Imagine Heaven

 Years ago, I liked that song by John Lennon, "Imagine". I didn't think about the lyrics critically or in context to Lennon's personal beliefs. I just liked the melody and the way the song made me feel.  All this time later, after giving my life to Christ, I realize how silly such a song is. Why on earth would I want to imagine no heaven?

This morning, scrolling Reddit, I saw this photo of "the inside of a hydrangea" posted by this person. 

Nature is so beautiful. This world is so amazing and we are so amazing. God created us and all that is the earth and the heavens. Now, try imagining that.

I often do try to think of what heaven will be like. I realize that all the beauty we see here is nothing compared to what we will see in heaven. It's pretty incomprehensible, isn't it?

The other day, I was listening to a seminar on the intricacies of DNA and the beautiful complexity of it.  (Here's an article on DNA.) The entire time, I kept trying to understand how some men refuse to believe in an Intelligent Designer and I decided that man as a species hates to concede that he is not superior to all.

Because I do believe in the God of Abraham, I do believe he created this world and I do believe he created a heaven for us to "retire" to. What I have trouble with is imagining that heaven. There are things so beautiful on this earth - nature, art, music, language - that I can hardly wrap my mind around it all. 

Got Questions has an article about heaven that is interesting. This is copy/paste excerpt so that the links are preserved:

The city is filled with the brilliance of costly stones and crystal clear jasper. Heaven has twelve gates (Revelation 21:12) and twelve foundations (Revelation 21:14). The paradise of the Garden of Eden is restored: the river of the water of life flows freely and the tree of life is available once again, yielding fruit monthly with leaves that “heal the nations” (Revelation 22:1-2). However eloquent John was in his description of heaven, the reality of heaven is beyond the ability of finite man to describe (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Heaven is a place of “no mores.” There will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more sorrow (Revelation 21:4). There will be no more separation, because death will be conquered (Revelation 20:6). The best thing about heaven is the presence of our Lord and Savior (1 John 3:2). We will be face to face with the Lamb of God who loved us and sacrificed Himself so that we can enjoy His presence in heaven for eternity.

So, just as an exercise, the next time you get a chance - or are stressed, worried, depressed, etc, - just try to imagine heaven. 

Peace                                                                                                                                                              --Free

Romans (A Bible Study)

I want to mention something before I get to the main part of this post. I think it's pretty relatable. 

The global situation and stresses have been wearing on me lately. On top of everything, I went and hurt my back (or that could just be my old age!). At any rate, the other day, my best friend was feeling as stressed and disheartened. We felt better after reading Psalm 139 to each other aloud over the phone. It was like the fastest-acting medicine for the blues. Chuck Missler suggested once in a video Bible study to try reading your Bible passages out loud because you could get a deeper meaning of what it says. It works for me. Now, whenever I am reading for comfort, I will be reading out loud. Now, on to the main event.

My current Bible study is on the Book of Romans. I am using the Bible (of course) and a video series with Chuck Missler leading the study group. 

I wanted to share a couple of things from the Bible study and my thoughts on the comforts of the Bible in general. Here are some of the highlights from the first part of the study:

• Christ didn't come to make bad men good; he came to make dead men live. (Missler ties this into the Prodigal Son parable so I have made a note to go back and study that again). He makes the point that the gospel is not to make dumb men smart of for progress or development, etc, but that it is simply for those of us who are lost.
• The theme of Romans (which is a letter not to the church but to the believers - aka you and me) is "the grace of God revealed". 
• The gospel is not as complicated as we sometimes make it. The definition is given in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4:
• That Jesus died for us
• That he was buried
• That he rose on the 3rd day
• That when we think of Paul's letters to believers and to the churches, he is "preaching". Notice that he doesn't rely on theatrics or great oration. Church architecture and size is not important. Paul doesn't rely on awesome choirs or fancy robes and throne-like seating. He simply shares encouragement and teaching.

