Considering Heaven

How often do we meditate upon and consider Heaven? Is it common for us to let our imaginations run wild, within the Biblical parameters, in regard to that blessed, hope-inspiring, joy filled reality that awaits us? Are we filled with a holy longing for this place? Or do we consider meditating on Heaven to be unimportant and only to be a pursuit of kids and baby Christians when they are first exposed to the truth of God?

This is something that I need to pursue more: meditating upon Heaven. So, I'd like to have a few posts on this blog considering Heaven. I would like to look at the blessing for those who meditate on Heaven, the motivation that comes from thinking about Heaven, and the eagerness that we should have in participating in the invitation to the Wedding Feast.

The Bible has much to say about this glorious topic! Admittedly, there are many thoughts about Heaven in the Word that are difficult to understand. There are many confusing verses that we must wrestle with; but we are called to "seek the things that are above" and "to set our minds on things above, not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:1-2). This command, as any command given by our King, is for our joy and good and God's joy and glory. We are given the liberating command to aim our minds upward. Our affections, imaginations, and dreams are to be targeted upon the heavenly realm. Matthew Henry stated that "we must mind the concerns of another world more than the concerns of this".

When I was a kid (or a younger kid I guess), I would think about Heaven quite a bit. In fact, I can even remember having dreams about Heaven. As a child, my thoughts and imaginations about Heaven were scattered and not all that well guided; but they were exiting!
As children of God we should, in a sense, let our curiousities, imaginations, and longings "get the best of us" in a Spirit-guided, Biblically-driven way about what is ahead for us. I believe we should be growing in exitement about Heaven!

Why? We already observed Colossians 3:1-2 where are we are instructed to. Yet the Bible also commands us "to long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it we may grow up to salvation" (1 Peter 2:2) and "to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). We are commanded to grow, and growth does not happen apart from the Word of God (Psalm 1). To overlook studying, considering, and meditating upon Heaven is to essentially overlook a good portion of God's Word that is meant for our blessing and hope. One of the reasons we must study and meditate on Heaven, is for our growth in the Christian life. I plan to spend time in future posts addressing this.

And I don't mean meditating on a "pie in the sky", super-spiritual, harps and halos, everlasting sunday school. I mean considering and getting exited about the picture of Heaven that God paints in His Word. This Heaven is a physical place where we will work and play in restored, perfected bodies; where the dwelling place of God is with men; where all our tears will be wiped away; where death is no more; where crying is no more; where former things are passed away; where all things are made new; where there is no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb; where there is no need for sun and moon for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb; where the gates will never be shut by day; where there will be no unclean thing; and where there will be no night!

This is a place that should stir up exitement, hope, joy, and a passion for proclaiming the Gospel in the here and now. To worship in the presence of the gracious, merciful, mighty, just, faithful, true, holy, and glorious King of kings and Lord of lords who spoke the universe into being, formed us from dust, conquered sin and death spilling out redemption upon the world, and who promises to restore and renew all things to Himself is a hope that should transform the way we think, speak, and act! I hope that through thinking thoughts about Heaven we will be encouraged to live lives of hopeful, joyous, and obedient worship to our Savior and Lord.