Inside Heaven

"Inside the Actors Studio" has become a cult hit. The Bravo television show is seen in 80 million American homes! Since 1994 the show has featured interviews with over 200 actors, directors, producers and Hollywood celebrities. Host and show creator, James Lipton has an uncanny ability to get celebrities to share their inner most thoughts, opionions and experiences on a wide variety of topics. Lipton is the founding dean of the prestigious, Actors Studio Drama School of Pace University, which he created thirteen years ago as vice-president of the Actors Studio. It has become the largest graduate drama school in America. The popular television show is part of a class for graduate students.

If you've never watched the show it features the distinguished and dapper dressed Lipton sitting behind a table with a stack of cards. A celebrity guest is seated across from him in a chair that faces Lipton and a live audience. Above them hangs a giant screen where film or show clips are shown throughout the interview from the guest's various works in film, television or the arts. Among the 200+ guests has been Jack Lemmon, Halle Barry, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Steven Spielberg, Jodie Foster, Harrison Ford, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and many others. His guest lineup reads like a "Who's Who" of the film and entertainment industry.

At the end of each interview Lipton asks a set of 10 questions. The ten questions by journalist Bernard Pivot that Lipton asks every guest are:

What is your favorite word?
What is your least favorite word?
What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
What turns you off?
What sound or noise do you love?
What sound or noise do you hate?
What is your favorite curse word?
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
What profession would you not like to do?
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Lipton was recently interviewed on NBC's Today Show concerning his new book. When asked the final question about heaven he replied: "You see James you were wrong, I do exist, but I'm going to let you in anyway."

As Christ-followers we believe heaven and God are very real so it's not a stretch to believe, but have you ever thought about what you would like to hear God say upon your arrival? Perhaps God will say something like this: "Welcome home. You're here because my Son loved you so much that He paid the price to make this possible for you (1 John 3:16; John 14:6). He's been busy preparing this place as He promised (John 14:2). I've had you and this day in mind since I laid out the very foundations of the earth (2 Tim. 2:19). Nothing can take this away from you, not even your imperfection and the times you disobeyed me and messed up (John 10:28). My grace has made this possible (Eph. 2:8). Welcome home!"

None of us knows for sure what God is going to say. But I think we might be so overcome with gratitude and His shining presence that we might just say, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty!" What would you like to hear God say?