The Grey Havens

This last Friday night, my brothers and I watched The Return of the King. I do think that one is my favorite of the three movies, though The Fellowship of the Ring is a close second (I don't like The Two Towers as much - too many battles). I always cry at the end, when they're parting at the Grey Havens. Just that look that Frodo gives the other hobbits... and the sadness in Sam's eyes...

Anyways, tears aside, seeing the scene of the Grey Havens got me thinking about heaven. Just like at the Grey Havens, there will be partings, even of friends. Thankfully, though, Sam also went to the Grey Havens towards the end of his life. So he and Frodo were together once more. But I'm sure for many of us, there are people that we know, even good friends, who are not Christians and will go to hell. That will be really horrible - knowing they're going to the worst place imaginable and can never escape! When you think of it that way, how can we keep from telling them about God's salvation? It's pretty much a life or death situation!

In the song, "Into the West", one of the lines is "White ships have come to carry you home." For Frodo, the elves, and Gandalf, they were going home. Middle Earth actually wasn't the elves' real home - and for Frodo, Middle Earth was a place where he could never truly be at peace. After all he had gone through, he was permanently scarred with the burden he had carried. So it is with us. This earth isn't our real home; we are citizens of heaven. Though we can experience God's peace here on earth, it will always be at war with our flesh. We are never truly whole until we come into the presence of the Almighty God and worship at His feet.

Thinking about heaven really puts things in perspective, doesn't it? It makes me want to witness to others and put aside my insecurity about how they will judge me. Because really, the way people view me here on earth isn't going to matter in heaven. What does it inspire you to do?

~Melody