Glimpses of Heaven

Recently it has been trendy to see books about people who have had near death experiences and have recounted their trips to heaven and back to life here on earth.    I have read the accounts with a degree of skepticism, and a degree of "I hope it's true."    In December I read a book by Randy Alcorn called Heaven.

It is one of those few books that have been a game changer for me in that it has radically changed my thinking on what heaven will be like.   

"Heaven....is....a wonderful place.   Fillled.....with.....glory and grace.   I wanna see my Savior's face.   Heaven is a wonderful place, I wanna go there."   This was a cutsey song that my friends and I used to sing in college.   That was the boy's part sang in a really low bass voice.   It was funny, but for me I don't think the words were true.   You see I would think about heaven and the verses about "ruling cities in heaven."  or sitting before the throne saying ALL DAY LONG  "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.  Who was and is and is to come."   I know it sounds terrible, but just sounds kind of boring to me.   I am not very political, and governing and ruling doesn't really appeal to me, and although I know that He is worthy of All Glory, and that when I am in His presence, I will probably be so overwhelmed by His Glory that I will be happy to worship Him....If I am being totally honest.....reading those verses kind of sounds like when Lamb Chop used to sing "This is the song that never ends and it goes on and on my friend....."    Modern teaching has us somewhere on a cloud playing a harp.... And then there are those verses that say no more tears, no sickness, no death.  Now that sounds a little better....and after all, the alternative is Hell....and I definitely did not want to go there!  

Revelation 21 speaks of "A new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away."   Sometimes I think that we forget that the Bible is a comprehensive book that is God's plot from beginning to end and then onto eternity (they lived happily ever after....)  What started in Genesis with the Alpha will be completed in Revelation with the Omega and it is ALL related.   What does Jesus coming back and ruling the earth have to do with Adam and Eve and their selling their souls to Satan by choosing sin? God created us to have fellowship with Him.  When He created this earth and mankind,He declared it good!   His intent is to come back and redeem what he created, and then what he repurchased with his death on the cross.    Heaven will be here on this earth.....a restored Eden and us living out eternity in fellowship with Him. 

Philippians says "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion."  What work has He begun in me?   He created me a unique individual and gave me certain gifts and talents that fit into the body of the church. I believe that the "place He is preparing for me" will be a perfect fit for me....my gifts, my talents, my personality, and my temperament under the total influence of the Holy Spirit....all that He declared good about me, without any of the sinful nature that I have in this world.   That is a place to be excited about. 

Last night I had a dream that I was in heaven.   I was a part of some kind of mobile ministry and there was teaching involved in it.  My friends Nicole Soliz and Jean Adams were there with me.   The thing that struck me in the dream was that when I was looking at Jean's face, I had never seen her more joyful.   Radiance just shined from her.   She was so excited because someone had just given her the coolest desk.   Then I realized that I too had been given a perfect desk....but I was over talking to Jean, and Nicole was sitting in my new desk talking so someone else and just laughing up a storm.   I felt PERFECTLY satisfied.   I was with people who I loved to laugh and sing and learn and teach with.   I had a sense of mission.....all of the things that I love about teaching...and none of the frustration.  I had a sense of newness and excitement and confidence.   

Randy Alcorn says that Heaven will be very earthy.   He imagines all of the things that we currently enjoy about living on this earth being there....but on steroids...perfect....without sin's curse upon it.   So...when I enjoy a trip to the majestic Rocky Mountains, or travel to Hawaii to enjoy the beautiful North Shore and it's crashing waves,  I can imagine that what I see on the restored earth will be even better.   When Mike and I take our day trips throughout my beloved Tennessee with all of it's lush farmland and beautiful trees and lakes,  I can imagine that the beauty in heaven will be even more enjoyable and breathtaking.   

If I could lead people without any of the frustrations of being misunderstood or not being accomplished or adequate....and people responded to my leadership, then I would enjoy leading.   Who wouldn't?   

"When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!  When we all see Jesus, we will sing and shout the victory!"