One of my favorite verses, which always seems to hit me hard is James 2:19:
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder."
What I like about this passage is that it points out just how easy it is to believe in God, and yet faith without action is worthless. James drills this point home all throughout the book. Before diving into the religious stuff, think about faith without action in a different “light.”
Suppose Einstein believed wholeheartedly that he had the solution to electricity. Suppose he put some thought to it, maybe tinkered with the idea a bit, and concluded that his findings produced enough evidence that he had figured it out. Now imagine him sitting on this belief, never testing it further, let alone telling anyone. How foolish would that have been?! I'm sure you know where this is going...Faith without action is meaningless. You believe in God? Great! You and the demons have something in common. You believe in God, and take the next step by acting on it, now you're doing something meaningful.
In America, despite the rage of post-modernism and the growing sentiment that there is not one absolute truth, it is still common for an adult to believe in God. In fact, according to the Harris Poll for 2009, 82% of American adults believe in God. Furthermore, 75% believe in heaven, and 73% believe that Jesus is the son of God. Based on these findings, it would appear that nearly 3 out of 4 American adults believe in arguably the 3 most essential roots of Christianity. And yet, how evident is Christ in America? Sure we have a bunch of churches, street preachers and cross necklaces, but how often do you find someone who will tell you flat out, the reason for his or her earthly existence is to serve God daily through a relationship with His son, Jesus Christ. That 82% just got a lot lower. Buy why is this?
It is my opinion that humans will often do as much as needed, but not much more. We settle for B and C grades when a little more effort would result in an A. Of course this isn’t true across the board for everyone in every instance, but in the case of doing what is necessary to get to heaven, most are looking for the bare minimum. The problem is that most people don’t even know what the bare minimum is! Let me elaborate.
The way I see it, everyone who believes in God, or apparently 82% of Americans, falls into one of three groups.
Group 1- a person who was told that to gain eternity in heaven you need only to believe in God and strive to be a generally good person. Going to church on holidays is preferred. The problem with this group is that what said person thinks is the bare essentials aren’t in fact biblically supported. Call this the ignorant believer.
Group 2-a person who knows what is needed to get a ticket to heaven, based on what the Bible says, but simply does not act on his or her supposed relationship with Jesus. The problem with this mindset is that although the knowledge is in place, the action does not follow. Call this person the lukewarm believer.
Group 3-a person who, like group 2, knows what is required based on what the Bible says, and it is evident that he or she puts this faith into action. This person is fulfilling what God has designed us to be; a living sacrifice. Call this person the authentic believer.
I do not have statistical analysis to back this up, but from observation and living my whole life in America, I would venture to guess that most believers fit into group 1 or 2. In any case, we will all be held accountable to the truth. And the truth, as outlined flawlessly in the Bible, is that faith without action means nothing to God. By action, I’m talking about laying selfish desires aside and seeking God’s will for our lives. It’s not just about going to church, following the rules, or reading our Bible, it’s about adapting a lifestyle that is in accordance to Jesus Christ’s. For many, this requires too much lifestyle change, and generally speaking, we don’t like change. But when the prayer of salvation is uttered, and faith becomes action, one is inclined to live this way, out of pure love for his savior. It is a phenomenon left better experienced than explained with words.
It appears people have no problem agreeing to the easy part of Christianity-believing in God. But ask a "believer" to act on that, which is 99% of the deal, and folks are less willing. Call it apathy. Call it a lack of urgency to discover our creator. Call it the product of our era. Whatever the case, we cling to our selfish desires. Because who wants to live the only 80 years on earth they get for an invisible God? Doesn't sound like much fun, right? If you haven't tried it, maybe that’s your mindset. And besides, did life come with an instruction manual demanding we find out why we're here, what to do, and where we go next? Was this attached to the umbilical cord? No? Well then why not live based on what feels good? Don’t over complicate this life thing, right?
These questions are probably worth asking, but at the same time, they are excuses that lead to an unfulfilled life. We have a purpose, as destined by God from the beginning of time, and we will all be held accountable at the end of the day. How is this fair? Because God is so evident, that to ignore him all throughout life is a sin worth eternal punishment. Not convinced? Well if I could explain why the Bible is flawless, and why Christianity represents absolute truth, then I’d be a millionaire by now. The short answer is that I know my faith to be true not just because it makes more sense than the alternatives, but because I experience the truth daily. I invite you to realize this truth too, not just through believing, but by living out your faith through action. It all starts with a prayer. The Holy Spirit takes over after that.
