The task of writing on the topic of Heaven is daunting. Where does one begin? What facets should be included? What do people really want to know? Is there a way to organize this material that is personal, approachable, and yet still true?We could look to our culture for help. What do we find there? To some, of course, Heaven is all about floating on clouds while playing a harp. To others, Heaven is just one long, very boring worship service. The expectation of most is that nearly everyone will be in Heaven, except for those who commit heinous crimes against individuals and societies. Being reunited with loved ones is perhaps the universal hope of all who would believe in the afterlife. Only "very religious" people express interest in seeing God there. He really does seem to be just an afterthought for most people.
Our only recourse, and obviously the very best one, is to see and read and hear what the Creator of Heaven wishes to reveal to us about our eternal state. He has done this through the pages of Scripture. Why trust anyone else's opinion on this important matter? God created Heaven, He lives there, and He beckons us to come be with Him. If we were planning on moving to Australia, we would not contact a friend in Germany who has never been there to find out what Australia is like. Surely God is the expert witness on Heaven who can and will reveal to us what we need to know about the future home that He has made for us.
"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined... God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Your introduction is coming together nicely Candy, your questions and comments cause me to ponder my own expectations of heaven. I guess I would be in the "very religious" group because I am very interested in seeing God, seeing what He really looks like as my peanut of a mind can only conjour up visions of bright light and rays of sunshine, but no bigger or brighter than what my own eyes have actually beheld. As for the thought of no harps, well I had to search for that one because I also look forward to hearing their sweet music so I went to Revelations the book of many images of heaven and found in chapter 5 verse 8 that the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb (our Lord and Savior). Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. This was a wonderful scene in my mind and I could hear the harps sweet music as all of heaven thousands upon thousands of angels encircled the throne of God and they sang worship songs to the Lamb who is worthy of our praise. I long to be in that number and I doubt that we will find anything that is boring about worship. May the Holy Spirit continue to bring you the words necessary to write your introduction and thus bless may people, not only the grieving but all who would seek to gain wisdom about our home with Jesus and our Heavenly Father. DS
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