Somewhere.. Over the Rainbow

"Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high,
there's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
and the dreams that you dare to dream
 really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up
where the clouds are all behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
high above the chimney tops, that's
where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow,
bluebirds fly, birds fly over the rainbow,
why then, oh why can't I?"

This popular song sung in the 1939 sensation, "The Wizard of Oz" describes the longing of a dream that's unreachable in Dorthy's eyes. In this film, she falls asleep and dreams of a place she thinks is "over the rainbow." Throughout all her adventures, she soon realizes the longing of her heart becomes a quest to go back home.

I think we can all relate to this song. We have a desire to soar above our difficulties, troubles and heartaches. We long for a place of escape. We long for a place called home. As great as our earthly families may be...without Christ, our visitation is temporary. There is a real place..."over the rainbow, high above the chimney tops"..it is a refuge, a place of escape, a place of safety, peace and never-ending joy.

Deep down inside, we long for this place..our eternal "home." Nothing on earth can fill that void. But where is this place and how can we be satisfied now? Heaven would not be heaven without Christ. You don't have to physically die to enjoy heaven's benefits. You may ask.. how do I get up there..over the rainbow..where "troubles melt like lemon drops?"

Obviously, you cannot climb through the air and you don't have to. The kingdom of Heaven can live inside you. Although we have to wait to see our loved ones again, we can enjoy the very atmosphere of heaven now. And most importantly..we have hope. Before the curse, Adam dwelt in paradise, or.. over the rainbow. When Adam was exiled from that place, all he could dream of was going back. (Wouldn't you?)

The good news is you don't need a wizard, one that hides behind a curtain pretending to have power. He can't give you a sound mind (a brain) courage or a heart, only Christ can do that! After Christ came and broke the curse of sin and death and redeemed us back to God, He re-opened the gates to paradise. He actually tore down that heavy curtain that separated us from His presence.

Without Jesus, you are like Adam, locked out of paradise, this beautiful place over the rainbow, where dreams really do come true. Jesus knows that "there's no place like home" because He longs to make His home in your heart.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20.

If you've been down the "yellow brick road" only to find your still searching for the real thing. Jesus himself is the real thing. He is what's "over the rainbow" yet he's only a breath away.