When we see God

I was thinking today about when we first will see God.

I had always imagined the moment as me running up to see a long lost friend whom I had only been able to communicate with through letters or something. Yet today as I reflect on this sentiment again I sadly don't think that will be my original feeling.

I think when we finally will see God we will have a feeling of shame. What did we spend all those years on earth doing? Why in the world did we spend so much time watching TV? What was it that really consumed us here on earth - was it the mission of loving those most in distress? Was it giving all our money to the poor? Was it being kind to those who spit on us and forgiving our enemies - truly, totally, forgiving them? Did I give all I had to the cause I claimed to follow so 'religiously'? Looking at these questions - are they too high, too unreasonable? Although I can't say yes to any of these questions - no I don't think they are unreasonable.

I think we forget that our faith, the religion following the life of Jesus Christ of Israel is radical and not cozy. It is not something that we can participate in half-time. It is like swimming, when you get in the water you are completely surrounded, although sometimes I feel like I am the one clinging to the edges with my water wings, hoping that the experience will soon be over and yet the next day claiming that yes I am indeed an experienced swimmer. When will I dare to be surrounded, completely surrounded by Christ.
Being kind to those who spit on us
Loving those MOST in distress
Giving ALL our money to the poor
Forgiving our enemies COMPLETELY. These are not standards I can profess to adhere to.

Isaiah 25

O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done marvelous things,
things planned long ago.
You have made the city a heap of rubble,
the fortified town a ruin,
the foreigner's stronghold a city no more;
it will never be rebuilt.
Therefore strong peoples will honor you;
cities of ruthless nations will revere you.
You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in his distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.
For the breath of the ruthless
is like a storm driving against a wall
and like the heat of the desert.
You silence the uproar of foreigners;
as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud,
so the song of the ruthless is stilled.

On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquest of aged wine --
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces;
he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth.

The LORD has spoken.
:1-8