Wednesday, December 23
Tuesday, November 3
Genesis
To my 3 faithful blog followers out there, my apologies for taking the past month off. I can’t guarantee it won’t happen again, but I’ll try and be less streaky with my blogging…
I’ve always had an interest in the BIG questions in life, that are, for the most part, not answerable. What happens to the guy in the African jungle who never hears about Jesus? Do aliens exist somewhere in the universe? How can Christianity be the only “right” religion? How can eternity just keep going and going and going? Evolution, and specifically how it pertains to Genesis, is a prime example of a question that intrigues me.
Side note:
What I’ve come to realize about big questions like these is that analyzing them is fine and healthy, but in the grand scheme, it doesn’t matter. In fact, questions with seemingly no right answer can kind of be a trap, because there is a fine line between examining, and becoming consumed. Once consumed with a question that has no firm solution, doubt can creep in, and we lose sight of the big picture. For myself, I rely on my faith that these questions have answers, even if they aren’t tangible. I think it’s a good idea to have an opinion on subjects like this, but don’t make the mistake of complicating Christianity. Rather, my advice is to examine deep questions like I’m about to, in order to draw closer to God.
All that to say, here’s my take on Genesis-
The theory of evolution has changed a lot, and will most likely continue to change. Nowadays, evolution and atheism often go hand in hand, and the thought of mixing Darwin’s theory with Christianity is a bit taboo. But to me, evolution is not incompatible with scripture at all.
Genesis says God formed a man with the dust of the ground, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. So if God used the process of evolution to create the human body out of the stuff of the earth, just as Genesis says, and then at some point God came to a small group of hominids, and breathed His spirit into them, and they became human, that would still line up with scripture. It would also line up with archeology, which shows that anatomically modern humans emerged thousands of years before behaviorally modern humans. That is, we had human bodies before we were acting like humans. But then suddenly just out of nowhere we started doing things like language, art, religion, and the things that make us human. Archeologists call this "the great leap forward" but none of them can explain why it happened so suddenly. Well maybe that was the point which God breathed His spirit into us and we started acting like humans. And then maybe that’s when we became selfish and we rejected Him, and so now we experience death. All of that would line up with scripture.
But however God made us, it doesn't matter. Here's why:
Genesis is not concerned with how God made us. That's not the question it's trying to answer. We have to read the Bible for what it's saying and not for what it's not saying. There's no explanation of DNA or anything like that, and never does it explain God’s specific method of choice for creation. Instead the Bible uses very poetic language, for who created us, and why. I think there are details missing not so that humans can attempt at filling in the blanks, but so that we don’t get caught up in the details, at the expense of missing the point. The point is that even if we know how, we still have to answer who and why, because they are most important.
My issue with those who insist the Bible is incompatible with evolution is not that they are reading it too literally; it's that they are not reading the Bible literally enough. They're trying to make it say what it's not trying to say. Genesis is not trying to be a textbook on how we got here, it's trying to answer the far more important question of who created us, and why. Is evolution true? Did God physically breathe life into humanity? Did Adam and Eve literally exist? I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I think I understand the point Genesis is making. It's not about how we got here, it’s about why, and furthermore, what we do now that we’re here.
I’ve always had an interest in the BIG questions in life, that are, for the most part, not answerable. What happens to the guy in the African jungle who never hears about Jesus? Do aliens exist somewhere in the universe? How can Christianity be the only “right” religion? How can eternity just keep going and going and going? Evolution, and specifically how it pertains to Genesis, is a prime example of a question that intrigues me.
Side note:
What I’ve come to realize about big questions like these is that analyzing them is fine and healthy, but in the grand scheme, it doesn’t matter. In fact, questions with seemingly no right answer can kind of be a trap, because there is a fine line between examining, and becoming consumed. Once consumed with a question that has no firm solution, doubt can creep in, and we lose sight of the big picture. For myself, I rely on my faith that these questions have answers, even if they aren’t tangible. I think it’s a good idea to have an opinion on subjects like this, but don’t make the mistake of complicating Christianity. Rather, my advice is to examine deep questions like I’m about to, in order to draw closer to God.
All that to say, here’s my take on Genesis-
The theory of evolution has changed a lot, and will most likely continue to change. Nowadays, evolution and atheism often go hand in hand, and the thought of mixing Darwin’s theory with Christianity is a bit taboo. But to me, evolution is not incompatible with scripture at all.
