Yesterday we spent time looking at the question "What does my future hold?" We discussed how that question isn't really the proper question.
As we look at what our future holds as believers, we quickly recognized that we have a default position of thinking of ourselves as central to existence. We are in some ways central to our own existence. Honestly, we can't see life without us as part of it. We see life and the universe from our eyes. However, we really need to step beyond our perceptions and see the universe more honestly. The universe is God centered. Heaven is God centered.
In Revelation 21 and 22 we read of John's vision of heaven and see that God is present, so that there isn't a temple in heaven. There are no luminous bodies, such as the sun, moon and stars. We don't need a temple because the purpose of the temple is to be a place where God meets with men. Heaven is God's home and He has brought us to be with Him there. A temple is pointless. God is light. In Him is no darkness. We no longer have need for additional sources of light.
In John 14 we listen as Jesus prepares His disciples for life after He leaves. He talks a bit about where He is going, and how He is preparing for us to follow. Then He spends a significant portion of this conversation talking about how He loves the Father and how we are to love the Father and Him. If our focus for life now and in heaven is loving God, everything else falls into place. If, for some reason, we are obeying God's commands with fear of failure, we have the wrong focus. Perfect love casts out fear, and we are told that it is those who love that obey the commands. We are completely safe in Christ. Our debt is paid, and we are free to focus our energy on loving God and obeying with gratitude.
When I have that focus for my future, all my energies can go into loving the Father, Son, and Spirit. That is the picture of how to relate to God that Jesus gives us in John 14. That is also the focus I believe we are called to have as we think of our future in heaven.
We will be spending more time in the upcoming classes thinking through how this love shapes our daily lives now. This coming week we will be looking at what we value. We value what we love. In particular this week we will be looking at whether or not we properly value the redemption Jesus has provided us. The following week we will look at whether we value the work God is doing in us to grow us in grace.
As you think about this study this week, I encourage you to think about how God wants you to use your life. What does He want you to spend your life upon? What will please Him and cause you to know that your life was well spent and successful? How can you move into that kind of living now so that you love God by how you live?
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John Piper asked: "Would you want to go to heaven if Jesus wasn't there?" i asked two Christian friends this question individually. In each instance i got immediate and spirited answers. One said yes, the other said no. i thought about it and answered no, thinking what is heaven without Jesus? Another friend and i were talking about heaven and in response to a comment i made, she said. "some people are just happy to get a foot in the door!" We both laughed. It was funny and also sad.
ReplyDeleteWhen asked if i thought my mother was watching me from heaven, my response was: "She's got more important things to do than worry about what's going on down here." What? Worshipping the love of her life: Jesus.
i have a horrible habit of beating myself up when i think i've messed up in my efforts to obey God's commands. Then i beat myself up because i'm focusing on myself. Then i beat myself up because i'm beating myself up for focusing on myself. It goes on and on. Steve, thanks for reminding me that i need not fear failure and can focus on God's perfect love.
Is Jesus the love of my life? i pray one of St. Augustine's prayers: "O my God i love thee, and i want to love thee more." And i focus on John 14:21
For a while, i've been thinking about the questions you ask in your final paragraph. It would be great if God just sent me an e-mail.