The Prize Collage: How to Get (and Stay) Excited about Heaven

 “Be glad in that day [when you arrive in Heaven] and leap for joy, for behold, your reward [prize] is great in Heaven.” 
Matthew 5:12 NIV

I love this verse but could you imagine if it read, “Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, you get no prizes in Heaven.”

It’d be like this: You awake Christmas morning as a child brimming with excitement. You leap from bed and run to the Christmas tree, eager to tear into your presents. But when you arrive, the only gift around is a Christmas card. That would suck so hard.

As you can see, without the presents Christmas is just another boring day. So it is with Heaven. God knew that no one would want to go to Heaven unless there were prizes.

But I don’t care about prizes

“I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a [giddy] child will never enter it.” 
Mark 10:15 NIV

Well, that’s too bad you don’t care about your prizes because God commands us to care (Matthew 5:12). In fact, he insists we become like giddy children on Christmas morning. And if you refuse, and instead are like an ungrateful kid on Christmas morning (who’s not excited about his presents and opens them as he/she grumbles), then God’s gonna’ kick you outta Heaven and never let you back in.

So how do I get excited about my prizes in Heaven?

 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV

The Apostle Paul says only one person running the race will receive prizes. What he means by this is only 1% of people in the world are saved and will go to Heaven and get prizes. The other 99% of people in the world are unsaved and instead of going to Heaven to play with prizes, they’ll go to Hell where there are no prizes. If this doesn’t excite you, I don’t know what will.

OK, I’m excited about my prizes but how to I put that into action?

Most children know what toys they want months before Christmas. If you were like me, then you started your Christmas list in October and added to it every time you saw something you wanted. But God doesn’t want us to wait till we’re 60 before we start our list of things we want in Heaven. That’d be like starting a Christmas list on December, 22nd.

God wants us to start our prize list today and add to it every time we see or think of something we want. Then he wants us to turn the list into a collage and meditate on it daily.

But what good is making a collage of prizes I want in Heaven?

 “I press on toward the goal [Heaven] to win the prize[s] for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 NIV

The Apostle Paul talks about pressing toward our goal (prizes). By seeing our prizes in detail we’re pressing forward. Because when our prizes become our focus, they become real in our minds and so they become real in Heaven. And if our prizes are in Heaven and we’re pressing toward them, then we’ll end up in Heaven instead of Hell.

One of my biggest influences in life has something to say about this biblical principle of visualization.

“When I was very young I visualized myself being and having what it was I wanted. Mentally I never had any doubts about it. The mind is really so incredible. Before I won my first Mr. Universe title, I walked around the tournament like I owned it. The titles were already mine. I had won it so many times in my mind that there was no doubt I would win it. Then when I moved on to the movies, the same thing. I visualized myself being a famous actor and earning big money. I could feel and taste success. I just knew it would all happen.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

Because Arnold focused on what he wanted, “it” happened for him. Imagine if he never visualized what he wanted? He’d probably be a personal trainer at LA Fitness and the Terminator would’ve been played by Antonio Banderas or something.

OK, I see how it works now but I want my prizes, so how do I begin the race?

 “Set your minds on things [prizes] above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2 NIV

Before receiving your prizes in Heaven you need to first begin the race. You do this by taking your focus off earthly things, and putting it on Heavenly things (prizes). So instead of obsessing on a nice home you want now (earthly thing), God wants you to obsess on a decked out mansion in heaven (thing above). So cancel your subscription to Good Homes and get a subscription to Upscale Living.

The most effective way to attain this mindset espoused by, the Apostle Paul, is to create prize collages; posters with cutout pictures of things (prizes) we want (and will get) in Heaven. These prizes could be rubies, yachts, blue eyes, wave pools, anything . . . these are just ideas. The point is God wants extravagant and over-the-top because He’s extravagant and over-the-top.

Is it as easy at it sounds?

Yes. All you have to do is flip through magazines, books, Facebook profiles, anything with pictures of things you want. Then print or cut them out and paste them to a poster. You can make one big collage and add to it daily (or weekly) or you can make a bunch of collages-big ones for your apartment walls, small ones for your office cubicle, a smaller one for your car, and an even smaller one for your wallet or purse.

But I’m nervous

It’s OK to be nervous. In fact, nervousness is a normal reaction to doing something you’ve never done before. But God doesn’t want this to affect your prize collage. So if the task is daunting, start small by setting aside an hour a week. Make it convenient, like an hour after church on Sunday. Or you can do as I do, and add to the collage throughout the week, cutting and pasting anytime you see something you want.

For example, if I’m flipping through a magazine in the waiting room at my doctor’s office and I see something I want, I tear out the page, fold it, stick it in my back pocket, return to my car and paste it to my collage.

(If you’ve started a prize collage but you realize it’s too cheap, then trash it and start over)

OK that sounds great but can I start the prize collage tomorrow?

Procrastination is Satan’s favorite tool. So rebuke Satan and start the prize collage today.

OK, I’ll start it today. But do you have any tips?

Over time I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. Here’s my top three suggestions:
• Be creative
• Have fun
• Think big

But I need some ideas. Can you provide me with examples from your prize collage?

You bet.

I’m about to start my prize collage and it’s great and all, but I won’t be getting these things till Heaven. What do I get out of if now?

The prize collage has changed my life and I promise it will change yours too. As soon as you start your first collage, you’ll notice the benefits. I started mine a few months ago and immediately noticed the following:

• Eliminated depression: Whenever I got down I looked at my prize collage and was reminded of how great I’ll have it in Heaven. This always cheered me up.
• Eliminated Jealousy: Whenever someone had something I wanted, I’d stew in jealousy. But then I learned, in those difficult times, to turn to my prize collage and tell myself that in 100 years, the person (with the thing I want) will most likely be in Hell, while I’m playing with all my prizes in Heaven. Jealousy eliminated.
• Attained peace: You probably think your life on earth really bites. Maybe you’re broke, homeless or sick. God’s (and my) response is, “Who cares?” Because you could die any second, go to Heaven and be loaded. Sometimes I forget this. But whenever I look at my collage, I’m reminded of my prizes in Heaven. This puts things in perspective and fills me with peace.
• Increased energy: I used to complain all the time and it drained my energy. Then, instead of complaining, I looked at my collage and realized there’s no need to complain about anything. Because if you’re goin’ to Heaven (like me), then complaining is like a rich king who, on his walk back to his castle, steps in dog poop and cries, “This sucks”. Why would the king complain? In a split second he’ll be sittin’ on his throne while a servant cleans his boot. So if you’re going to Heaven, there’s no need to complain. On the other hand, if you’re going to Hell, I understand why you’d complain. But I don’t complain so I have more energy.

I think I’ve got it down and I’m noticing the benefits. Can I share this with others?

“No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:15 GWT

Of course share your collage with others. Hoarding it would be selfish. Sharing your collage will encourage believers and entice the unsaved to convert.

 I want to throw a massive party where I show my prize collages to everyone

Fabulous idea! But when you have a party, don’t leave anyone out. Remember, Jesus hung out with unpopular people too. And have your believing friends bring their collages as well. It’s a great way to share ideas and pump each other up.

Thank you

You’re welcome.

And don’t forget . . . have fun!

Running the race,

Jake Z

How has your prize collage changed your life? What are some cool things on your prize collage?