Where do we go when our true self, our spirit, is separated from that which currently houses our true identity, the biological bodies in which we are experiencing this adventure/journey we call life? Is there a certain place somewhere out there, called 'heaven' ( whether it's a geographical location one can pinpoint, or a spiritual realm ) where we will dwell forevermore in endless bliss, floating around on clouds & playing harps? Does it really matter to our here & now?!
Truthfully, to many people, those with physical ailments & disabilities ( like myself ), the dream of a time when we will no longer be encumbered by these these physical ailments & disabilities is a very attractive one! The thought of running free of this physical body is so beguiling that many are so focused on what it will be like that they forget to live now! If 'Heaven' is a place ( ? ) where we go, only after the demise of our physical bodies, then what was the whole Purpose of our Heavenly Father in sending His Son to dwell with ( in ) us, if not to bring 'Heaven' to Earth?!
Again, truthfully, it is well-nigh impossible to look at the shape of our world, to say nothing of the State of the Union & say that we are in 'Heaven'! I mean, seriously, is the crap that threatens to suck us in on a daily basis really an accurate rendering of what the Scriptures said the New Heavens & New Earth would be like?! Well, actually, yes; we've been here before, but let's remember what the prophet Isaiah said about this 'place': 'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed; Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit. ( Isaiah 65:13 & 14 ). Speaking of the difference between those who served Him & His Kingdom & those who served themselves & the kingdom of man, our Heavenly Father even tells us, through Isaiah, that there would be sinners in these New Heavens & New Earth! The apostle Peter spoke of these New Heavens & New Earth as a 'place' where Righteousness would dwell ( II Peter 3:13 )!
Most people today, when faced with the assertion that this is 'Heaven', immediately beg to differ; 'how can this be 'Heaven' when there is so much pain & suffering still; would a good God allow things like pornography & all the manifold evils of society to exist?' 'If this is 'Heaven', some would say, ' I want no part of it; I can't/wont believe in a 'Heaven' where child-rape, hunger, disease & all manner of evil is allowed to persist!' Here's a question for those people, our brothers & sisters nonetheless, 'who is really allowing those evils to persist in our ( own ) world, God, or us?' Is there nothing we can do, however helpless & hopeless we feel when facing such demons? Don't we have the Strength of the Creator welling up within us, through Whom we can do all things?!
Much of the fault, as with so many other things, lies in semantics, the way we say things! Is THIS Heaven, or are WE, the Body Of Christ, IN Heaven ( just like we are IN Christ )? There has been much reference of late, on this blog, to the Marriage of Heaven & Earth, wherein the Creator has eternally invested Himself into His Creation. No, in the sense that we were used to thinking of 'Heaven' were everything is idyllic & nothing hurts anymore, this is NOT 'Heaven', but in the scriptural sense, as the Dwelling of our Heavenly Father & His Kingdom where Righteousness dwells, WE are IN 'Heaven'! 'Heaven' is IN us & in that sense, WE are 'Heaven'!
Much more could be written on this Subject of Subjects, in fact, has been & will be, but how are we living the Life we have been given? Are we living & loving freely, as if there is no tomorrow ( we don't know when our time, biologically speaking, is up ), or are we existing, doing our part, but doing time, waiting for some future 'Heaven' when we have Peace in our hearts now, when Righteousness dwells in US now!
The question has been asked, 'Where do we reside upon physical death? My answer, simple though it may be, is this; 'right where we are now, in the Presence of our Heavenly Father!' Is there another 'place' that our spirits will rest after they are separated from this biology? Scripture really tell us of no other place & as for me, I want nothing more than Peace & Rest in the Arms of the Creator of Heaven & Earth!
Charles Haddon Shank
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