HEAVEN
Throughout history people have speculated about an After-life and Heaven. Artists have tried to depict it; some writers have totally debunked the idea; Theologians have tried to explain it; and persecuted Christians have longed for it.
This week some of our Church members have struggled to put into words their ideas about Heaven. (And I am grateful for their contributions!) So what are your thoughts about Heaven?
No great essays please – but your thoughts (on the proverbial postcard) would be very welcome. (John Rowland)
Earlier this year at the friendship lunch someone told me, quite proudly I thought, that they were not religious, but they reckoned that if everyone lived by the Sermon on the Mount the world would be a better place. True indeed, and there is a great deal in Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7 about how to live on earth. If someone were to skim through those chapters and stop and think each time that the words heaven or heavenly are mentioned they would stop 20 times. Yes, Jesus spoke to the disciples of their heavenly Father. He taught the disciples to pray “our Father in heaven…” He also spoke of his Father who is in heaven. Jesus told his disciples in John chapter 14 that he was going to the Father. In John chapter 17, on the night he was betrayed, Jesus prayed to his Father for the disciples and all believers “Father, I want those whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me before the world began.” Amazing!…. Jesus is with the Father in heaven and wants us to be with him too. So, when we leave this earthly scene we will go to be where Jesus is and we will see the glory of the Father and the Son. There is much we do not know about heaven but one thing is certain. We shall see our God and Saviour.
(Contributed by John Hicks)