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The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord‘s throne is in heaven (Psalm 11:4a, ESV).
C.S. Lewis writes, “If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought the most of the next.” But some say, “Don’t be too heavenly minded or you will be no earthly good.”
I agree with C.S. Lewis and not the naysayers of “no earthly good,” as hope motivates the present. The Apostle Paul teaches this concept in Romans 8 …
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (vv. 24-25).
Our dreams and our expectations determine who we will be today, and our lives should be oriented toward heaven and not this earth. As Jesus said …
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:19-20).
In the Bible, the view of heaven grows theologically.
The Old Testament began with Sheol as a shadowy existence, which later developed into Hades in the New Testament, a place that contained both good and bad individuals. In Luke 19, a rich man cries to Abraham to send relief from the good part of Hades (where Abraham was) to the bad part of Hades, where the rich man found himself after his death. But the rich man was told, “Between us and you a great chasm has been fixed.”
I want to be on the good side of the chasm. How about you?
The Bible’s full explanation of heaven comes in the last book of the Bible — the Book of Revelation. We now know this about heaven …
- It will be a new heaven and a new earth (v. 21:1)
- A place of celebration and contentment (vv. 19:6-9)
- Justice for all (vv. 20:11-15)
- No more suffering (vv. 21:3-4)
- Continued God’s presence (vv. 21:22-26)
- Only goodness (v. 21:27)
We will not be portly cherubs floating on clouds with harps. Our purpose for eternity will be revealed, all our trials on earth will make sense, and we will praise God forever. Satisfaction will be unparalleled, depression will be non-existent, and freedom will be unlimited.
And the good times will never end in heaven.
When my children were toddlers, I would tickle them, and when I stopped, they would cry out, “Mo,” which, when translated into adult talk, means, “More!” Heaven will be abundant, and when we shout, “Mo!” — we will receive and receive and receive until we say, “Stop, I have no room left for blessing.”
Unlimited joy. I want to be on the blessing side of the chasm. I think the more heavenly-minded we are on earth, the better we will be able to enjoy the riches in heaven.
I will continue these thoughts on heaven tonight and tomorrow
at all weekend services at Fellowship Church.