paradise
Last week, and this week, a question by John Piper continues to slap me in the face. It’s from his God is the Gospel book, and it’s from page 15. Here it is:
If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?
I think that most of us, including myself, would answer with a resounding, No! However is Jesus who and what we really think of when we think of Heaven? When we move past the Sunday school answer we think we have to give, do we think about Jesus or do we think about seeing mom and dad or grandpa and grandma, or something else?
In Luke 23:43 when Jesus was on the cross, he said to the guy next to Him, today you will be WITH ME in paradise. The more I read that story of Jesus on the cross and the more I read that verse, I’m 100% convinced that paradise isn’t paradise without Jesus. Or better yet, “with Jesus” is paradise.
Lord, deliver us into your presence. In Jesus name, Amen.
One of the things that simply amazes me is how individuals that know Jehovah God and Jesus refer to heaven as the place where we have a reunion with our families. It is like they are more interested in reuniting with family and never mention their relationship with God and/or Jesus. Can you imagine planning a lifetime trip to the coast but not caring if you see the ocean. How absurd? God and Jesus is the object of our worship and love, things of the earth will vanish away. I think we will recognize others but they will not be the object of our care or concern.
Do we really know what heaven will be like? Anything other than the fact that we will be in the presence of The Almighty God, and His Son Jesus is only a figment of our imagination. If my Savior and Lord, Jesus, is not there, then I would not be content there for He is the only one that can quench the thirst of our greatest desires? I cannot wait to meet my God and Jesus face to face, and spend eternity with them. I cannot wait to sit at Jesus feet and bask in the warmth that radiates from his being. To God be the Glory, what a time that will be.
I once saw a play where at the end of the experience (it was a walk through) we met “Jesus” in heaven. He greeted each one of us, touching our hand and looking directly into our eyes. The most profound part for me was a group of young people who were there. This one young boy literally started crying when “Jesus” stopped to connect with him. There was not a dry eye in the house including “Jesus”. It forever changed my perception of heaven and meeting the savior!
I usually think of heaven as the place we go to join our Savior. I think most of my friends do, too.
My understanding is that we’re not married in heaven. We will be the one true family of brothers and sisters (or maybe non-gendered beings?). We will know and be known. It will be the ideal that God desired (minus those who chose not to believe).
As long as I’m with Jesus, how bad can it be?
Amen, I never thought of that Matthew but you are right on target. Thanks for giving me something to think about!
i agree jack. being with Jesus can’t be bad at all!
mary you are most welcome!
what a great story. thanks cyndi.
i love you mom. you always know how to explain things well.