Category Archives: Heaven

Faith, Heaven

A Window Into Eternity

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These days virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology. With this technology, we can enter another reality by wearing devices that cover our eyes and ears to deliver sights and sounds Image result for virtual realitythat make it seem that we are in a different setting or another world. It is designed for our enjoyment in experiencing an amazing sense of being in an environment that is more pleasing or more challenging. While some use in gaming, the concept is that of being in a place other than the world in which we live, another reality.

What is the desire within us to be transplanted into another reality? On one hand, some would call it escapism, others might view this desire as a continuing dissatisfaction with the status quo or with life as this world provides it. At the core of our beings we long for a world we don’t see today.

The true, not virtual, reality is that we humans were made for a very different world. The ancient prophet Isaiah wrote “But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Is 43:1) Isaiah is writing that the God of the universe created and formed us and has called us by name to be his. This means that we were created and designed to be with him. The Apostle Peter writes that we are aliens and strangers here in this world. (1 Peter 2:11) 

And so it is that in the depth of our being, we long for the world for which we were made. We know intuitively that life in this world is not as it should be. If we were called by name and declared to belong to God, our longing is to be with him. The Scriptures inform us that Jesus died, rose from the grave and ascended into heaven. He has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us so that where he is, we may be there with him as well. (John 14:2-3) Our longing is to be with him for eternity.

From time to time we as believers find ourselves in places, without the assistance of VR, when we feel connected with Jesus and our place in eternity. We have a window, it seems, into the Image result for window to heavenhalls of heaven and into the place of quiet rest. Jesus invited his disciples to come away with him to a place of quiet so that they could get some rest. (Matt 6:31) These are times when we can actually sense the Presence and feel very connected with our Lord.

For me, it happens in the grand cathedrals of Europe as I sit and marvel at how the centuries-old architecture and artistry focus my attention on God, the creation, and the stories God has used to help us see him more clearly. It happens in my own church in the moment of participating in communion. It happens when I’m doing the work I was made to do. It happens when I speak with others about the hope we have of spending eternity with Christ in the new heaven and new earth. As I read the words of King David in the Psalms, I can envision Christ leading me beside the still waters in green pastures, restoring my soul.

How about you? Are you longing for that view into the world for which you were made? What are your windows into eternity? These windows require no special technology or rose colored glasses. Christ invites you to connect with him. He told us, “Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest … learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28) This rest will come as you place your faith and trust in Christ. He will give you that view into eternity with him.

He wants you to have the peace and confidence of the hope he has planted in each one of us. Join me … and then share that hope with someone else! Help them see the truth of the desires of their hearts as Christ has shared with us in the Scriptures.

Faith, Heaven

A Little Wobbly?

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We are in times of transition … in our lives … isn’t the aging process fun? This month the Image result for wobblyleadership of our country will make a shift not only in leaders, but also in philosophical direction. This is unsettling to many, especially when we hear more about the unhappy souls than about those who believe the shift will take us in the right direction. Turning on the TV or radio is akin to turning one’s stomach into a churning mass that begs for a handle bar to stabilize us.

Hebrews 10:23 tells us, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

Are you feeling a little wobbly? Let’s not lose sight of the real hope that we have. Let’s take a step back and keep our eyes focused on the hope of life with the only one who can and will deliver on promises. There is only one whose promises will be delivered at the end of our time here on this earth.

Use his promises to keep you from wobbling and wavering back and forth. Remember where your help comes from. King David said, “I will lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” (Ps 121:1-2)

Let’s take the assurance of the only One who will deliver on the hope He has given us. This world will come to an end. The doomsday prognosticators  are right on that point.

But for those of us who have laid hold of the Hope, it will be a glorious ending, for he who promised is faithful. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth … He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (Rev 21:1 ff) I would add an exclamation point to that  What a fantastic future we have if we’ve taken hold of His promises!

Have a blessed day and stand firm!

Biblical Truth, Faith, Heaven, How should we then live

What Happens to Good People?

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Every so often something happens that leaves me a bit flummoxed. Yesterday I lost a friend to cancer who was a very special person. She was smart, vibrant, energetic, an encourager, loved life, faithful colleague, and a good friend. She was what is known as “good people.” Still she had little use for God or faith. She was good at being a good person. How disappointed she must be today, having reached the end of her life and finding that her goodness was not enough.

