First Words in Heaven
I have wondered for a long time just how God will "wipe all tears" from my eyes ( Isaiah 25:8, Revelation 7:17, KJV) when I get to heaven. I mean, will I forget all of the tragedies, sadness or lost loved ones that are part of my life? Will He erase the bad memories, heartaches, unfulfilled desires, or bitter disappointments that have been part of my life and, if I am allowed to be aware of what's going on here on earth, that will continue to be part of my conciousness? It's a big question that I think has plagued many theologians throughout the ages.
I think that I may have found an answer. "We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!" (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Now, this could mean a couple of things, but since the Bible is not specific, I tend to take this interpretation: When we get to heaven, these poor, pitiful, human brains will finally be capable of understanding all the stuff that has confused us. Imagine, we will finally see things as God sees them, not in the linear, temporal manner that we do now, but we will see the entire spectrum of the universe as God might see it. We will be aware of the nuances that are beyond our current comprehension.
So what will our first words be when the scales finally fall off our eyes and we become truly aware? I believe it will be some variation of, "I get it now!"
*****************
Yesterday, after writing this, a couple from our church lost their five-day-old baby. I don't understand. I can't understand. I have no idea how these people are coping with this terrible loss. The words to Twila Paris' song keep rolling through my mind:
"I will trust you, Lord, when I don't know why.
I will trust you, Lord, 'til the day I die.
I will trust you, Lord, when I'm blind with pain.
You were God before and you'll never change.
I will trust you. I will trust you.
I will trust you, Lord."
Amen.
I think that I may have found an answer. "We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!" (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Now, this could mean a couple of things, but since the Bible is not specific, I tend to take this interpretation: When we get to heaven, these poor, pitiful, human brains will finally be capable of understanding all the stuff that has confused us. Imagine, we will finally see things as God sees them, not in the linear, temporal manner that we do now, but we will see the entire spectrum of the universe as God might see it. We will be aware of the nuances that are beyond our current comprehension.
So what will our first words be when the scales finally fall off our eyes and we become truly aware? I believe it will be some variation of, "I get it now!"
"By and by, when the morning comes,
when all the saints of God are gathered home,
We'll tell the story of how we've overcome,
And we'll understand it better, by and by."
(With no apologies to my friends who don't care for Southern Gospel.)
Thanks for reading.
*****************
Yesterday, after writing this, a couple from our church lost their five-day-old baby. I don't understand. I can't understand. I have no idea how these people are coping with this terrible loss. The words to Twila Paris' song keep rolling through my mind:
"I will trust you, Lord, when I don't know why.
I will trust you, Lord, 'til the day I die.
I will trust you, Lord, when I'm blind with pain.
You were God before and you'll never change.
I will trust you. I will trust you.
I will trust you, Lord."
Amen.
posted by One-Eyed Jack at Friday, February 10, 2006
4 Comments:
As always, my beloved, I am amazed and intrigued by your thoughts and emotions. What a neat picture of your heart. Keep writing. It's great. Love you.
To anyone reading, the previous comment was left by my lovely wife, who is not familiar with the site enough to set up her own.
Wow, Doug. I will pray for your friends. I think that the very fact that God will wipe away our tears indicates that we will be cognizent of our need to have them wiped away! If we did not recognize pain and suffering ... and loss ... there ... why would we need to have them wiped away? Hmmm. I'm not sure I'm satisfied with that answer but it's the best I've got.
Nice writing, my friend. Keep it up!
Ron
Thanks Doug. Beautiful post.
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