Genesis says God formed a man with the dust of the ground, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. So if God used the process of evolution to create the human body out of the stuff of the earth, just as Genesis says, and then at some point God came to a small group of hominids, and breathed His spirit into them, and they became human, that would still line up with scripture. It would also line up with archeology, which shows that anatomically modern humans emerged thousands of years before behaviorally modern humans. That is, we had human bodies before we were acting like humans. But then suddenly just out of nowhere we started doing things like language, art, religion, and the things that make us human. Archeologists call this "the great leap forward" but none of them can explain why it happened so suddenly. Well maybe that was the point which God breathed His spirit into us and we started acting like humans. And then maybe that’s when we became selfish and we rejected Him, and so now we experience death. All of that would line up with scripture.
But however God made us, it doesn't matter. Here's why:
Genesis is not concerned with how God made us. That's not the question it's trying to answer. We have to read the Bible for what it's saying and not for what it's not saying. There's no explanation of DNA or anything like that, and never does it explain God’s specific method of choice for creation. Instead the Bible uses very poetic language, for who created us, and why. I think there are details missing not so that humans can attempt at filling in the blanks, but so that we don’t get caught up in the details, at the expense of missing the point. The point is that even if we know how, we still have to answer who and why, because they are most important.
My issue with those who insist the Bible is incompatible with evolution is not that they are reading it too literally; it's that they are not reading the Bible literally enough. They're trying to make it say what it's not trying to say. Genesis is not trying to be a textbook on how we got here, it's trying to answer the far more important question of who created us, and why. Is evolution true? Did God physically breathe life into humanity? Did Adam and Eve literally exist? I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I think I understand the point Genesis is making. It's not about how we got here, it’s about why, and furthermore, what we do now that we’re here.
Wednesday, September 16
20 passages
As Christians I think we sometimes get caught up in cool sermons, new devotionals, small group discussions, and other forms of growing our faith. I'm not opposed to any of that stuff, but I think we need to remember the best way to learn about God, which is through His word. Here are 20 of my favorite passages. I hope a few of them provide the words you need for today.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
–Revelation 3:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
–1 John 2:15-17
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
See, the name of the Lord comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming fire.
–Isaiah 30:27
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
–James 1:2-4
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
–2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your god will be with you wherever you go.
–Joshua 1:9
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.
–Proverbs 27:2
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
–Acts 20:24
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
–Deuteronomy 6:5-9
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
–Deuteronomy 4:9
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
–Colossians 3:23
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
–John 16:33
And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
–1 Peter 3:14-15
Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the LORD your God and I tolerate no rivals.
–Exodus 20:5
“If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,’ I will change my expression, and smile.”
–Job 9:27
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
–Revelation 3:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
–1 John 2:15-17
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
–Matthew 10:34-37
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
–1 Corinthians 13:1-3
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
–2 Timothy 3:1-5
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
–Acts 17:24-27
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
–James 1:26
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
–1 Corinthians 13:1-3
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
–2 Timothy 3:1-5
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
–Acts 17:24-27
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
–James 1:26
See, the name of the Lord comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming fire.
–Isaiah 30:27
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
–James 1:2-4
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
–2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your god will be with you wherever you go.
–Joshua 1:9
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.
–Proverbs 27:2
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
–Acts 20:24
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
–Deuteronomy 6:5-9
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
–Deuteronomy 4:9
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
–Colossians 3:23
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
–John 16:33
And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
–1 Peter 3:14-15
Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the LORD your God and I tolerate no rivals.
–Exodus 20:5
“If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,’ I will change my expression, and smile.”
–Job 9:27
Monday, September 14
Forgetfulness
It's kind of weird the things we end up remembering, or for that matter, the things we don't remember. I have a crystal clear recollection of sitting in Mr. Berg's kindergarten classroom and physically sticking my finger in a tub of glue, then eating it. Yet, I can't hardly remember anything about some important events such as high school graduation. I consider myself to have a pretty good memory, but tell me to remember something about the year 1994, or 1998, and I draw a blank. That's a lot of days gone by to not remember much. I wonder why this is? Why would God design us with such a poor ability to remember? Sure, we can retain information, and the brain can store all sorts of stuff that we educate ourselves on. There's even people who have whole books of the Bible memorized. But when it comes to daily life, recalling how we spend our hours awake seems to be difficult for anyone. I applaud my mother for her diary entries. Once a week, she writes a few sentences about the week that was. To me, that's impressive considering there are times I can't even remember what I did a day ago.
Enough with the introduction though. Here's my point. As time passes, the once significant moments in our life often fall victim to our poor memory. It's why every youth retreat I've been on ended with the same talk from the youth pastor. He would say something to the effect of not letting go of the "spiritual high" you are on. He would remind us that the truths that were revealed the past days are real, that God is real, and as soon as we settle into next week, the devil will undoubtedly attack us and try to bring us back down. He was always right. Try as I may, the fire that was burning just days prior had been reduced to a dull flame. I guess because life can be so daily, so routine based, it's easy to let that high eventually fall. But that's really no excuse.