This is painful for me as I reflect. Not because I didn’t share truth with her, because I did. But, rather, because I did share the truth of Jesus Christ with her and to the best of my knowledge, she died having made a different choice. Choosing instead to judge God and her need for God based on the pain she saw in this world and her confidence in her own abilities. As much as she and I were honest with one another, and trusted each other, she simply could not go with the truth that I had shared with her. She believed I was a genuinely good person, but could not give God credit for that. In fact, she wrote a glowing testimonial to our church elders regarding my qualifications to lead the church. Somewhere in her background, God was the purveyor of pain and suffering, but man, through his goodness, rescued himself from a cruel God.

This is a painful experience because it is real life! It is seeing the reality of “good” people who reject belief in or faith in Jesus Christ slip into an eternity of loss, death, and the torment of eternal separation from God. I’m reminded of a funeral I attended for the husband of one of my employees. The man had committed suicide and no one in the family was a believer. I was impacted emotionally for several days by the lack of hope that was present in that funeral parlor. There was no discussion of the life beyond death’s door. There was just … nothing! Poor Jim did as well as he could, but he’s gone now.

In the current situation, I would desperately like to believe that she made a last minute decision to believe, much like the thief on the cross. God’s word tells us that it is by grace we are saved, through faith in Christ, and that even our faith is a gift from God. How good we’ve been is irrelevant so that none of us can boast in how we earned our way to eternal life. Nor are we able to compare ourselves to those around us, because God tells us not to judge one another, lest we be judged by that same measure. It is God’s job to judge. It is our job to love our neighbors. He also tells us that He (God) loved the world so much that He gave His only Son to be the perfect One who, through His death on the cross, would pay the price for our (yours and my) sins. Then He says, whoever will believe in this redemption story, will not perish (suffer eternal death) but would have eternal life with God.

It’s way too simple for many people to believe, but it is truth. It is the only truth that matters in life. It is so tragic that people who have heard the good news of Jesus, decide that they would rather go to heaven on their own terms. Good people will die wondering how good is good enough. Andy Stanley has written a book entitled, “How Good Is Good Enough.” If you have this question lingering in your mind, pick up that book and read it. I think that once confronted with the question, you’ll be challenged to find some better solution.

While this may be a morbid topic for some, there are some nuggets of truth here that needed to be heard and heeded.

Hoping you have made the right decision for eternity.

Grace, Heaven

Who is Going to Heaven?

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In these days of PC (politically correct) talk and the incorrectness of offending another person, it has become increasingly difficult to speak the truth. In my previous post the topic was about finding our way back to God. But what does that mean? While we’re finding our way back to God at what point along that journey do we find we can say that we’re definitely going to heaven? As usual, the Bible is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path (Ps 119:105). God doesn’t want to leave us in the dark on this critical question.

So why are we confused on the matter? I believe our confusion results from (a) a desire to sort out this key question in the affirmative regarding our family members and friends, (b) the scriptures are quite clear on the matter, and (c) God has told us that we look at outward appearances but that God looks at the heart (1 Sam 16:7). Who can know the heart of a man? Only God. Near the end of the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 7, Christ tells us what is going to happen when some of us face the final judgment. In Matt 7:21-23 He tells us that some will say they did a lot of good things in God’s name and Christ will say to them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.”

Not only don’t we know who of our family and friends are going to be in heaven, many people think they’re going there, but don’t have their names written in the Lamb’s book of life. What’s up with that? How much worse can it get? Let’s see if we can’t find some answers.

When Billy Graham would preach at his meetings in cities all over the world, he would repeatedly preface his words with, “The Bible says …” Likewise, I want to stay on target with what the Bible says, so will quote scripture. Many laugh at the man who wore a colored wig and showed up at various sporting events displaying a sign that simply said, “John 3:16.” The hoped for result was that many would go to their Bibles and read what John 3:16 has to say. It says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The story is told in Acts 16 of the Philippian jailer who asked, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul’s reply was simple, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)

Ephesians 2:8-9 reads as follows, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Here is the thing we must keep in mind in answering the question of who is going to heaven. Our job here on earth is to love our neighbor. God tells us not to judge others so that we won’t be judged. God alone can see a man’s heart. King David, who was far from perfect, was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22). As our faith in Christ is a personal one that plays itself out as we exercise our faith, we need to limit our speculation to ourselves. Acts 10:42 tells us that God has appointed Christ to judge the living and the dead.

