Paradise for One

What does this picture remind you of? A vacation? Peace of mind? How about some song lyrics? In the mood for a beach party? Remember this little ditty? 

Nibblin on sponge cake, Watchin' the sun bake, All of those tourists covered with oil, Strummin my six string, On my front porch swing Smell those shrimp they’re beginning to boil.

Yep! Those are Jimmy Buffett’s lyrics to his song Margaritaville. Jimmy’s searching for his lost shaker of salt. What happens? Well, he blew out a flip-flop and stepped on a pop-top, cut his heel and had to cruise back home, where there’s stuff in the blender, that would help render him wastin away--in Margaritaville. No doubt it was a frozen concoction that helped him hang on.

Would you like a one-way ticket or round-trip ticket? Honestly, how long could you be happy without work deadlines, traffic jams, waiting in line, and listening to the neighbor’s dog barking all night? How long would it take to tire of ocean waves lapping at your feet, warm breezes caressing your face, fresh squeezed lemonade, and the sound of absolute peace and quiet?

Most people who visit what they think is paradise usually thoroughly and completely enjoy themselves. They return home with stories of walking on the beach, sun-tanning, reading a book all the way through, enjoying cool drinks all day, and eating fresh seafood until they are stuffed. The rest and relaxation is a coveted therapy that money cannot buy. Who would not like a trip to paradise? What could possibly be better than a luxurious trip there?

In case you’re wondering, not all trips to paradise are luxurious and worry free. The Bible records one man’s trip to paradise and when he returned, his experiences were not relaxing but were instead rather unnerving. Hard to believe, not if your name is Paul and you’re writing one third of the New Testament. Paul the Apostle records his trip to paradise in 2 Corinthians 12.

He writes, “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know –God knows. And I know that this man – whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows – was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.”

Paul is speaking of a personal and actual experience where he was caught up into heaven and given revelations he could not speak about. Many think this occurred when Paul was stoned (with real rocks) in the Book of Acts 14. The next time you plan a trip to paradise, please remember it’s not all about you. Will others benefit from your trip, like we did from Paul’s trip? Pack light!