Hey guys,
I know it's a long time since I wrote anything, but I have been thinking about the nature of Heaven a lot recently and have, consequentially, been reading a book called "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn.
Two of the questions I have often had about life in Heaven is the links to our Earthly lives, which I will touch on here, but will probably come back to, and whether in Heaven we are aware of Earth. Randy Alcorn has provided some thoughts I wish to share, which I feel go a long way to answering these questions.
Do we remember our lives on Earth in the Present Heaven?
I have always felt that we would likely remember our lives on Earth in Heaven, for if we didn't remember things we did and said on Earth then how would we be ourselves?
The way I know I am myself (the same person that existed yesterday, last week, last year and a decade ago), logically speaking, is because I can identify within myself the memories of being in places, doing things, being part of things, etc. in those times. I see them from my first person perspective and have my subjective emotions about those times. Therefore I am still the same person, calling myself Wavey/David Cowpar today as the person who called himself David Cowpar a decade ago. (See the chapter on this topic in Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, by Moreland and Craig, published by IVP [US, I think])
In sum, memory is important in recognising we are ourselves, so I felt it was important that we would have this memory in Heaven.
Turns out we will remember Earth in Heaven. Alcorn says: “In fact, we’ll all likely remember much more in Heaven than we do on Earth, and we will probably be able to see how God and angels intervened on our behalf when we didn’t realize it.” (68) I love the idea that we will see what God and the angels were doing in our lives when we get to Heaven. Praise the Lord.
The Bible actually tells us that we will have to give accounts of our lives to God after we die. If this is the case it is likely that we would have to remember the things we did, good and bad, this would lend credence to the idea that we will remember Earth.
“The positions of authority and the treasures we’re granted in Heaven will perpetually remind us of our life on Earth, because what we do on Earth will earn us those rewards.” (68) - I want to look into this topic more! Below are some relevant verses, in case you would too. Expect a blog on this topic in the (hopefully) not too distant future.
Matthew 6:19-21; 19:21; Luke 12:33; 19:17 and 19; 1 Timothy 6:19; Revelation 2:26-8= verses on rewards in Heaven for life on Earth.
If there are rewards in Heaven based on what we do on Earth I feel like the Church makes too little of this. In the song "How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place" (both the older and newer versions) there is the idea of even being a doorkeeper of Heaven would be a blessing. This is true, but I think, at least in my mind, it has downplayed the idea of there being different rewards and roles given in Heaven based on our faithfulness on Earth.
Can I be the first to say I'm terrified by this and see myself being the poo collector at the moment... Time to pull up the socks and live what I believe in every minute... Help me Lord!
Okay, so turning from awareness of our lives on Earth to an awareness of Earth after our lives.
You have to understand something about the nature of the Heaven we go to before the return of Christ to fully grasp this, I think.
The present Heaven is not permanent. It is temporary. We do not live there forever. Revelation tells us of the time when the old Heaven and Earth will become the New Heaven and New Earth and the New Jerusalem will descend from Heaven and come to Earth, where God will make His dwelling place among us, making the New Heaven and the New Earth effectively one place.
This means that the present Heaven will pass away, it is the place God dwells now, as it is the place where the saints who have already passed on dwell. However, they, and we if we don't live to see the return of Christ (come Lord Jesus), will not live there for eternity.
This is important because an obvious objection to people being able to see what happens on Earth today would be that there is no pain, tears, sorrow etc. in Heaven. This comes from a verse in Revelation (21:4). However, if you see Heaven as the Present Heaven and the New/Coming Heaven, a distinction the Bible makes, then this verse fits into the verses describing the New Heaven, as opposed to the Present/Temporary Heaven.
With that in mind let's look at a couple of passages that seem to suggest we can see Earth from Heaven:
In 1 Samuel 28 Saul goes to the Witch of Endor and he asks her to bring up Samuel.
Now, I have oft. debated what is happening in this passage. Is the woman calling up the actual Samuel or is it perhaps a demon that was assigned to Samuel (a familiar spirit) but one that would have been familiar with his ways and the things he said.
Presently, I lean towards the idea that God allowed the actual Samuel to appear. If you want to ask me about why you can on ask.fm/Wavey1111.
So, God brings Samuel up and he speaks to Saul. In this conversation Samuel recalls things that Saul did during his (Samuel's) lifetime, suggesting he remembers his life on Earth. However, Samuel also seems to be aware of things that have happened since he died and left the Earth. We can infer from this that either God told him before he left Heaven to appear to Saul, or that he could see some of what was happening from Heaven.
Hebrews 12:1;
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..."
(Hebrews 12:1 ESV)
This could be figurative language, but it could also be saying that these people still 'surround' us, and that, not only were they witnesses to Christ while on this Earth, but that they are witnesses to our lives today as well.
Time for the convincing one?
Luke 15:7;
"Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
(Luke 15:7 ESV)
If there is a party in Heaven when someone comes to a saving knowledge of Christ, it would suggest that people in Heaven are aware of the goings on on Earth, at least when it comes to salvation and God's major acts in Redemption history (see Revelation, there are times when the saints in Heaven rejoice at what God is doing on Earth, or lament about having to wait, etc.)
I don't think we will know every detail of what's happening on Earth... I don't feel like we will physically be able to see the Earth from Heaven, but I think we will have some awareness of what's going on.
This leads me to my final interesting question in this area.
Will we pray in Heaven for those on Earth?
I think it's safe to answer this in the affirmative.
The Bible tells us that Jesus is in Heaven interceding for His people on Earth. Prayer is just conversations with God. If we are in Heaven and able to speak with God, and God lets us know some things about Heaven; at least when someone is saved, possibly also as witnesses surrounding and encouraging believers on Earth to keep running the race that has been marked out for them, then I can't see why we wouldn't 'pray' about those things.
"The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
(James 5:16 ESV)
When we are in Heaven, and made perfect in His righteousness and by the spilling of His blood, how much more power will there be in our praying for people on the Earth?
It's a cool thought.
So, there are some thoughts on Heaven and its relationship with Earth....
Let me know what you think in the comments below, want to ask a question anonymously? Do so by copying ask.fm/Wavey1111 into your search bar and leave your question. If you don't need anonymity just post below.
In A ainm agus A chuid seirbhis, ~
No comments:
Post a Comment