Heaven: Q & A's

[Budman]

I found these very interesting and informative! I hope you feel the same!

Questions & Answers About Heaven

by Randy Alcorn

What are our misconceptions about heaven?

I heard a pastor make a startling confession: "Whenever I think about heaven, it makes me depressed. I'd rather just cease to exist when I die."

I tried not to show my shock as I asked him, "Why?" "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."

Where did this Bible-believing, seminary-educated pastor get such a view of heaven? Certainly not from Scripture, where Paul said to depart and be with Christ was "far better" than staying on earth (Phil. 1:23). And yet, though my friend was more honest about it than most, I've found many Christians share the same misconceptions about heaven. I am often told by readers of my books that though they are Christians they've never looked forward to heaven, but have imagined it as boring and even frightening.

Where do we get our misconceptions about heaven?

Satan labors to give people an inaccurate view of heaven. Jesus said of the devil, "When he lies he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). Some of Satan's favorite lies are about heaven. Revelation 13:6 tells us the satanic beast "opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven." Our enemy slanders three things: God's person, God's people, and God's place

[Budman]

Oops! Here's the rest of it:

the shadow on the sun dial of Ahaz. Even if the earth should continue a million years not one of us could stay to enjoy it. We do well to think of the long tomorrow." A. W. Tozer

Is heaven really worth getting excited about?

In The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis paints a beautiful picture of heaven in the final book, The Last Battle. The book begins with a near collision of a railroad train, where the children are thrust into Narnia. But when their adventure is over, the children are afraid they will be sent back to earth again.

Having experienced the joys and wonders of Narnia, and the presence of Aslan

[Guest hubertdorm]

Most excellent article Budman!

Growing up brought minimal teachings on heaven. I thought it was because no one really knew. I was close. Nobody in my church had a clue!

There are still many aspects of heaven that we can only speculate, but God really did give us an indepth revelation. "No eye has seen.." is so many times misquoted. John saw it, and God wanted us to know about it!