Heaven

If, as Christians, our aim is heaven, it makes sense to think about what images that word evokes.

Our first thoughts may be of whatever concerns we have: perhaps our health, almost certainly some of our personal relationships, financial security, perhaps physical safety.

We say heaven and we think of comfort, joy, peace, security. Surely the kingdom of our loving God would include all of these.

Freedom from all of the ills sounds great, but then what? What would we do? Wouldn't all of that goodness be boring?

None of us knows or can imagine what heaven is like, but we do know what the very best times on earth are like, and they are not boring. The best times have an intensity, a vividness, that ordinary times lack. The best times are full and rich.

Each of us has our own best times. They may be peaceful times in church or in nature. They may be noisy times surrounded by friends and family. They may be active, creative times when we're using our talents to their fullest. These are all hints of what heaven will be like.

In heaven, there will be every good thing: every deeply joyful, wonderful, celebratory experience; every creative activity; every completely enjoyable physical activity; every good of earth made better.

There isn't anything good that we experience on earth that does not come from God, that is not included in his heaven.

In heaven, we will love everyone we meet. Not as we do now, deliberately and imperfectly, but effortlessly and joyfully. The face of every other person we see will bring the delight that we feel when looking into the face of a beloved child or grandchild.

When we think of Heaven as a limited place, we're forgetting the vastness of God's goodness. We're forgetting that there is nothing good that didn't originate in him. We're actually implying that God is boring. The God who created all of nature cannot be accused of being boring.

There can be nothing more fascinating, engaging, and delicious than God's best. This is a future worth working towards.