|
Heaven
Jesus said to them, "I tell
you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son
of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed
me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes
of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or
sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake
will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal
life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are
last will be first."-Jesus (Matthew 19.28-30)
This fall I am leading a discussion class
on Randy Alcorn's book Heaven. The format will be different
in that we will meet Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings
for one quarter. The book has 13 sections in three parts.
We'll take one section a week.
I first heard about this book two years ago and have seen
excerpts from it. I also listened to an abridged version of
the book while going to Arkansas to pick up Peggy. I didn't
agree with everything, but enough of it went along with what
I had been noticing in Scripture that I wanted to get a group
together to examine it.
Look at what Jesus said above. If we leave houses, family,
or fields for his sake, we'll receive a hundred times as much
and eternal life (presumably to enjoy them). Where will we
receive a hundred times as much house, family, or field? It
will be in the New Heaven and New Earth (Isaiah 66 and Revelation
21).
Other statements about lions lying down with lambs, a resurrected
earth, and a world without a sun should make us at least curious
about where we're going. If we really are citizens of heaven
(Phil 3.20), wouldn't it be reasonable to spend some time
studying about it? If we can spend time learning the names
of states and their capitals, couldn't it be even more helpful
to learn some things about the place where we will live eternally?
Get a copy of the book and begin reading it. Look up the Scriptures
he discusses in each section. Have a notebook handy so you
can write down questions you think of while reading. We'll
test everything against Scripture and only hold on to what's
good (1 Thess 5.21). However, since some of my thinking was
stretched, expect yours to be stretched as well. Now I am
longing more and more to go to Heaven. When we get through
with the study, maybe you will too.
~Shawn
 |
|
|