Since God knows our hearts, He has reserved the ability to determine who goes into heaven and who does not. He has ruled out works as the key. The only key for entry to heaven is a heart level belief that Jesus is who He said He is. Set aside the judging of others; what of those who were confident that they would be welcomed at the final judgment?

We have tremendous capacity to fool ourselves. We deny the truth. One has only to look at how our society makes up its own version of convenient truth. If I sin, I do penance to compensate. If I do good things caring for the homeless and those in need, surely that counts for a few points with God! Or when I die, if my friends pray hard enough, they’ll get me in. The question asked most often is not whether God exists, but whether God is good. If God is good, by our standards, surely He gives credit for being a good friendly person who loves people. These are the people to whom Jesus will say, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.”

My prayer and passion is that more will place their faith in Christ alone and His work to reconcile us with the Father. The simplicity is hard to accept and understand. But it is real. God has given us His word on how to find our way back to Him. That part is not a secret. The real question is what each of us does with the truth He has revealed for us.

I’m going to close this segment with another Billy Graham quote regarding who will attain eternal life in heaven. Billy is quoted as saying that we’re going to be surprised when we get there. We’ll be surprised as to who is there and who is not there. Who do you say that Jesus was? What will be your rationale for entry into the kingdom of heaven?

While not comprehensive, hopefully this adds a little light.

Biblical Truth, Heaven, How should we then live

What Do We Make of ’90 Minutes in Heaven’?

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The following article is from Christianity Today September 11, 2015 issue and I thought it worth sharing here. All the near death experiences (NDEs) presume to give us a view of what Heaven is like. We as Christians need to be particularly sensitive to how we think about these books and movies as compared to the biblical information we have. The tendency is to cheer because it “affirms” the reality of the afterlife. This article is well done and challenges our views on what the Bible says about such things. I’ve removed the pictures because the links did not follow from the magazine.

What Do We Make of ’90 Minutes in Heaven’?

Near-death experiences make for popular books and movies. But what should Christians do with them?
Scot McKnight/ SEPTEMBER 11, 2015

Don Piper’s story, now made visible in the movie 90 Minutes in Heaven (out this weekend), records his experience of “dying” as a result of a head-on car crash and experiencing some moments (90 minutes of them) of glorious encounter with “heaven” where God, a suffusing and overwhelming light, resided in the middle of the heavenly city.

In that near death experience (NDE), Piper saw and heard the voice of many of his fellow Christians as they were journeying toward the gate of heaven—but he never entered. A fellow pastor was praying for his recovery at the crash scene, and he found himself singing along with the pastor, back on earth.

The slow-developing movie focuses far more on the pain both Piper (Hayden Christensen) experienced and his family, especially his wife (Kate Bosworth), endured as he lay in hospital beds for months—suffocating with a desire to return to heaven and unwilling to communicate either about his NDE or what was happening in his soul. The slowness of the scenes accentuates the slowness of his recovery. But recover he did, to find a purpose in life—to tell people that heaven is real and that prayer really works.

Piper’s story is encouraging, and surely in the top two or three of hundreds of NDE stories I have read.

I do not disbelieve Don Piper’s story. He seems credible, and his experience is far from unusual. Mally Cox-Chapman, a skilled journalist, read and interviewed and tracked down one story after another. In her book The Case for Heaven: Near-Death Experiences as Evidence of the Afterlife, we read the fairly common pattern of near-death experiences:

  • Feelings of peace and quiet
  • Feeling oneself out of the body
  • Going through a dark tunnel
  • Meeting others, including one or more beings of light
  • A life review
  • Coming to a border or limit
  • Coming back
  • Seeing life differently
  • Having new views of death

Not everyone has each element. But the pattern is so common, and spans the religious spectrum so noticeably, that we can speak intelligently of the “NDE Pattern.” Christians of all stripes, Muslims, Buddhists, and others tell similar stories. In fact, there are NDE stories going all the way back to ancient Egypt and ancient Rome. Many of those stories have similar elements, though each religious orientation causes a reshaping of those elements.

