adventure # 24: where is Heaven?

Hello dear friends and fellow adventurers

Please forgive the long delay in getting this second-last post and video in the Explore Your Story series to you - I have had innumerable Internet difficulties to contend with at home and actually, although this video was shot some time ago, I am uploading it in Australia!

This week we're going to look at a fascinating subject - where is Heaven and what is the interaction like between Heaven and Earth?

Monday

Today simply watch the video. Here's the link for your convenience. 

Tuesday

While Christians, and more importantly, Christian theologians, still accept Heaven as an article of faith..as existing in the Bible..most know surprisingly little about it. Calvin, probably the most influential theologian of 'modern' times never wrote a thing about it. Nor have any of the other major theologians since. Excitingly, we have to find our information about Heaven from the Bible, the source, itself. As I've said many times before, don't assume that just because your pastor doesn't speak much about Heaven, that the Bible doesn't. Jesus mentioned Heaven about seventy times in the book of Matthew alone. It appears from the very first verse in Genesis — “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” — to the last reference found at the end of Revelation — “[He] showed me the great city… descending out of Heaven from God” (Revelation 21:10 NKJV). In fact, fifty-four of the sixty-six books in the Bible mention Heaven. Are you surprised at how much the Bible has to say about Heaven? I know I was.

Wednesday

I said in the video that I would supply you with some of the Scriptures that speak about the location of Heaven. Here is an interesting article by Watchman Nee in which he discusses what the Bible says about Heaven's location and then puts forward his own theory that Heaven is not only 'above' but 'north'. There's no proving his theory but its interesting nevertheless. 

Where is Heaven by Watchman Nee

Thursday

In the video I also mention that sometimes people on Earth are enabled to see into Heaven, or at least, the heavenly realms. I have put two examples below for you to read. 

Acts 7: 55, 56

2 Kings 6: 17

Friday

Today, simply enjoy worshipping to these encouraging songs..songs that remind us that the Lord is with us and that it will all be worth it, one day. 

Saturday

We know that angels, who are permanent residents of Heaven, frequently visit Earth and some are even on assignment here for many years at a time..but occasionally, even human people, who have already moved to Heaven, visit Earth. Jesus, is of course, our best example of this. He appeared to Paul on at least two different occasions - the first, on the Damascus road (Acts 9 and Acts 22) and the second when Jesus spoke to Paul about Corinth (Acts 18:9). You can read about when Moses and Elijah came to Earth to speak to Jesus about his soon return to Heaven in Matthew 17. I'm by no means advocating that we try and 'call' our relatives in Heaven to come and visit with us - but its good to be aware that the relationship between Heaven and Earth is very real and very dynamic. At very least, Hebrews teaches us that the communion of the saints is a significant doctrine. 

and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect (Hebrews 12:23).

Sunday

Dear friend, we've come to the end of this week's study on the locality of Heaven and the interaction between Heaven and Earth. I know that there are many more questions than answers..but the Bible does supply us with some answers, all of which are faith-building to meditate upon. Enjoy your church service today..and I will see you next time. 

Avante! 

adventure # 23: what is Heaven like?

Hello dear friends and fellow adventurers

This week we're going to explore Heaven a little further together.

Monday

Today simply watch the video. In it I give a brief overview of 4 main points about what Heaven is like. Here is the link for your convenience. 

Tuesday

In the video I said that its important that we realize that Heaven is a real place. It is in Hebrews 8: 5 that we read about the Earthly temple being a copy of its Heavenly reality - and it is in Hebrews 12: 22 that we ready about the New Jerusalem, that is currently situated in Heaven, coming down to physical Earth. And in Acts 1: 11, we read about Jesus being taken up in his very real, resurrected body, in to Heaven. 

Wednesday

You can read about Paul's experience with the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12: 3.

Thursday

Most of what we know about Heaven we read about in the book of Revelation which is set, so to speak, mostly in the Heavenly realms. Read through this book without worrying too much about what's happening and when - but just to gain some idea of what the Bible says Heaven is like. 

Friday

Here's a whole playlist of songs about Heaven that you can enjoy today. 

Songs about Heaven

Saturday

I did promise you some references about videos, testimonies and books you can read about Heaven. So here are a few tasters for you. 

1.  Without doubt the finest, fairly academic, book written about Heaven in our time is Heaven by Randy Alcorn. Get it here:

Get it here

2.  Another riveting testimony is that of Jim Woodford. Read all about it here:

Jim Woodford's testimony

3.  Love the story of Capt Dale Black. I think you will too - let me know. 

4.  This is another good one...excuse the weirdo Jesus...watch and you'll see what I mean :)

5.  This one is not exactly a Heaven testimony, but it just so sincere and special that I have to include it. I experience the heart of God every time I watch it...I hope you will too. 

6.  Another book that I enjoyed because it did not involve anyone dying or having a near-death incident is this one by Christopher Roberts, called Heaven. 

Here it is

Sunday

Go to church. 

Until next time, Avante!

adventure # 22: my memories of Heaven

Hello dear friends and fellow adventurers

Explore Your Story is drawing to an end. There are only 4 videos left in the series and today's upload is the first of those videos. The final 4 videos are all about Heaven - where Heaven is, what Heaven is like, the proximity of Heaven to Earth...

In my opinion, I've kept the best for last. Yet I'm aware that few Christians share my passion for Heaven these days. Pastors don't preach about Heaven. Perhaps they feel out of their depth with such a subject, perhaps they wonder what the point is, perhaps they feel like they enter the realm of science-fiction when they see what the Bible says about Heaven. Whatever the reasons are, the truth is, you will seldom, if ever, hear a sermon about Heaven. Its almost like Heaven is an accessory that you can add on when you buy the product  - you can buy this tassle and add it on to your handbag if you like, but its the handbag itself that is really important.

And yet..in Colossians 1: 4, 5 Paul says the following:

"..we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints - the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in Heaven."

Both faith and love spring from, have their origin, in something that is stored in Heaven for you. There's a hope, Paul says, that is not to be found on Earth - rather, it is stored up in Heaven for you. This hope is the consummation of everything that Jesus has done for you. Its the future, the Heavenly future, that Jesus has won for you. And Paul makes the point that your life on Earth is hugely affected by whether or not you know about, and hold on to,  this hope. Even your faith in Christ and your ability to love these very imperfect fellow Christians, is based on this. So, if you find your faith on Earth is wavering, the solution is..fix your thoughts on Heaven. If you find you are struggling to love the saints on Earth, the solution is..fix your thoughts on Heaven.

You can begin to do so right now, and for the next 4 weeks, as you engage with this first video.