As I was going through the first couple of videos, I had to pause often to think of how complicated we make everything. Christ loves us and offers forgiveness and salvation but we have to parse and dissect what that means. We get so far past the simple love and forgiveness that we get confused with rules and methods. Romans is a guide to what we are offered and to remind us that we cannot earn our forgiveness because, one, it's not for sale and, two, we couldn't afford it. It's freely offered. That's it.

In my daily life, I will forget the redemption Christ has blessed me with and start worrying. I worry that I'm not "doing Christianity" the right way or that I am failing at being a believer. I worry about my weaknesses and trespasses and forget to be thankful and know that I am forgiven. I am not willfully or gleefully sinning. I am not telling the Lord to take back his love and forgiveness; I am just being human.

So, this study is good for me in a "daily walk" kind of way. I was thinking of the Lord's Prayer and how the mention of the "daily bread" part ties into God feeding the Israelites manna. I am reminded to live the moment I breathe in because the next moment, the next breath is not promised.

Keeping it simple is a reminder I needed and this study helps. It dawned on me that most people who reject Christianity do so based on very complicated ideas or reasons. Every non-believer I know gets me into these conversations of "If" and "Then why" and "But" and want complicated answers. The answer isn't complicated. Jesus died, he was buried, and he rose on the third day - for us. He died so that we may live. Simple.

I just wanted to share this sort of stream of consciousness moment with you. Maybe this will encourage you in your own Bible study. 

Peace

--Free

Blacks Don't Lives Matter

That title was meant to get your attention and I am sure it did.

I'm not here to focus on the BLM movement - or any of the other current social chaos - but to explain why I don't want to focus solely on any current event. That's my point. None of this is special or new.

Not plagues, not the unrest and turmoil between citizens, genders, races, or sexual orientation. What all this is is just another episode in the story of the war Lucifer is waging on mankind and against God. This started with Lucifer's rebellion. And don't forget the four lies Satan told in the Garden. Those lies are the foundation he has built his agenda upon.

Look at this helpful outline of Satan's rebellious agenda from Reasons For Hope Jesus:

The Five “I Wills” of Satan

In Isaiah 14:13-14 are five phrases expressing the sinful desires of Lucifer.  Each begins with “I will” and reveals Satan’s self-sufficiency and his self-worship. 

Isaiah 14:13-14  For you [Lucifer] have said in your heart:

1. I will ascend into heaven, 
2. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; 
3. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation In the sides of the north;
4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, 
5. I will be like the Most High.

This passage is often referred to as The Five ˜I wills” of Satan. The statements reveal Satan’s sinful nature, his rebellion, his disobedience, his self-sufficiency, his pride, his self-exaltation, and his all-encompassing pride and arrogance.

For Satan, it’s all about him, and nothing about God.

This will end with the battle that is already won, praise Jesus.

I have to remind myself of this because I tend to get caught up in this moment in time. I get caught up in the time I live in and forget that this rebellion of Satan and those who follow his agenda has been going on way before me and, depending on God's timeline, will continue long after me.

If Satan wants to distract me by keeping my focus on him and his society, all he needs do is make me think of something or someone that isn't going to matter in the end of the already-won battle. If I hear someone praising Trump, I start to get distracted by my dislike of the man. If someone calls me "nigger", I get distracted by my own anger and the history behind that word. If I sin, I get distracted by remorse and shame. If I notice someone else's sin, I get distracted by self-righteousness, pride, or jealousy.

Go watch the video at this church site
(caveat: I have not yet watched)

No matter how many times I remind myself not to, I get caught up in current hatred and ignorance and racism, etcetera, and let it get to me. Then I will shake myself and remember the God that I serve and that he is not a God of confusion or ignorance or fear. Because of the Lord, I don't have to get too worked up by the moment I live in. I need to remain calm and steady and keep spreading the message of the Gospel.

So, do black lives matter? Of course. What we ought to be most mindful of - now and as long as we live - is that this moment in time is just another moment in this war. Don't get so distracted by the current struggles that we take out eyes off of eternity and off of our Lord.

So, my brothers and sisters, anger is okay and natural. BUT when you find yourself getting angry or stressed about all this current turmoil, stop and think first about what it means in the finished and already-won battle we are in.

Peace
--Free