by J. Randal Matheny

After lunch at one of the three shopping centers in our city, I wandered over to the Bavarian nut cart for a different choice in desserts. As I walked up, the salesgirl said to a friend at her side, "... and nobody goes straight to Heaven."

"I'm going straight to Heaven," I interjected, without thinking twice.

In Brazil, you can jump right into a conversation, without even introducing yourself.

And I didn't even know the context of the conversation, but I knew I wanted in this one.

They didn't back up to explain much, but just included me in the flow of the discussion.

I never did find out whether the delay or detour to Heaven meant Purgatory or Hades or some off-brand of reincarnation.

After ten minutes of chatting and buying my cone of nuts, I handed them my business card, "Want something more out of life?" and headed toward the car and my next commitment.

But my answer to the unknown issue kept bouncing in my mind.

I'm going straight to Heaven.

Oh, sure, I believe that at death one goes to the world of the dead -- in the Paradise department, I hope -- to await the judgment. (See the story in Luke 16:19-31 as an example.) But my thought wasn't on that doctrinal question.

My thought was how much of a beeline I'm making for an eternal seat at the greatest Place beyond the universe. And how much I want everyone I know and see to go there with me.

The real detours are the ones we make down here on earth. They can be deadly. They can keep us from ever coming back to the Main Road.

But I'm going straight to Heaven. And nothing will get in my way.

What about you?

"My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better" (Phil. 1:23b, ESV).