Heaven
March, 2010 | by Mickey Rapier
I was listening to a group of seminary professors answer questions in a roundtable session a while back, when the question was asked, “What author has had the greatest impact on your life?” I listened carefully because this was a group of men I respect for their knowledge of scripture and ability to interpret and convey its meaning. One said, “Jonathan Edwards,” and soon they were all agreeing that it was Edward’s writings that had influenced them most. I was intrigued that these well-read men all agreed that Edwards, the “father of modern evangelicalism,” had such an impact on them.
Hearing them speak of Edwards caused me to reflect on the writings and sermons of his that I have read. One of my favorite sermons of Edwards is about heaven. Do you think about heaven often? Do you wonder what it must be like to live in the presence of God in a perfect place…forever? When we are young, we somehow create this notion that heaven is floating on clouds listening to angels play harps. That wouldn’t really be heaven at all, would it? Surely there is something more up there than harp music and clouds! I’m just guessing the surroundings of heaven will be something like the very best of the good things we enjoy today – only much, much, better. God will be the centerpiece of our existence and the sole focus of our affection. Randy Alcorn’s book, “Heaven,” gives an in-depth look at what he thinks heaven will be like, based on scriptures dealing with the subject. If you haven’t read it, I would encourage you to do so.
We don’t often allow our minds to drift toward heaven because doing so brings up the subject of death. The thought of death is unpleasant and can make us feel uncomfortable. Yet, we have to go through death to get to heaven. Our bodies cling to life so desperately that death becomes a nasty struggle, a war between the body and soul that we don’t like to entertain. But those who gain the perspective that death is simply a door that leads to heaven have a more healthy view of our transition to that perfect place God has prepared for us.
Following is an excerpt from Edward’s sermon, “The Christian Pilgrim”, based on Hebrews 11:13-14. In it, Edwards gives us an apt perspective of life on earth and life in heaven. Read it carefully and slowly, pondering his thoughts.
This world is not our abid¬ing place. Our continuance here is but very short.... If God has given us ample estates, and children, or other pleasant friends, it is with no such design, that we should be furnished here, as for a settled abode; but with a design that we should use them for the present, and then leave them in a very little time.
When we are called to any sec¬ular business, or charged with the care of a family, if we improve our lives to any other purpose, than as a journey toward heaven, all our labour will be lost. If we spend our lives in the pursuit of a temporal happiness; as riches, or sensual pleasures; credit and esteem from men; delight in our children, and the prospect of seeing them well brought up, and well settled, etc. All these things will be of little significance to us. Death will blow up all our hopes, and put an end to these enjoyments. "The places that have known us, will know us no more:" and "the eye that has seen us, shall see us no more."
Heaven is that place alone where our highest end, and highest good is to be obtained. God hath made us for himself. “Of him, and through him, and to him are all things." Therefore, then do we attain to our highest end, when we are brought to God: but that is by being brought to heaven; for that is God's throne, the place of his special presence. There is but a very imperfect union with God to be had in this world, a very imperfect knowledge of him in the midst of much darkness: a very imperfect conformity to God mingled with abundance of estrange¬ment. Here we can serve and glo¬rify God, but in a very imperfect manner; our service being min¬gled with sin, which dishonors God. But when we get to heaven, (if ever that be) we shall be brought to a perfect union with God, and have more clear views of him.
There we shall be fully con¬formed to God, without any re¬maining sin: for "we shall see him as he is." There we shall serve God perfectly; and glorify him in an exalted manner, even to the ut¬most of the powers and capacity of our nature. Then we shall per¬fectly give up ourselves to God: our hearts will be pure and holy offerings, presented in a flame of divine love.
God is the highest good of the reasonable creature; and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but the en¬joyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops; but God is the ocean.
-Works of President Edwards, ed. S. B. Dwight, vol. 7.
Jonathan Edwards “transitioned” to heaven in 1758 at the age of 54, while president of Princeton. In that moment of his passing, he experienced fully about that which he had written - God, the sun, the fountain, the ocean. Those who step into the presence of God have no desire to turn back toward earth. Stephen R. Holmes records that as Edwards was dying, he spoke of his love for his wife, Sarah, and urged his children to find faith in God. He then asked that he not be given an elaborate funeral but that what money was available be given to charity. His last words were, “Trust in God, and you need not fear.” Indeed… trust in God and you need not fear.
