Heaven, letting go, and living

Recently, our teaching team at our church did a series on heaven, hell, and the afterlife in general. Mrs. KJ and I were most intrigued by the heaven discussion. Our teaching pastor even talked about how he hadn't even had the barest of topical discussion of heaven in seminary. Why? Who knows...

Anyway, the heaven that the Bible describes is indeed a Paradise. Lush, verdant, vibrant. A place that one would be eternally foolish to not want to be. Heaven appears to be a place where we will have fulfilling work and the opportunity to continue to be, without the plague of sin, ourselves. Therefore, think of what you like to do and enjoy. Now, you'll get to do those things in Heaven in a sinless, unsullied environment. For eternity.

So, why then the rush to cram in as much "life" here as possible? We won't miss out on the good stuff as we'll have all Eternity to pursue them.

Mrs. KJ and I have known people who hoard. They often cling to the past and to stuff in general. And as a result, they don't really live in the present. They're a prisoner to the fear of losing their things (house, possessions, family, etc.) and therefore don't let go and live.

This is in contrast to a statement made by Erwin McManus (KJ's paraphrase): "God will send the Christian barbarian to places only dead men can go." It is in that death, that we shall truly live. Sounds a bit like another Man who spoke Truth and Life.

So, the Mrs. and I are letting go: of our house, our yard, our garden that we have coaxed and cajoled out of the nasty Oklahoma clay (dry last year, sopping wet this year), our little things, our clothes, our Chubby Kitties (Orange Kitty/Fat Butt has officially been declared grossly obese by the vet), and our beloved books. To say nothing of our church, friends, and family. But as we are no longer tied to these things mentally, emotionally, and/or financially, we are free to follow our Messiah, blessed be He.

To die to self is indeed the pathway to life and life abundantly thru Him, the One who conquered death, sin, and mortality.

KJ