The End Result

I have a really sweet tooth. I absolutely love all things chocolate and sugar! I just cannot resist them and therefore I’ve learned to bake. I suppose I have always enjoyed baking. It’s very hard being part of a church and not being able to bake. Cup of tea at church?? Then there is always something sweet offered with it. Lunch, coffee morning, parent & toddlers, always a tasty treat to be served. We really aren’t the healthiest, but I’d say it’s always the tastiest 😂. So over the years as responsibilities have come along, I’ve just learned how to

do it. (much to my sweet tooth's delight!) Don’t get me wrong I do enjoy baking, but I have never been one of those Mum's that like to bake with their kids. I hate it!! I have no patience to watch them make a mess and I’m far too controlling to let them do it by themselves. My mum on the other hand happily bakes away with her Grandkids! They would regularly come home with cookies, gingerbread men and empire biscuits that they have made at Gran's house. Maybe I will be like that one day if I am ever blessed with grandchildren! 🙈

As I became comfortable making all sorts of tray bakes, over the last couple of years I have started trying various cakes. Sponges, chocolate cakes, 2 layer cakes, 3 layers or even a couple of tiers. I’m getting a bit braver the more I try. Don’t get me wrong, they look and taste good but I’m never going to master that perfect looking fondant icing cake. I just do not have the patience to sit there and work at it till it all looks amazing. NEVER. I’m quite content to stick to what I know.

One thing I love about baking is getting to taste everything and scrape the bowl as I go along. A well risen sponge that needs a lot trimmed off the top, means all the more for me to eat. Butter icing in the bottom of the bowl or chocolate ganache is always asking for me to scrape out and devour, before any of the kids notice and ask for it first. However I have to say, I do remember a year ago making my sister in law a birthday cake. By the time I finished it, I felt so ill with all the sugar I had consumed. My head was pounding, I felt so sick and I could hardly open my eyes as the pain just added to my headache. I had to lie down with my eyes closed until the feeling passed. 😁

All the little treats along the way though, does not compare to that end result when you get to taste the whole thing together. A lovely coffee, with a slice of cake, covered in butter icing or cream and whatever decorations are on the top is the best part by far. Each part has all come together and the end result is extremely satisfying. (well for the time being until the scales tell you otherwise!)

I couldn’t help but be reminded of that little expression ‘heaven on earth’. Now I don’t believe that we can fully experience heaven on earth. What I am talking about though, are those times as christians when we have been together and it has been like little treats of what is to come. Times when we have felt our hearts soar and we’ve thought ‘I wonder if this is what heaven will be like’?

I remember being in a hall full of people from many different types of churches and we all stood and sang together with a real love and joy in our hearts. It was lovely and made me wonder, what it will be like in heaven?

I’m sure many christians have experienced different times where they've wondered if this is what heaven will be like? But regardless of the little ‘tastes’ we get here on earth. Nothing will compare to that moment, that point in time when we open our eyes in heaven to the real thing.

The bible says that in heaven ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’ Revelations 21:4 Regardless of what we may experience down here, we will never know what that will really be like until we get to heaven. There is plenty of pain and tears here, no matter how much joyous singing we have!

As much as I enjoy my time together as a church (even if this year it has been really limited) nothing will ever compare to heaven. There is so much sin and wrongdoing down here for us to ever come close. The greatest thing about heaven is that God is there. That is what I look forward to the most and my little human mind can’t really begin to wonder what that will be like.

A few days ago we lost a lovely gentleman in our church. He was such a kind, caring man and despite the fact we only knew him for around 18 months he made a huge impression on us. He would do anything for anybody, he even made an excellent Santa at our toddlers Christmas party last year. He also had a sweet tooth and we often shared what cakes and treats we loved. It is so much more enjoyable to bake and know the end result is appreciated. Any new baking he was always willing to test and give me an honest verdict. During lockdown it was a delight to surprise him with his favourite sponge for his 70th birthday. I will sorely miss him, I was extremely fond of him. I really feel for his wife left behind. But, as she reminded me, he’s in heaven!! He is enjoying that ‘end result’. His journey down here on earth might be over but it’s only begun in heaven. For him, there is no more pain, no more tears. For him, he is with God. Nothing can be more amazing than that. I’m reminded:

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:2-3”

Our comfort is that this dear gentleman trusted in God and in the Lord Jesus. A place was secured for him in heaven because of this and he now lives with him in heaven forever.

This offer is made to everyone. If you trust in God and believe that his son Jesus died on the cross as punishment for your sin, then a place is secured for you in heaven one day.