Is there popcorn on the floor in Heaven? Or peanut shells?
There’s no killing people there. But what about the “little” things?
Like popcorn at the movies?
Or peanut shells at a hockey game?
If you look up popcorn and peanuts to see if they’re even in the Bible – they aren’t. For that matter, neither are movies or hockey. And how many of the movies that are made would even be shown in Heaven? Or – sadly – how many hockey games will there be? Certainly, fighting won’t be there – but that’s OK – because enforcers won’t be needed since the “dirty” plays that keep fighting part of the game wouldn’t be there either.
But still – there’s the question of popcorn, peanut shells, and other assorted stuff that we just leave on the ground. Popcorn – probably a mistake – either spilled or dropped – but we figure someone else will clean it up and we move on. Peanut shells – intentionally thrown on the floor because we can’t take our eyes off whatever sporting event we’re at – and besides someone’s paid to clean up our mess – so why even bother to try to be neat?
I know – not everyone’s like that. I even try to put the peanut shells into my empty food & drink tray – but honestly, that probably more because I don’t like the mess right at my feet.
So what’s the story with all these messes that we live with on a regular basis? Even at home – we don’t leave popcorn and peanut shells on the floor – but one look at the desk I’ve got my computer on right now will tell anyone that I’m far from neat. Will that change in Heaven?
We always think about the “big” things. Like there won’t be any murders in Heaven. Not even muggings. Or theft – which we consider a “minor crime”. But what about making a mess? Will that be “allowed” – or will God somehow be able to change us so we don’t do that either?
Well – if we look up the word “mess” in the NIRV, we find it four times. The first instance is very telling –
Isa 28:7 Israel’s leaders are drunk from wine.
They can’t walk straight.
They are drunk from beer.
They are unsteady on their feet.
Priests and prophets drink beer.
They can’t walk straight.
They are mixed up from drinking too much wine.
They drink too much beer.
They are unsteady on their feet.
The prophets see visions but don’t really understand them.
The priests aren’t able to make good decisions.
Isa 28:8 They throw up. All of the tables are covered
with the mess they’ve made.
There isn’t one spot on the tables
that isn’t smelly and dirty.
The drunkenness is one thing that’s going to change – no surprise there. That may eliminate some sports “fans”. But it still won’t take care of the peanut shells.
The inability to make good decisions will also change. There goes a whole bunch of movies too. But that won’t change the popcorn problem either.
The throwing up – it’s a good assumption that will also not be there. But that isn’t likely the only source of the mess on the table. And even of one wasn’t drunk and knocking things over from lack of good physical coordination from too much alcohol – what about accidental spilling?
And even if we have so much control over ourselves that we never spill anything – what about our general propensity to just not be neat people? I know for a fact that I’m not the only non-neat person in the world. And it’s one of my many traits that will be forgiven. So being messy won’t keep me out of Heaven. I hope and pray that trait doesn’t stay with me in Heaven though – because as much as I hate to take the time to be neat – I definitely appreciate having a wife who at least insists and helps to keep the rest of the house neat. She gives me my space on and around my (large) desk – and then stays away from it as much as possible. But I hope Heaven is more like the rest of the house than it is like my desk!
Rev 19:6 Then I heard the noise of a huge crowd. It sounded like the roar of rushing waters and like loud thunder. The people were shouting,
“Hallelujah!
Our Lord God is the King who rules over all.
Rev 19:7 Let us be joyful and glad!
Let us give him glory!
It is time for the Lamb’s wedding.
His bride has made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given to her to wear.”
Fine linen stands for the right things that God’s people do.
Rev 19:9 Here is what the angel told me to write. “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” Then he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Yeah – lot’s of things are going to have to change besides just the “big” sins.
And for many of us – things like popcorn, peanuts, and messiness don’t seem like they’re going to be easy.
But then – remember the story of the rich young ruler. His problem was one of the “biggies” – money. And here’s how the conversation went after this man turned around and walked away from Jesus –
Mt 19:25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Mt 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
I sure am glad God can take care of the “little” things too.