The old Baptist preacher Vance Havner once said, "I'm homesick for Heaven. It's the thought of dying that's kept me alive this long."
Since that day 2000 years ago when Jesus promised to "prepare us a place," Christians have clung to His words in their darkest hours. Hope--in the biblical sense of the word--is the one thing no one can take away from us--not oppressive governments, not chronic disease, not financial calamity, not even death. But our hope should motivate us even when things are going well. Even when the sun is shining and we feel good and our bank account is overflowing, we should think, "Praise the Lord for this...but I'd still chuck it all in a heartbeat to go home."
In order for us to have that kind of hope, we need to have something more than a vague notion of what that "home" is like. This week, in a message entitled "What Will Life be Like in Heaven?" we'll talk about the things we KNOW will be there...and how to engage in "biblically responsible speculation" about the stuff we're not clear on.
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3 comments:
Mary O'Hara's character Nell in the novel "Thunderhead" has this to say about heaven, dying, and our earthly journey: "But it isn't that way, Ken- that if we pray and ask for help we'll always get what we want, because very often we won't and aren't supposed to. This world isn't heaven or anything like it. We won't always be here- we just go through it. And there's death at the end of it- that's the door we go out by....I think there's a lot of silly fuss about dying. The animals know better- they see that this life is a gymnasium. A place of testing and training and trial and development. And we ought to take it that way. Not everyone can win what they want- but they make spiritual muscle trying for it, and giving it up, too. Everyone loses at the end- if you call dying losing. So the battle of life is a losing battle, but what you don't have to lose is your heart and courage...."
And thanks to Jesus we don't have to lose our soul.
Some people see heaven as a place to float around on a cloud strumming a harp. If I read my Bible correctly, we were made to do two things: 1) Fellowship with God, and 2) tend His creation. I doubt we'll have time to do much "resting", because we'll be busy doing as He directs, and spending time in His presence praising Him. Our aches and pains,suffering and tears, worries and fears will be gone, which will free us to be truly joyful in our obedience. All our doubts and questions will be answered, and we will finally know the whole Truth, freed to serve Him unfettered by sin any longer. I want to see my ancestors, and my favorite authors of Scripture, to hear them tell what it was like to write His Word.I want to see the place He has for me, and know it's mine forever. I want to see His face in its full glory with my friends and family around me, and sing with the angels. Nothing else matters.
Very well said by both of you!
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