Tag Archives: God works all things for good

What is life like in heaven? – Part 2

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Heaven is more than we can imagine, but God reveals more about heaven than we might think. And many of these drive to the heart of some of our deepest questions about our life now and life after life, in heaven. We’re looking at 21 things we can surmise about heaven as shared by Randy Alcorn in his book, Heaven. Today, we’ll look at the final seven observations from Revelation 6:11.

“Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. (Revelation 6:9-11)

 

15. “Then each of them. . . We retain our individuality in heaven; we don’t become part of some cosmic dust, as some would imagine.

16. Robes suggest physical forms, not spirits. (Why would spirits need a robe, unless the reference is merely symbolic?)

17. God answers questions! We read in the previous verse that they asked, “How long?” In verse 11, “they were told to wait a little longer.” This indicates we won’t know everything all at once in heaven, but our knowledge and understanding will progressively unfold.

18. Even in heaven, they have to “wait a little longer until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.” Alcorn infers from this that “unlike the eternal heaven, where there will be no more sin, or curse or suffering on the New Earth (Revelation 21:4), the present heaven coexists with and watches over an Earth under these woes. We will be aware of the suffering on earth.

19. “How much longer” suggests there will be a sense of time in the present heaven. Whether “long” and “longer” imply time as we measure it now, we don’t know, but there is a sense of passing time.

20. There is a sense of the family of God in heaven and earth. “Their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters” indicate a strong familial bond and common purpose.  There is no indication of denominational differences, only a common focus on the Heavenly Father.

21. God is Sovereign. He knows ALL, what will happen, when it will happen, and how it will unfold. He is aware of your pain and suffering right now and he knows the answers to your prayers. What a difference it makes praying to a good and Sovereign God who knows you and cares for you and works all things for good for those who love him (Romans 8:28). Your woes do not escape his attention. Your pain is not wasted. This is not some “wishing upon a star” or “having a happy thought.” Only a Sovereign God can provide the assurance we seek.

 

Just as these three verses in Revelation tell us what to expect in heaven, there is a consistency of scripture that reinforces itself. We’ll be called to give an account of our actions on earth (2 Corinthians 5:10, Matthew 12:36). Eternal rewards “hinge” on our faithfulness (1 Corinthians 3:14). God keeps a record of all we do on earth (2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:11-13). Should knowing everything we say and do was being recorded change the way we interact with others?!  Additionally, it appears that people in the present heaven see what happens on earth. We are “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). “There will be rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7).

 

This is might lead us to ask, “Do people in heaven pray for us on earth?” We know that Christ intercedes for us (Romans 8:34) and that the martyrs pray (Revelation 6:10). We must conclude, that no matter how we feel, we are not alone! It remains a mystery, how people in heaven will be aware both of the suffering on earth and the joy of God’s presence. We can only presume that joy predominates this in a similar way that while we care for others, we are not totally undone regarding their suffering. We find ourselves sad for suffering, but joyful for the outcome! In the eternal heaven, when the old order of things has passed away, there will be no more death, crying or pain. None!

 

Like the atheist man who once told me, “You Christians have one thing we atheists don’t – hope! We are not to “grieve like the rest of men who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13) We have the hope of reunion with loved ones who’ve gone before us; a time when “we will be with our Lord forever.”

 

“Therefore, encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18″

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perfect Timing

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Have you ever been convinced that a certain circumstance was a problem, only to discover that it happened in perfect timing to achieve a greater purpose…maybe even to save your life?

I recently bought a stair stepper – cross trainer at a garage sale. Perfect timing: the person selling it was one who went on one of our post-Katrina missions to New Orleans. This (not) ‘chance’ meeting revealed that she too has Leukemia and provided opportunity to share about God’s goodness in the midst of trials we all face.

On the ‘heels’ of my recent hiking progress, I started using the cross trainer last week, being cautious to not extend the cardiac part of the workout as doctors advise my body is not yet ready for that. I completed only 50 ‘steps’ the first day, 75 the next, and 100 on day three. On Saturday, day four, my legs completely locked up in severe pain, severely limiting my walking. I nursed the muscles for two days before going to the medical clinic on Monday.

I was supposed to see an ARNP on Monday, but she asked if I’d like to see the new doctor instead. Agreeing to this, I told Dr. Hamid how I was sure I had strained my muscles on the cross trainer. I was wrong (again). He immediately suspected the exercise had nothing to do with the pain. He ran a D-Dimmers test for DVT (blood clot), and then sent me immediately to Mercy Hospital ER, where an ultrasound confirmed the presence of a dangerous blood clot. Two other doctors confirmed that it was almost certain that the blood clot was caused directly by the Leukemia itself and that it was essential that I got treatment immediately (blood thinner injections twice daily for a number of months). Perfect timing: while there wasn’t a room available on 8 South oncology, I was finally admitted at 3:00 a.m. to 8 North, where Marcia and I had walked four times daily to encourage the staff when I was at Mercy for two months last winter. During today’s short twelve-hour admission we were able to reconnect with several staff with whom we had formed relationships on both units, and testify to God’s goodness through trial. . . All because of the perfect timing of pain. (And it did our souls good to see their smiling faces again!)

Back home already, Marcia and I reflect on how many times God uses one seemingly untimely and unwanted circumstance to achieve a greater good for us, for others, and for his kingdom. . . and how he accomplishes this in his perfect timing.

I wonder, what pain or sorrow is God using today to achieve his greater purpose in your life and in others, according to his perfect timing?

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Is God listening?

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Research indicates that more people than not say they pray regularly. Some can’t imagine a day without prayer. And who hasn’t turned to God in prayer at least in a time of great need, even if that wasn’t part of their daily life routine?

Have you ever wondered, “Does prayer matter? Does God really listen to my prayers?” It would be easy to think this way, because answers to prayer are not always immediate. Some of my prayers have taken decades for the right answer to be revealed. Because God gave each of us free will, He cannot force Himself on us; so answers to prayers are often tied to the hearts of those involved. Other answers to prayer are immediate.

And don’t we sometimes think prayers are only answered when God says, “Yes.” But just as we parents denied some of our children’s requests for their protection, our Heavenly Father’s answer sometimes is, “No” or “Not yet.” But I believe what He says in His Word, that He knows and cares deeply about the condition of our heart and our circumstances. He does listen to our prayers and wants most to be with us in our circumstances.

It is a mystery I don’t know that I will fully grasp this side of heaven. God uses prayer to release His power. It’s not that we have to reach a threshold of people praying to accomplish this, but we are encouraged to pray for others and He seeks persistent prayer that is offered in the spirit of trusting Him. This isn’t the obligatory prayer that says, “Well, I hope that does some good,” but rather the prayer of the heart that sincerely believes and that expects that our loving God who cares for us has a plan for us and those for whom we pray. This plan may provide a different solution than that which we ask, but it will be good. It is the prayer that really believes “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Our experience in this journey through Leukemia is that prayer really does matter. God has used the prayers of many people we don’t even know to not only encourage us and spur us on, but to release His sustaining power to endure.

In recent years the revered Billy Graham was asked if there was anything he would have changed in his life. His thoughtful answer was “I would have prayed more.” Not more crusades, more bible study, more giving, or more good works, but simply to have prayed more. If Reverend Graham found this to be true in his life, I wonder how much we miss when we neglect our need to spend time with God.

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b