Pondering Heaven

If you had to describe heaven to someone right now, what kind of language might you use? For many Christians the description often seems to run something like this:  "Heaven is place of eternal joy and comfort.  Those who have believed in Christ as Lord and Savior will one day go to heaven.  In heaven there will be no suffering.  There will be no sickness, no pain, no hate, no anger, no war, no sin of any kind.  Those in heaven will tread upon streets of gold.  We will breathe life anew.  We will be without stress, fear, or anxiety of any kind.  We will be reunited with all of our loved ones in Christ.  All will be beautiful and all will be loved.  Heaven will be more than just an echo of perfection, it will be perfection and it will be eternal."   The variations of this description are many but similar threads seem to run through most.  What, if anything, is curiously missing from the italicized description above?  Some Christians may stare at this description and say, "Nothing at all."  Others might stare at it and say, "You've left out the most important thing!"

Do you realize that the true joy of heaven is not escape from sickness, pain, hate, anger, war, stress, fear, anxiety, and what we see as our physical inadequacies?  Do you realize that the true joy of heaven is not the paved streets of gold?  Do you realize that the true joy of heaven is not a reunion with those whom we have loved and lost?  So what is the true joy of heaven?  I believe that every Christian should start their description of heaven with some semblance of this sentence, "The true joy of heaven and the great yearning for heaven should be in this realization:  We will be able to stand in the presence of God and worship him for eternity.  We will have the opportunity to give God glory and honor and praise for all time." 

I'm leaving this post short on purpose.  I would like for you to consider the minimal amount that has been said here.  I want you to generate questions in your mind then I want you to ask them here.  Do you agree/disagree with what's been said?  What can you add to what's been said?  How can we consider heaven from a biblical perspective and grow in our understanding of God's gloriousness in heaven and earth?  Enough from me.....your turn..........    

Comments

[Josh Lynch]

Heaven is often misunderstood. Word to your mother, Chad: God is a better treasure than anything here on earth. His peace and his existence is marked on my soul. I am compelled to worship my creator.

Our lives on earth are marred by sin in such a way that we are used to filling our ravine of spiritual yearning with earthly stuff, like "success", earthly companionship, material stuff in general, misplaced sexual acts, wanting to get high, wanting to be numb, etc.

We get so confused sometimes between wanting to be happy and the desire to be fulfilled as we were made to be, and then so compelled to act on that fulfillment with God.

People need to know who God is and what he's about.

I dont have a witty one-liner to end with. Peace out.