The other day my 4 year old granddaughter Avery was over at the house.  She said, “Papaw, I want to tell you something.”  I leaned down so she could tell me yet another of her great big secrets or share a tale of some recent adventure like finding a dead grass snake in the back yard.  This time it wasn’t a secret it was more of an invitation.  “How about you and Nana and my other grandma and grandpa could go with me to the big zoo and see some lions.  I think my family is going to go next week.”  I found out later that Avery and her mom, dad and sister are planning a trip to the San Antonio zoo this summer.  Being 4, next week is the way Avery describes any day in the future that is not tomorrow.  I told Avery that I would love to accept her invitation.  Later as I was thinking about her invite, it reminded me of John’s words to the church in 1 John 1:3-4.

1 John 1:3 “…what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.  4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

John is sharing with others the truth that He knows about Jesus Christ; that Christ is the incarnate word, God in the flesh who gave His life so that we can have forgiveness of our sins.  John says that he is sharing what he knows so that others may share in the same fellowship and enjoy the same blessings.  John proclaimed the good news of the gospel so that others one day too could enjoy eternal fellowship with God the Father.  My granddaughter Avery does not really know when she is going to the zoo, she does not really know what to expect but she knows that it will be fun and it will be a good time.  Because it will be a good time when that day comes, she wants other people she loves to go with her…me (her Papaw), my wife (her Nana), and her other grandparents too.  She wants all of us to be able to go and enjoy that blessing and the fellowship with her.  Christians should have the same attitude and perspective about heaven.  We may not know exactly what to expect but we know it will be good, we know it will be a blessing and my goodness; we ought to be busy inviting other people to go with us!  Christ loves us and gave His life for us!  He offers us help for today and hope for tomorrow.  Some day we shall see Him face to face!  The news we know is too good to keep to ourselves.  Just last week Avery told someone, “Our God is GREAT BIG God and you need to know that.”  What we have seen and heard and experienced about the goodness of the Lord, we proclaim to you – so that you might go with us and so that our joy might be complete!  Until next time, stay strong in the faith.