Yearning for Eternity

"We want more than this world's got to offer. We want more than this world's got to offer. We want more than the wars of our fathers. And everything inside screams for second life." — Switchfoot, "Meant to Live"

Sunday we talked about what comes after this life — heaven and hell. This is a challenging topic and a challenging concept. As Christians we know that everything about Jesus' life, death, and sacrifice points to eternity. Yet we spend seemingly little time talking about that eternity.

What's worse is that we get a lot of wrong messages about heaven. Most people think of it as a paradise, as their favorite place, or as the best vacation destination ever. Those descriptions, while comforting, miss the point.

"The critical question for our generation — and for every generation — is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?" — John Piper.

When I read that quote from John Piper in the book "Crazy Love," it was striking. I think that, based on the messages about heaven we get in our culture, that seems about right. One of the running themes in "Crazy Love" is the idea that, especially in America, we tend to focus on Christianity as a set of hoops to jump through to get to our end destination. That's not how it is in other places, that's not the model offered in the Bible, and that's not what God wants for us.

Much of our cultural offerings around the idea of heaven center on it being a paradise or reward for staying on the path in this life. That, too, doesn't jive with what the Bible says. We don't read about streets of gold, mansions for us all, and time for us to reunite with family and friends.

All we know is that the hardships of this world will fade away, and we'll be with God — glorifying His name — forever. I love what yesterday's passage said.

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” — Revelation 21:3-4.

That alone should be enough for us. It might not be what our culture crows about when it comes to heaven, but it is the vision God gave John in Revelation. There will be no sadness, no pain, and no death. The old order will have passed away. And we'll be with our Lord in eternity.