In Chapter Two, Alcorn quotes C.S. Lewis: Most of us find it very difficult to want "Heaven" at all--except in so far as "Heaven" means meeting again our friends who have died. One reason for this difficulty is that we have not been trained: our whole education tends to fix our minds on this world. Another reason is that when the real want for heaven is present in us, we do not recognize it.
I have to admit that much of my desire for heaven centers around seeing Annie again--and my mom and sister. But when Lewis says that "when the real want for heaven is present in us, we do not recognize it," that got me to thinking...what are some examples of the real want for heaven that we may experience every day, but don't recognize those wants as a desire for heaven?
For instance, what if everyone in your family got along all the time?
...you never had to weed again?
...your laundry was done--forever?
...you were geographically close to the people you love?
And what if everyone was safe, had enough to eat, was treated fairly and with justice, and always felt loved and cared for?
Do you ever wish that things were, well, perfect?
What difficult situations in our lives are also divine reminders for us to look up and look forward to heaven?
Jean
Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1b-2
5 comments:
Jean - I have my Girlies this weekend, but I'm here, and will comment after I return them to their rightful caretakers!
I'm finding it hard to put in words what I could say without effort. But that's just words, too, right? So why is writing it down so hard?
Anyway, I agree that my desire for Heaven is to see my dad and my friend Steve, and Luther's brother...and of course, Jesus! And, that size 8 I joke about: a body the way it was meant to be. Why is that so important to me? Because I have put up with one pain or another for many years, beginning back as a kid after a car accident. I was introduced to the reality of a less-than-perfect body, prone to infections/fractures/pain, and for all these years I've managed to keep going and just "put up with it." God has given me the vision, the hope, the assurance of Heaven so that I don't give up down here.
.......does that make sense?
I think having a resurrected body--a REAL body that doesn't hurt, doesn't get sick, and doesn't age is a great reason to look forward to heaven. That makes perfect sense. It gives me hope for myself and for the people I know that suffer chronic pain, or any kind of disability. I love thinking that Annie's body will be raised incorruptible. Perfect sense, Pam!!
"Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:51-55
Look forward to chatting with my brother, gone too early from this world (couple days old). I was one, and don't remember him. But we had the same parents. Wonder what he thinks, etc.
Look forward to doing the perfect work that God has for me, rather than trying to seek His help here, and hope that I'm following His direction. I just feel like communication will be so much clearer, since it will be face-to-face. And...I won't have to waste time questioning the rightness or wrongness of situations in my life, because it'll all be right.
Looking forward to no reflux, no anxiety or depression--EVER!, and no vitamin D deficiency! Guess Seattle is not in Heaven. ;)
Yeah, Seattle is not heaven...close, but with a grey cast to it.
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