Piper experienced the first two, not the second, the fourth, not the fifth, clearly the sixth and the seventh, and from that point the last two elements have reshaped his life and ministry. And the movie shows far fewer specifically Christian themes than his book did.

My concern is neither the movie nor Piper’s story; my concern is what to do with NDEs. What are we to make of them? Are they all true? Are they all bogus? How do we know?

And I have another concern: If death is irreversible, how can these be seen as experiences of what happens after death? Most would say these people have not, in (scientific) fact, died. Instead, they have entered into a pre-death experience that may glimpse heaven or the afterlife (or it may do neither).

But is not the deeper ache for an “after-death” experience? One where someone has scientifically died and told us what is in the Beyond? (We have such an account in the Gospels of the New Testament.)

The issue then is what to make of NDEs. After studying story after story of the NDE Pattern, Cox-Chapman landed on at least three conclusions, and these conclusions need to be considered before we rush to affirm too quickly the truthful witness of NDEs.

First, Cox-Chapman concludes that those who have an NDE become believers in an afterlife or in some kind of heaven. This is surely Piper’s experience.

Her second conclusion ought to warn those who find their faith most confirmed by these NDE stories: those who have NDEs become more universalistic in their faith. (I have not read anything by Piper that would indicate this, but there is plenty of evidence in NDE collections that this occurs.)

Cox-Chapman’s final conclusion startled me: the diversity of the experiences and the variety of religious ideas at work in those experiences lead her to conclude that “we will be provided with the Heaven that is right for each of us.”

That is, NDE studies make us think each person gets the heaven they want.

This is where our deepest concern breaks through the surface: the variety of NDEs, if they are true experiences of the afterlife or heaven, may well be a deconstruction of all faiths.

So a very serious issue arises for anyone who cares about how Christians determine what Christians are to believe about heaven and NDEs. In other words, if many Christians—the numbers who buy NDE books, the numbers who go to this movie—believe a story like Don Piper’s because it confirms their faith, a faith that comes from the Bible, then they are only believing what the Bible says, and don’t need the NDE story. In which case, let’s focus more on the Bible and bring the discussion back to what the Bible clearly teaches.

But we can turn this around slightly and look at it from a different angle: if many Christians disbelieve elements of many NDE stories because they don’t cohere with the Bible—and the elements that don’t cohere with the Bible are legion—then they don’t need the stories either! In which case, let’s focus on what the Bible teaches, not what NDEs suggest.

There is a more negative undercurrent to the NDE stories: if you believe the NDE stories because of the power of the experience being told, then you don’t need the Bible. If the experience itself is what determines what you believe, then you will believe the experience regardless of what the Bible says about heaven.

My reading of hundreds of NDE stories is that they in fact often don’t confirm what the Bible says. In fact, they bring into the light the faith and convictions and suspicions and hopes and dreams of what that person already believed. In this case, the Bible is being pushed to the side for the sake of the experience.

Again, this more negative consideration can be stated from a slightly different angle: if you believe the elements of the NDE stories because of the power of the experiences, you will need to believe every element in these stories. Which leads me to a question that haunts me every time I hear fellow Christians clap so loud about NDEs: How then does one distinguish which elements in these NDE experiences is what heaven is really like from what is not? I just don’t know that there’s a way of believing in the experience of the NDE, filtering out what is unbiblical and affirming as a witness to heaven what matches the Bible.

It seems to me in the flourishing of these NDEs, many Christians will want once again to take a whole new look at what the Bible says about heaven. What they will find, in almost all cases, is a view of heaven that is quite unlike what is experienced in the NDEs.

Scot McKnight is a New Testament Professor at Northern Seminary, the writer of the popular blog Jesus Creed, and author of the forthcoming book The Heaven Promise: Engaging the Bible’s Truth About Life to Come, (Oct. 6, WaterBrook Press).