a perspective of heaven…

let me give you a picture of heaven. it’s not to deny the pain you go through in this life. you may go through 72 years on this planet in chronic pain everyday of your life. but in heaven after 552,282,323 days of perfect bliss in the presence of GOD almighty and an eternity more awaiting you if someone came up to you and said, “how has your existence been?” you would say, “it’s been unbelievable. it’s been great. heaven is wonderful. to be in the presence of GOD is just unbelievable.” and they say, “but wait a second. didn’t you have a tough time before you got here?” and you think back and say, “you’re right. i don't want to minimize that. i did suffer a lot. but when i put that in context, in light of GOD’s incredible outpouring of goodness and love and joy that HE has infused into my life, those bad days of my worldly existence are not even worth comparing with the eternity of joy that i have and will experience with GOD!”

there’s a radical statement made by a CHRISTian woman who had lived a life of depravation and suffering and at the end of her life she said this, “in light of heaven the worst suffering on earth – a life of the most atrocious tortures on the planet, in the light of heaven, will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an inconvenient hotel.” that is the perspective of heaven.

it’s like the story a british pastor named galvin reed tells about meeting a young man. when this young man was just one year old, he fell down a flight of wooden stairs and shattered his back so he’s been in pain his whole life. but the young man made the audacious statement that he thinks GOD is fair. the pastor said to him, “how old are you?” and the kid says, “i'm 17 years old.” how many years have you spent in the hospital? thirteen years. the pastor was incredulous and said, “in light of that, you think GOD is fair?” and the kid’s response, “GOD has all eternity to make it up to me.”

and the truth of scripture is HE will. HE promises a time when there will be no more crying, no more tears, no more pain, no more suffering when we’ll be united with GOD in perfect harmony forever. i love the words of 1 corinthians 2.9 (niv), no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM. it will put everything into context.

just a thought from the front porch…