I'm not questioning why God created us the way he did. There's a reason we have to fight our mind to recall important things. This is why continually reinforcing our faith is important. Going to church helps my faith because a good sermon can go a long ways, and I'll probably remember it for at least a few days. Doing my devotions also promotes and helps keep the spiritual drive going strong. The Bible address this dilemma of forgetfulness many times, and so I'll end this with a verse that I pray you take to heart, so that the next time you hear or encounter God's voice, it will stick with you.
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
-Deuteronomy 4:9
Enough with the introduction though. Here's my point. As time passes, the once significant moments in our life often fall victim to our poor memory. It's why every youth retreat I've been on ended with the same talk from the youth pastor. He would say something to the effect of not letting go of the "spiritual high" you are on. He would remind us that the truths that were revealed the past days are real, that God is real, and as soon as we settle into next week, the devil will undoubtedly attack us and try to bring us back down. He was always right. Try as I may, the fire that was burning just days prior had been reduced to a dull flame. I guess because life can be so daily, so routine based, it's easy to let that high eventually fall. But that's really no excuse.
I'm not questioning why God created us the way he did. There's a reason we have to fight our mind to recall important things. This is why continually reinforcing our faith is important. Going to church helps my faith because a good sermon can go a long ways, and I'll probably remember it for at least a few days. Doing my devotions also promotes and helps keep the spiritual drive going strong. The Bible address this dilemma of forgetfulness many times, and so I'll end this with a verse that I pray you take to heart, so that the next time you hear or encounter God's voice, it will stick with you.
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
-Deuteronomy 4:9
Wednesday, September 2
Heaven
If Christians actually understood the prize at the end of the road, if we could comprehend just how great heaven is going to be, maybe we would get so enthused that we actually tell someone!
My Dad used to ask me to mow the lawn, typically once a week, especially during the summer. Me, being a cocky little kid would think, "what's in it for me." It didn't take long before my Dad had to bribe me if he wanted the lawn mowed. $10 would usually get it done. Suddenly, a boring chore like mowing the lawn became exciting, because I had 10 bucks to look forward to.
It wasn't until recently that my view on heaven took on a similar transformation. I've spent many nights awake in bed, thinking about eternity. This is odd behavior I'm pretty sure, but I know others who have done the same. Thinking about something that has no end is creepy. It's like, wow, heaven just keeps on going, and going, and going. I figured it's probably better than hell, because that's what people tell you, but a never ending church service didn't sound too appealing. This picture kinda sums up how heaven sounded to me.
My Mom mentioned a book called Heaven by Randy Alcorn. I read it, and everything I thought about heaven changed. Now, I'm excited about eternity, and while I'd prefer it not start tomorrow, when the day comes, I know it's going to be great. I don't know if Alcorn is accurate on everything he has to say about heaven, but his main stance seems logical. Ultimately, heaven is going to be earth the way it was intended. It is going to be what we have today, MINUS SIN. This is called "the new earth." Prior to the last judgment, or the great battle, when God beats the crap out of Satan, we will be in a pre-resurrected state, assuming we are dead. This intermediate state is a temporary spot, and while it sounds like a big time upgrade over earth, it's only a glimpse of what the new earth is going to entail.
What's surprising is just how few Christians understand this concept. I sure didn't know what any of those terms meant, and I went to a 4 year Christian college. The reason for this, in my opinion, is because our picture of heaven is shaped by society, just like everything else. We remember movies, song lyrics, and everything else that is beat into our brains all week long, and the Bible's truths take a back seat. We forget what the Bible says about heaven. And apparently, there's a lot of good stuff in there about heaven. In the Heaven book, Alcorn tells this story:
"A pastor once confessed to me, 'Whenever I think about Heaven, it makes me
depressed. I’d rather just cease to exist when I die.'
'Why?' I asked.
'I can’t stand the thought of that endless tedium. To float around in the clouds with
nothing to do but strum a harp . . . it’s all so terribly boring. Heaven doesn’t sound much
better than Hell. I’d rather be annihilated than spend eternity in a place like that.'
Whether they confess it or not, I think a lot of Christians have this same thought in the back of their brain...
