, and guided by family through the O’Hare terminal, we then travelled by car to our temporary home. I found myself appreciating, with a sense of awe, so many new and wonderful sights, not least the many churches of varying denominations. This feeling continued with our first visit to Chicago.
As I reflect on those events, and subsequent visits not only to the USA but also Austria, Norway and Switzerland, I find myself appreciating what it must have been like for the apostle John and his vision of future events as recorded in the book of Revelation. One pastor suggested that John was so overwhelmed by what he saw that he found it almost impossible to describe it.
Peter Jackson, the talented blind pianist, said, “When I get to heaven and my eyes are opened, the first person I shall see will be Jesus.” The older I get, the more difficult I find it to appreciate what heaven will be like, not only for who and what I see, but that it is for eternity.”
One hymn writer, reflecting on the Communion service, wrote, “If such a glimpse of love, is so divinely sweet, what will it be, O Lord above, thy gladdening smile to meet.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may we be responsive not only to the wonder of creation but especially to the Creator and Saviour of the world. AMEN.