Lessons from Jamaica - Part II

A week ago, my hubby and I were basking in the Jamaican sunshine. We were snorkeling. We were searching out bargains at the craft market. We were enjoying the amazing company of fellow vacationers.

Ahhh. If only I had a time machine to bring us back...but until then, sharing the experience will have to suffice.


One of our favorite past times in Jamaica is snorkeling. We have our own equipment that travels with us each trip. Early morning is our favorite time of the day to snorkel. The water is calm, the sea clear and the exercise builds up our appetites for the huge, Jamaican breakfast that follows.

Our walk down cliff-side steps leads to a landing, which in turn has steps descending into the sea. Once our masks and fins are in place, we plunge into shimmering water that engulfs us, transporting us to a whole new dimension. Tang, Four eyed Butterflies, Squirrelfish and Parrotfish swim in schools by the dozens. Vibrant Blueheads find us fascinating and become our pals for the duration. Juvenile sting rays fan along the bottom of the sea. Bug-eyed Squid scare the willies out of me and even an octopus makes an appearance.


Years ago, on one of our family vacations to Jamaica, we planned to teach our daughter, Lorie, to snorkel. She was probably ten years old at the time. After we geared up, we stood beside her and told her to put her face in the water and practice breathing with her mouth through the snorkel. I will never forget what happened next. Feet planted firmly on the sandy bottom, she bent over, put her face to the water, and immediately freaked out! She never expected to see hundreds of fish surrounding her. The world below the surface was nothing like the world she knew above.

As we stand on the pool deck, gazing over the turquoise sea, the water lends no clue to the teeming beauty and breathtaking wonder that exists below the surface. A Caribbean reef guide booklet gives an inkling of what we might encounter. Conversations with other snorkelers excite us for what we might discover. But the only way we can truly understand the undersea world is to experience it for ourselves.

I liken it to our journey into Heaven. Standing on earth, looking out over our everyday life, we see few clues as to what breathtaking wonder exists beyond our current existence. Our life guide, the Bible, gives an inkling into what we might encounter. Conversations with other Christians excite us for what we might discover. But the only way we will truly understand Heaven will be to experience it for ourselves.

Experiencing the wonder of the Caribbean Sea last week helped me to realize that our great God has an amazing future planned for us. One day, I'll experience it for myself. In the meantime, I'll rest on the truths he reveals to us through his Word, and live life relishing the fantastic joys he has placed for us in his creation.

Imagine this, from Revelation 21:

18-20 The city itself was pure, transparent gold like glass! The wall was made of jasper, and was built on twelve layers of foundation stones inlaid with gems: the first layer[c] with jasper; the second with sapphire; the third with chalcedony; the fourth with emerald; the fifth with sardonyx; the sixth layer with sardus; the seventh with chrysolite; the eighth with beryl; the ninth with topaz; the tenth with chrysoprase; the eleventh with jacinth; the twelfth with amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure, transparent gold, like glass.

22 No temple could be seen in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are worshiped in it everywhere. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to light it, for the glory of God and of the Lamb illuminate it. 24 Its light will light the nations of the earth, and the rulers of the world will come and bring their glory to it. 25 Its gates never close; they stay open all day long—and there is no night! 26 And the glory and honor of all the nations shall be brought into it. 27 Nothing evil will be permitted in it—no one immoral or dishonest—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.