As a child of the Deep South, I grew up hearing about "Heaven."
We sang about this glorious place in Church on Sunday--at least one song was about Heaven.
We heard sermons about this marvelous promise regularly--and not just at funerals either.
What happened?
Has contemporary society become so overwhelmed with the cares of "this life" and "these light afflictions" that we no longer gaze and long for that "City Whose Builder and Maker is God"?
Are we so convinced that we "have it all here" and that it doesn't "get any better than this" so why even think about these precious promises of God for eternal life hereafter?
What happened?
While I sincerely appreciate all the great things that are happening in the Body of Christ here in North America, I feel that we have truly cheated ourselves by not keeping "heaven" as prominent doctrine and an EVERLASTING reality in our local churches, in our families, and in our lifestyles.
I'm convinced that one of the reasons the "Bill Gaither and Friends Homecoming" tours and videos are so wildly popular is because these instruments are helping many belivers reconnect with the reality and promise of "the glory world" in the not-too-distant future.
I remember one of those grand songs that I learned as a child, and I still sing it often:
How beautiful heaven must be!
Sweet home of the happy and free!
Fair Haven of rest for the weary,
How beautiful heaven must be!
I have a precious Grandmother whom I loved and adored (and who raised me when I was abandoned by my parents as a baby) who is worshipping the Risen Christ up there.
In heaven!
I have many, many precious friends--marvelous saints of God--whom I've been blest to know through the years...who are now residing in that glorious place.
Heaven!
It's a real place, with real people!
1 comment:
Phil, I'm with you, but I think you hit is right on the head when you said, "Has contemporary society become so overwhelmed with the cares of "this life" and "these light afflictions" that we no longer gaze and long for that "City Whose Builder and Maker is God"?" As a pastor, who is not really all that old, that it is a different task pastoring today than it was just 20 years ago. We live in a day and age where people have such a shallow walk with the Lord that it is all a pastor can do to keep them saved. The church of today is self-centered and instant gratification focused that most of the younger generation doesn't give a thought about heaven or eternity, but rather are looking for what they can get TODAY. The church of today does not understand the concept of ministering to the Lord. It is all about "bless me, bless me, BLESS ME!!!"
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