Heaven is… scary?
If you’re feeling real shaky in your faith right now, I’d encourage you to read this posting LATER. But if you’re up for the craziness, continue…
Ok, this must really mean I’m a weak Christian.
We have had a death in the family recently, and while I’m TOTALLY CERTAIN that we’re better off in heaven, there is this part of me that freaks out at the thought.
My mind cannot comprehend, and maybe that’s my problem… here goes:
Does anyone have a problem with the notion of NO TIME?
Here’s some questions/concerns:
- My existence right now is wrapped around DOING, and the idea of just BEING is something totally uncool.
- It’s scary to think that there would be NO GROWTH in Heaven (I mean, you have no time, hence whatever your essence is, that IS what you “is”… forever)
Ok, I’m really starting to freak out here and this ain’t helping…
Anyone hear of a good way to think about this? Bible verse suggestions?
Continuing on in faith of the greatest Father I will ever have.
Author: Brett Veenstra | Category: Disciple | Comments(2) January 2006
i think this way too sometimes… the scariness of heaven. but it’s mostly when i’ve thought about heaven as a place… and it certainly IS a place… but i don’t think that’s what makes heaven, heaven… you know?<br/><br/>what makes it heaven is the presence of God… the reign of Christ, the one my heart was made to be joined with… when i think of heaven as a relationship, then it doesn’t seem so scary. Maybe that’s because i’m relational and i get a lot of fulfillment from them. But the idea of being able to explore God and get to know him more completely for all eternity, that excites me. So i’ve been saying lately that more than a place, heaven is a person.
Huh. Interesting thoughts here. Although, honestly, I can’t relate one bit.<br/><br/>All I think of when I think of heaven is “every tear will be wiped away, ever need will be met”. Honestly, my addiction to CS Lewis has helped me envision heaven to a point where I no longer fear the unknown. In many of his books he’s created different ‘sketches’ of what heaven might be like….but the central focus of all of them was total peace and fufilment.<br/><br/>I guess, every time the thought enters my mind that heaven may be something I don’t like (or is less than optimal), immediately I remember: If its less than pure contentment, it’s not heaven. That’s why, to a point, I believe heaven to be ‘custom made’ for each soul. We will worship God in our own unique way (remembering we’ll still be US, not just some blob), and the ability to finally express ourselves and our thanks to God in a totally unfettered way would be pure extacy.<br/><br/>Obviously, much of my mindset on this comes from “The Great Divorce”, but also much of Lewis’ writings on “nostalgia” and our peeks of heaven we get while still in this life. Readings such as “The Weight of Glory” go a long way to helping shape a view on this as well….<br/><br/>So, why Lewis, and not directly from the Bible? In no way do I think the bible incorrect in it’s description of heaven, but I do, in fact, find it lending to the ‘scariness” of heaven because of it’s writing style. Lewis takes the biblical fact and turns it into a tangible reality that I’ve actually experienced….saying “You’ve experienced nostalgia…what if that’s a momentary glimpse of heaven”….and I can totally connect with that because it’s experiental. <br/><br/>To me, heaven is scary only when it’s based on fact only…as soon as you throw in experience or relationship (as Dion suggests), then it becomes “real”, and I can be assured I’ll find pleasure and completeness in it.