As a golfer, I used to wonder if every shot would be a hole-in-one in heaven. Alcorn addresses this question, and many more, in his book. He basically says, "what's sinful about a bogey, or hitting a bad shot?" Sin would be letting golf consume you to where it becomes an idol. It would be dropping an F bomb after that bogey, or getting drunk out on the course. But a bad golf shot? Nothing sinful about that. So ya, there's going to be golf, and because God loves seeing us develop, I'm sure the struggle to improve my game will continue in heaven. This is good news, because it means heaven is going to emphasize the things we love doing now. I'm not going to be married to my wife in heaven (see Matt. 22:30), but not only will I be able to recognize her, I'll bet she's my best friend. The idea of a new earth has been a relief to me, because as crappy as earth can be, I still like a bunch of places, like the ocean, and golf courses. It only makes sense that God won't take that from us. He's going to take marriage away, sure, but it is replaced by a marriage with him, which sounds weird, but it will be perfect. As a side note, I think that marriage, when it functions correctly, may be the closest glimpse to heaven that we have.
Finally, Alcorn shares this story in his book, and I really think it's a perfect illustration of how ridiculous it is that we, as Christians, don't study eternity a little more. After all, we have maybe 85 years or so on this earth, and then it's all eternity. On a timeline, our stay on earth is a small speck, so why not study what the eternity part is going to be like?
"Imagine you’re part of a NASA team preparing for a five-year mission to Mars.
After a period of extensive training, the launch date finally arrives. As the rocket lifts off,
one of your fellow astronauts says to you, “What do you know about Mars?”
Imagine shrugging your shoulders and saying, “Nothing. We never talked about it. I
guess we’ll find out when we get there."
My Dad used to ask me to mow the lawn, typically once a week, especially during the summer. Me, being a cocky little kid would think, "what's in it for me." It didn't take long before my Dad had to bribe me if he wanted the lawn mowed. $10 would usually get it done. Suddenly, a boring chore like mowing the lawn became exciting, because I had 10 bucks to look forward to.
It wasn't until recently that my view on heaven took on a similar transformation. I've spent many nights awake in bed, thinking about eternity. This is odd behavior I'm pretty sure, but I know others who have done the same. Thinking about something that has no end is creepy. It's like, wow, heaven just keeps on going, and going, and going. I figured it's probably better than hell, because that's what people tell you, but a never ending church service didn't sound too appealing. This picture kinda sums up how heaven sounded to me.
What's surprising is just how few Christians understand this concept. I sure didn't know what any of those terms meant, and I went to a 4 year Christian college. The reason for this, in my opinion, is because our picture of heaven is shaped by society, just like everything else. We remember movies, song lyrics, and everything else that is beat into our brains all week long, and the Bible's truths take a back seat. We forget what the Bible says about heaven. And apparently, there's a lot of good stuff in there about heaven. In the Heaven book, Alcorn tells this story:
"A pastor once confessed to me, 'Whenever I think about Heaven, it makes me
depressed. I’d rather just cease to exist when I die.'
'Why?' I asked.
'I can’t stand the thought of that endless tedium. To float around in the clouds with
nothing to do but strum a harp . . . it’s all so terribly boring. Heaven doesn’t sound much
better than Hell. I’d rather be annihilated than spend eternity in a place like that.'
Whether they confess it or not, I think a lot of Christians have this same thought in the back of their brain...
As a golfer, I used to wonder if every shot would be a hole-in-one in heaven. Alcorn addresses this question, and many more, in his book. He basically says, "what's sinful about a bogey, or hitting a bad shot?" Sin would be letting golf consume you to where it becomes an idol. It would be dropping an F bomb after that bogey, or getting drunk out on the course. But a bad golf shot? Nothing sinful about that. So ya, there's going to be golf, and because God loves seeing us develop, I'm sure the struggle to improve my game will continue in heaven. This is good news, because it means heaven is going to emphasize the things we love doing now. I'm not going to be married to my wife in heaven (see Matt. 22:30), but not only will I be able to recognize her, I'll bet she's my best friend. The idea of a new earth has been a relief to me, because as crappy as earth can be, I still like a bunch of places, like the ocean, and golf courses. It only makes sense that God won't take that from us. He's going to take marriage away, sure, but it is replaced by a marriage with him, which sounds weird, but it will be perfect. As a side note, I think that marriage, when it functions correctly, may be the closest glimpse to heaven that we have.
Finally, Alcorn shares this story in his book, and I really think it's a perfect illustration of how ridiculous it is that we, as Christians, don't study eternity a little more. After all, we have maybe 85 years or so on this earth, and then it's all eternity. On a timeline, our stay on earth is a small speck, so why not study what the eternity part is going to be like?
"Imagine you’re part of a NASA team preparing for a five-year mission to Mars.
After a period of extensive training, the launch date finally arrives. As the rocket lifts off,
one of your fellow astronauts says to you, “What do you know about Mars?”
Imagine shrugging your shoulders and saying, “Nothing. We never talked about it. I
guess we’ll find out when we get there."
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