I heard this saying for the first time in the movie Hidden Figures. Kevin Costner plays the role of Al Harrison and Taraji Henderson plays the role of Katherine Johnson. Al was desperate to be the first one to reach the moon. He was head of the space task group at the Langley Research Center. Katherine Johnson was tasked with calculating the trajectory for Alan Shepard’s historic flight. Al was having a conversation with Katherine. He said to her, “What I’m asking you and all the rest to do is look beyond the numbers. Around them. Through them. Looking for answers to questions we don’t even know to ask. Math that doesn’t yet exist because without it we’re going nowhere. We’re staying on the ground. We’re not flying into space. We’re not circling the earth and we certainly are not touching the moon. In my mind I’m already there. Are you? 

Katherine responded, “Yes sir.”

As I was sitting in the movie theater and heard this conversation my mind began to ponder and wonder. Can I say the same thing about heaven? In my mind am I already there? Is it possible to be in that state even though I’m still here on earth? I have found that I can. His word tells us that we are to work right up until He comes. I am engaged everyday with what He has tasked me with for that day. At the same time I am expecting Him at any moment to come get me! 

As I was reading scripture one morning about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego I saw something. I was reading the conversation that the young men were having with the king. I was astounded. They said to the king. “Oh Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and He will deliver us out of your hand, oh king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, oh king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you set up.” We all know what happened after that. The fire was turned up seven times hotter because the king was so enraged. When the guards threw the men in the furnace they themselves died from the tremendous heat now coming out of the furnace. I read on and it said that the king saw the three men dancing in the fire with a fourth person that was brighter than the sun. I said to myself, this is how they did it. In their minds they were already there. They had no fear of the king. They had no fear of the fire and they had no fear of dying. It’s because in their minds they were already there, heaven. 

My mind then went immediately to Daniel in the lion’s den. He had no fear of the king. He had no fear of being lowered into the lion’s den and he had no fear of death. When he was pulled from the Lion’s Den he said, “My God sent His angel and shut the lion’s mouth, and they have not harmed me, in as much as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, oh king, I have committed no crime.” In his mind he was already there, heaven. 

I thought of David because he had no fear of Saul chiding him wanting to do such an impossible thing. He had no fear of his brothers, even though they despised him for what he was about to do. He had no fear of the giant and he had no fear of dying. In fact the bible says that David ran quickly towards Goliath.

All of these men were bold, strong and fearlessly faced death with such confidence and assurance. What caused them to be so brave? 

When you know that you are saved and you have an intimate personal relationship with Jesus you have that confidence. You know that you will one day be with Him for eternity. You can live here as though you are there. This is not my home. I do not belong here. 

There is a song titled, I Am Resolved. The first stanza and chorus is as follows:

I am resolved no longer to linger

 charmed by the world’s delight; 

things that are higher, things that are nobler,

these have allured my sight.

I will hasten to Him,

hasten so glad and free;

Jesus, greatest, highest,

I will come to Thee

I went to visit my sweet friend in South Carolina and she knew that I loved tea. She went out and bought me a box for my stay with her. The tea is called Bengal Spice. I had never had it before and I love it. It is now my favorite tea. The first time that I drank it I thought to myself, wow this is bold and strong! As those two words popped into my head I felt the Lord nudging me. I felt Him say, “This is what I want you to be in your walk with Me from now on, bold and strong!” For what lies ahead and what I sense is coming, I will have to have both of those attributes. When I think of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednigo, Daniel and David those are the words that I would use to describe them. 

I have been asked this question many times. Some are saying Jesus is coming tomorrow and others are saying a long time from now. Which one is right? My answer is to live in both. Live like He will be here in the next minute and live like He will not come for a long while. Either way we win! Either way in my mind I’m already there:

HEAVEN

“In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.” Titus 1:2

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20