One of the questions Randy Alcorn asks us to consider is whether heaven is so far beyond our grasp that it’s not worth considering. After all, how can we see and long for what cannot be even seen? Do you sometimes think it is futile to understand God’s Word and plan for your life because his thoughts are higher than your thoughts and his ways are higher than your ways? (Isaiah 55:8-9) Yet he calls us to walk in faith, not by sight. So do we dare close our eyes to the truths he has revealed simply because we cannot understand them all? Let our answer be “No.” His Word is a light unto our feet and a lamp unto our path. Jesus, the very Light of the World, gave us his Holy Spirit so we would always have light to guide us in the way of truth. Let’s start with what we know to be true about heaven, according to the Bible, and use that as our springboard to understanding.
Heaven is described as a city, a garden, a wedding feast, and kingdom. Are these allegorical descriptions or – as often is the case with biblical interpretation – simple “tell it as it is” word pictures? Heaven as a spiritual place challenges our earth-bound understanding. However, “scripture provides us enough information, direct and indirect, about the world to come and with enough detail to envision it, but not so much as to think we can fully understand it completely.” (Alcorn)
I once left a note with my wife in the morning: “Pack an overnight bag and I’ll pick you up when I get off work.” I didn’t leave much detail but it didn’t keep her from envisioning and longing for the adventure that awaited her. So it is with heaven. We don’t have to rely on fanciful imaginations, folklore, or Hollywood entertainment; we can turn to the explicit description scripture provides. Then, when we are left with gaps in pure understanding, let scripture guide our imagination. We continually ask God, “Open my eyes Lord. Let me see what you want me to see.” If we can’t envision it, how will we long for it?
Some will argue 1 Corinthians 2:9 “No eye has seen or ear heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” But look at the verse that follows: “But God has revealed this to us by his Holy Spirit.” Revealing truth and understanding to us is one of the primary roles of the Spirit! We should let the words, “But God…” permeate our day.” I feel alone, but God is always with me. I feel guilty and ashamed, but God declares me as righteous in Christ. I feel my particular temptations are unique to me and beyond my control to resist them, but God says “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) Jesus himself proclaims HE is “the way, the truth, and the life.”
Another argument against our ability to envision heaven is in quoting Deuteronomy 29:29 – “The secret things belong to the Lord our God.” Again, we need to look at the entire verse: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” God doesn’t reveal all things but he does reveal some things, and those are ours to understand.
Some might argue that since Paul was not permitted to tell what vision was granted to him (2 Corinthians 12:2-4) then we can’t understand. Yet John, Isaiah, and Ezekial were given full authority to reveal what was revealed to them. It’s inappropriate to speculate on what God doesn’t reveal, but entirely appropriate and beneficial to ponder what he has clearly revealed!
Much of heaven may remain beyond our grasp for now, but we each can understand accurately what we still don’t understand completely. Our biblical command is to “set your hearts and minds on things above”. (Colossians 3:1) So we are on shaky ground when we ignore heaven. “Too long for Christ IS to long for heaven.” I wonder if our problem understanding heaven stems from a weak desire to really know Jesus.
In what ways does thinking about heaven come under attack in your life? What could you do TODAY lto be more “heavenly minded?” Yes, some say we can be “so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good.” But the reverse also holds true: if we are too earthly minded we might not be of much heavenly good!
“Our spiritual imagination flies upon the truth to yield renewed understanding and purpose. May your imagination soar and your heart rejoice…when you think about heaven…” today!