H: Heaven

On the most recent Koinonia Weekend, five of the twenty-four participants were hearing imapaired. The whole weekend was full of special moments as our community welcomed them in. The learning was rich and I can’t help but believe that it made God smile.

One moment touched my heart and kicked me in the butt at the same time. Our table communities were returning from our small group chapel Saturday night. As the groups return there is singing and conversation. It’s a lighter time after what can often be emotionally laden chapels. Shortly after my table returned to the meeting room, the guy playing his guitar started playing the old hymn “What A Day That Will Be.” As he was playing one of the hearing impaired participants started sing along. The usually noisy room hushed immediately and gave their full attention to singer and song. There were no dry eyes to be found. It was beautiful.

It was in that moment when it felt like my heart and my butt were attached and I got a pretty quick kick. I don’t know about you, but I don’t spend much time wishing for heaven. Unlike the singer that night, my song about heaven is more like the old Imperials song, “If Heaven Never Was Promised to Me.” The chorus goes: But if heaven never was promised to me, neither God’s promise to live eternally, it’s been worth just having the Lord in my life. Living in a world of darkness, he brought me the light.”

I used to think that heaven was the invention of people too weak to handle life as it came to them. There had to be something better than this, so they would long for the “Sweet By and By.” Eventually their preoccupation resulted in the adage that “they were so heavenly minded that they were of no earthly use.” As frustrating or disappointing as my life got, I loved it. I felt fortunate, blessed, and loved. There was a contentment that rolled over into complacency. Life was okay, what did I need heaven for?

I was thinking about that when I came across Paul’s word’s to the Colossians: 1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3, NLT)

Paul is pretty clear. Heaven is to fill our thoughts so that we are not to get stuck thinking about here only. It really sounds like we need balance. We need to keep in mind that our real life is hidden with Christ. Life doesn’t end here. It’s not even really about here. Here we are to love, learn, lead, and look. To get too comfortable here is to take our eyes off the real prize.

So Woody, sing the chorus again, please. I’m ready to add my harmony: what a day, glorious day, that will be.