Crossing Home Plate
The Glory That Awaits Us in Heaven
The hope of Heaven is a powerful motivator for the Christian, a source of strength and encouragement as we run the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1). While we face trials, heartaches, and struggles in this life, we hold onto the glorious promise of what awaits us when we finish faithfully. The joy of entering Heaven—our eternal home—surpasses anything we can imagine, yet glimpses of it can be seen in life’s most exhilarating moments.
One such illustration, which some may have heard or seen on social media before, is the scene of a baseball player rounding third base after hitting a walk-off winning home run. The stands erupt in celebration, teammates eagerly gather at home plate, and joy fills the air as the player crosses into victory.
While this moment is thrilling, it pales in comparison to the joy and elation that will accompany our entrance into Heaven. Let’s consider the glory and hope that awaits us with this picture in mind, using the Word of God for guidance.
The Joy of Reaching Home
Just as the baseball player rounds third base and approaches home plate with their heart racing and the crowd cheering, so we, as Christians, press toward our eternal home. The apostle Paul reminds us of this in 2 Timothy 4:7-8:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."
This imagery of completing the race is echoed in the triumphant moment of a player crossing home plate to score the winning run. The journey was not without effort, but the reward is worth it all. Heaven, likewise, is the ultimate homecoming for believers, where our Savior and countless saints eagerly await us.
The Glory of Heaven
The celebration at home plate may bring tears of joy to the player and fans, but it cannot compare to the glory revealed when we enter Heaven. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:9:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
The greatest earthly celebrations give us only a faint glimpse of Heaven’s glory. In Heaven, we will stand in the presence of God, basking in His majesty and holiness. Revelation gives us a vivid description of this in Revelation 21:4-5:
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'”
Unlike the fleeting excitement of a game-winning run, the joy of Heaven will be eternal, untainted by pain, sin, or sorrow.
The Welcome Awaiting Us
As the baseball player crosses home plate, they are surrounded by teammates, hugged, cheered, and lifted up in celebration. How much more profound will it be when we enter Heaven to be greeted by those who have gone before us and, most importantly, by Jesus Christ Himself! Jesus spoke of this welcome in John 14:2-3:
"In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
Imagine Jesus standing at the gates, arms wide open, ready to receive us into the home He has prepared. Like the teammates gathered at home plate, there will be rejoicing in Heaven, but it will be far greater than anything we can comprehend.
Pressing Toward the Goal
The baseball player must first round the bases before reaching home, just as we must run the Christian race with endurance. Paul encourages us in Philippians 3:13-14:
"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
The journey may be challenging, but with our eyes fixed on the prize, we can press forward with hope and perseverance. Each step brings us closer to that glorious moment when we will cross the threshold into eternity.
The Celebration That Awaits
The moment a baseball player rounds third and heads for home is electrifying, but it is only a shadow of the joy awaiting us in Heaven. The cheers of the crowd, the embrace of teammates, and the exhilaration of victory remind us of the far greater glory that will come when we are welcomed into our eternal home. The promise of Heaven is not merely a comforting thought—it is the hope that sustains us and motivates us to live faithfully, knowing that the best is yet to come.
Let us run with endurance, fight the good fight, and keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). The celebration awaiting us at the gates of Heaven will make every trial, every hardship, and every sacrifice worth it. As Paul reminds us in Romans 8:18:
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Heaven’s joy will be eternal and unmatched. May we live each day with that glorious hope in our hearts, longing for the day we will cross into victory and be forever with the Lord.