Friday, June 9, 2017

Thoughts on Heaven.

I have never longed for heaven.

That may sound wrong or blasphemous but it is true.  In fact at a very young age I was terrified of death and one significant evening when I was 10, that fear began to swallow me up.

My dad read a verse that spoke peace over me and I was aware of a peace from Jesus but that did not translate to a longing for heaven.

I would feel guilty when other believers would speak of heaven and their desire for Home.  I would feel guilty that I wanted to stay on earth.  But it was known and I have worked hard on this ground towards relationships, good meaningful work, belief in change and growth and seeing people overcome.  There is a lot good here and a lot invested.



And the unknown is heaven.  Especially when much of what I heard was streets of gold and maybe not having the connections with the people I know and love on earth it just did not draw me.

However, when my thorn comes to pierce or I continue to be stopped by those things that cripple me there is something about groaning for new clothing not be to found naked and the idea of a true resting place that is appealing.  I think we all have a place that resonates with us, I like to think of heaven resembling a bit of that place we felt most as home or what we were drawn to.

I have been homesick off and on for about 16 years.  I long for a place that resonates more with my soul.  I long for community and people that don't disappoint (myself included).

And I don't know why except for maybe the Spirit within me but tears come to my eyes when I read, "But we will know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2),  And verses like this, ""I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:13-14).

I rest in the goodness of Jesus more than I rest in my feelings on what heaven will be.


 
But what stopped me today was not my worry over why I haven't been excited for heaven.  What stopped me today was deep within where my enemies (insecurity, people pleasing, etc.) come to reside in me and make me question and become weary, I have the Spirit.  I can battle those things knowing whose I am.  When will I stop pleasing man or using fickle "man" to be my gage. 

Just some thoughts...always thoughts!



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