The Weight/Wait Of It All

I listened today as Glen very clearly presented the offer that God has made to us.

I thought about the excuses that many of us make to avoid the issue. Who are we fooling?

Check out 2 Peter 3:9-10 - The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.

It’s all been done for us! Romans 6:22-23 - But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Why do people hesitate? What was the concern that held you back, that might still hold you back?

Let’s discuss it. Some concerns are very legitimate, so put yours (old or present) out there. Maybe it will help someone else.

Griff

Who will we be most excited to see in Heaven?

I don’t know if you were there for the service this last weekend, but I was struck by the “Gladiator” video clip that was followed up with the Eric Clapton song “Tears in Heaven”. All kinds of thoughts of friends and family were running though my head. I was ready to listen to what Glen had to say.

I think we would all agree that knowing our loved ones and having some sort of continuum from this life to the next was very encouraging and comforting. BUT, let me ask a question. How do you think those relationships will change in light of God’s very presence and the primacy of our relationship to him in heaven? Most of us would admit that here, on this fallen earth, we have the relationships wrongly switched. Our family can take priority over our relationship with God; maybe not in word, but often times in our thoughts and time allocation. So when we stand in the very presence of God, how might that change our connections or concerns with our loved ones in this world?

I have a feeling that our perspective is pretty skewed here on this earth. Think about this in light of who we really are (God’s creation and children) and the reality that we will be in God's very presence in heaven.

Food for thought and fodder,
Griff

Let's Get Physical... in Heaven of course.

We will forever enjoy the perfected goodness of this life, without the curse or effect of sin, and do so in the indescribable and unfathomable presence of our loving God.

So what part of that statement was most surprising to you? What kind of thoughts or insight would you add to that?

> The first part we discussed was, “We will forever enjoy the perfected goodness of this life”. We basically said that in some bodily form (1 Cor. 15:20-24, 35-58) we would experience the New Heaven and New Earth in ways that are far beyond our experiences here.
Also check out some of these references to Jesus in his “resurrected body.” Luke 24:13-53, John 20:11-30, 21:1-23 Any thoughts on how our resurrected bodies might be different?

> The second was, “without the curse or effect of sin,” Just think about the fact that most likely only Adam and Eve alone experienced this earth without the curse of sin. In what ways might the lack of the curse effect us and the new earth?

> Thirdly we tried to get our minds around what the full presence of our loving God might be like. To be honest, it’s kind of scary to me even though I know through Christ there is no need to fear. Scripture tell us his radiant presence will be all the light we need in heaven! Whoa! What thoughts come to you mind when thinking about being in His presence?

Don’t forget it’s not too late to throw a heaven question into the teaching team hat. Email me at gray@xroadschurch.org. Or, you can just post them on the blog for all to see.

I’ll be checking in this week. Just a personal note, my family finally moved down this weekend, YEAH! So for the most part we will be here all the time now. We’ll have to move our belongings at the end of the month but it is great to just be here.

Thanks,
Griff

Hope of Heaven???

So how much time do we spend thinking about heaven? (How many times a week do you really ponder it?)

What do we really know about heaven? (Are there really pearly gates and a cloud nine? Do we become angels?)

Missy did a great job opening up this issue that I think we would all agree is pretty important, but that we don’t seem to talk much about. If you are a believer in Christ, you at least hope you are going to heaven, but you may not know what that really entails or if you are sure you’ve even made it in.

Missy shared that for much of her life she has thought heaven was probably pretty boring but better than eternal punishment and separation from God. Does that resonate with anyone? Is it really just singing and clouds for eternity?

So what are your thoughts and visions about what heaven is going to be like? Describe your thoughts to us.

Did you realize there is a “Present Heaven” but that there will also be a “New Heaven & New Earth”?

Most importantly out of this study might be the question, “How does a better understanding and ‘HOPE’ of heaven affect the way we live today?”


If you have a specific question you would like the teaching team to address on our Q & A weekend email me at: gray@xroadschurch.org

I’m looking forward to some interesting dialogue!


Griff