WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE FOMO DESTINATION

The internet is full of abbreviations for sayings. A fairly common one that you might have seen before is FOMO, which stands for Fear Of Missing Out. According to Wikipedia, fear of missing out is described as “a pervasive apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent.” This social anxiety is characterized by “a desire to stay continually connected with what others are doing.”Here is an example; let’s say that you got an invitation to a party. You thought about going but decided that you didn’t have anything to wear or a babysitter, so you told the host that you were busy that night. But, as the date of the event grew closer, you started seeing some of your friends posting on FaceBook that they couldn’t wait for the party. The closer the event got, the more that you started to regret your decision. By the day of the event, you were so sure that you were going to miss out on all of the fun that you called the host and said that your plans had changed, and you could come after all.

Does that story sound familiar? The only thing that changed in the story was your fear level. You were afraid that something would happen at the party, and you would be left out of the fun.

I have something similar happening in my life right now. I got an invitation (only around 200 are invited) to attend an event in Dallas, Texas. Last year I couldn’t attend because of a scheduling issue, but this year I can attend. From the photos that I have seen from previous years, the age of most attendees is in their 20-30’s. I asked some of my blogger friends if they were going, but so far, none of them have said yes. The event is not something that I want to attend, but I don’t want to miss out either. UGH!!!

I was thinking yesterday about going to church when I was a child. It might not have been the same for you, but when I was younger, all the preachers preached was “hell and brimstone.” There was not a lot of inspirational sermons; instead, the sermons were all about what would happen if you sinned. The choice was simple, you either went to Heaven, or you went to Hell. Preachers back then didn’t sugar-coat anything or try the encouraging method. Instead, they used the “scare you to death” tacit, and it worked.

I like to use the FOMO method for something else instead. If the choice for spending eternity is Heaven or Hell, then let me paint the picture for you so that you can have a better idea of the decision. In the book of Revelation, John tells describes Heaven.

Revelation 21:1-4

21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. ² And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. ⁴ And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

Revelation 21:18-21

¹⁸ And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. ¹⁹ And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; ²⁰ The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. ²¹ And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. ²² And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

The description of Heaven is terrific! Most people dwell on the streets of gold and walls of jasper, but verse 4 is my favorite. No tears, no death, no sorrow, and no pain are enough for me to have FOMO.

The second choice is Hell, and the Bible describes this gruesome place in gory detail. Hell does not sound like a place that I would want to visit, much less spend eternity.

Revelation 21:8

⁸ But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Matthew 13:42

⁴² And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:41

⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Matthew 25:46

⁴⁶ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

I can’t imagine that anyone would choose Hell over Heaven after reading those descriptions. Unfortunately, everyone will not get into Heaven. And, the one thing that I am positive of is that NO ONE will enter the gates of Heaven except for the Grace of God, and by the blood of Jesus.

You can skip the party, and I might skip the Dallas event, but I know one place that I do not want to miss out on. Heaven is the ultimate FOMO destination!

I Hope You Have A Blessed Day!