Do believers go right to heaven or do we ‘sleep’ until Judgement day?

Jesus clears up this debate in one simple sentence to the thief on the cross.  “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Today.

There is no waiting.  No purgatory.  We step out of this world right into the next.  We go to our ‘forever home’ with our Father in Heaven.

God’s perspective of death on earth for a believer is so different from ours.  When we lose someone, we are the ones left behind so it hurts.  The way God looks at it, when our purpose on earth is fulfilled, he gets to bring us out of this painful, sad, broken world into a place filled with peace and love and joy.

He gets to bring his child home.

Forever.

Amen!  Hallelujah!