Who is the one person you want to talk to in heaven (besides Jesus) – and why?

If you are a born again believer, you’ll be going to heaven. My belief is that we’ll be able to recognize and converse with others in heaven. If that’s true, most of us will have lots of questions for lots of people. And I’ll bet we’ll have one in particular we want to talk to first.

With that in mind here’s a bit of preface material.

In 2003 Mitch Albom published The Five People You Meet in Heaven, an inspirational novel about Eddie, an aged maintenance worker at an amusement park who is killed while trying to save the life of a little girl in an accident at the park. Eddie is transported to heaven and meets five people who greatly influenced his life. While the theology of the book may be a bit quirky, the inspirational nature is not.

All this got me thinking as I read the crucifixion account this week. The thoughts solidified on Resurrection Sunday when the pastor preached a sermon on “Choose Life or Death.” In the message he examined the individuals that were present at the crucifixion and whether or not they accepted the Deity and Sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

When he arrived at the dying thieves crucified on either side of Jesus, my thoughts immediately focused on the thief who wisely recognized who Jesus was and proclaimed, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” This man chose life.

This man chose life and I want to know why. What focused this man’s mind so wonderfully on Jesus and the fact that He was the Son of God? 

He’s the man I want to speak to first in heaven.