I am going to try something new here.  Below are some thoughts on Heaven from a good friend of mine, and below that, is my response.  I think a lot of people have these thoughts regarding the afterlife, and I feel like this is a good way to draw them out.

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From Todd:

I woke up in a sweat, aliens were fighting to take over earth and my friend Des and I were left battling for our existence. When I left my area, the aliens, which were machines, were attacking me and another machine was fighting me, but no match (no, I didn’t just watch transformers). Running to get Des and let him know it was over, I was scared. I dreamt that together maybe we could make it, but then running to the escape pod, I realized the aliens had set a self destruct and we had minutes left. Running, I knew I was going to die in less than four minutes.

Now I am sweating. I think to call someone, but I don’t. I continue to run. I turn to Des and ask him if he is ready to go to Heaven, I answer to myself “no”….then roll over and I am awake.

Grabbing my iPad I have to get this thought out. Why? Why aren’t we ready to go to heaven? Maybe everyone else is ready and I’m the only one who isn’t. After 42 years on earth, I guess I’m just used to it. I have been going to church since I was born, and Heaven never once came across as a bad place to be… so why not go? Heck, the way most preachers make it sound, we should be lining up to get in…buy we aren’t. As a matter of fact, we fight. Have a crappy life… it might get better. Lose a family member at a young age…work through the pain. Got cancer…most people fight it.

But why? In the bible heaven is described as a place of rewards:

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:12)

“Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward [is] great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” (Luke 6:23)

(I’m sure like most people, the way I have lived my life sure doesn’t deserve any rewards.)

And where God is worshipped:

“And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:8-11)

Am I so selfish? has my life on earth been tainted so much that the thought of “forever worship” is a struggle? What if it was worship on the beach? Or worship from 10am to 6pm with a nice hour long lunch….then would I have the same feelings

Heaven sounds good? Doesn’t it?

18 And the building of the wall of it was [of] jasper: and the city [was] pure gold, like unto clear glass.

19 And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

21 And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.

Heck, who wouldn’t want to go? No mention of the restaurants or the nightlife, but c’mon, it sounds good, right?

But my original question remains, now for just you believers in Christ, if Heaven is a place where we spend an eternity with God in a beautiful city, worshipping our creator, why are we scared to enter?

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From Yaholo:

From a personal perspective, and as another friend of mine once said, it is not that I am afraid to die, it is that I am ashamed to.  I have a strong drive to want to accomplish some level of good in the world. I want to raise a good family, and be a reliable provider.  I have much I wish to teach and instruct others, so that knowledge I have fought for can continue after I am gone.

Of course, I am sure there is a lot of vanity here.  A desire for a legacy, the hubris to think I can make an impact on the world, and the lack of faith to think that God cannot use my work after I am gone.  I am aware of all these traits, but never-the-less believe I have some honorable motivations to live.  If death came early, I wouldn’t meet it without regret.

I also tend to disagree with the whole “afterlife as a goal” mindset.  There is a purpose for this life, and there is something divine and holy in our struggle.  Christ himself said that eternity is “knowing God” (John 17:3).  Knowing God is a life we start now, not after we die.  I think it may be a disservice to throw away the value of this life and only think about the next.  Heaven may be a great a rest, but our work is here.

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