June 23, 2005
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January 16, 2005
Hello! I am knee-deep in reading a big book titled “Heaven” and I have to come up for a breather and share what it says or I will burst. It is by Randy Alcorn and the back of the book says “The next time you hear someone say, “We can’t begin to imagine what Heaven will be like,” you’ll be able to tell them, “I can.”
wow. and double wow. There are some incredible quotes and so much good stuff that I can’t write all of it, but I will write some.
“There have been times when I think we do not desire heaven, but more often I find myself wondering whether, I our heart of hearts, we have ever desires anything else.” –C.S.Lewis
“Christ is not simply preparing a place for us; He is preparing us for that place.” The book talks about what the new earth will be like–I can’t believe so much Scripture was on it! Like the dimensions given in Ezekiel? Well, that would roughly be from the Appalachian mountains to California and from Mexico to Canada–but don’t forget it is a CUBE–so it is also that high. (he did not say this in the book, but I have always thought that this meant FOR SURE that I was going to get to fly in heaven, a big dream of mine.) It talks about doing and continuing our work. that really made me think. At first I was like, well, what in the world do I want to be doing for eternity? there won’t be problems to counsel and fix. no people needing encouragement in their depression, no children asking questions and needing to be taught…I thought that I might like to try alittle of everything, since I am not extraordinary at anything specifically. I think I would rather enjoy Rembrandts painting then do it–but you never know. and then it said this following quote, which greatly encouraged me. I think I will be very brilliant in some now undiscovered sport:).
“The smartest person God ever created in this world may never have learned to read because he or she had no opportunity. the most musically gifted person may never have touched a musical instrument. the greatest athlete may never have competed in a game. The sport you’re best at may be a sport you’ve never tried, your favorite hobby one you’ve never thought of…”
“In the truest sense, Christian pilgrims have the best of both worlds. We have joy whenever this world reminds us of the next, and we take solace whenever it does not.” –C.S.Lewis
“Heaven is not the absence of longing but its fulfillment. Heaven is not the absence of itches, it is the satisfying scratch for every itch.” This quote made me laugh because in my logic class at IUPUI, we had to diagram and dissect the “tactical (unstated) claims” made in this quote: “Without itches you would not have the enjoyment of scratching. Therefore, some evil is necessary to have good” (or something close to that).
“Why won’t we be bored in heaven? Because it’s the one place where both impulses–to go beyond, to go home–are perfectly joined and totally satisfied. It’s the one place where we’re constantly discovering–where everything is always fresh and the possessing of a thing is as good as the pursuing of it–and yet where we are fully at home–where everything is as it ought to be and where we find, undiminished, that mysterious something we never found down here…And that lifelong melancholy that hangs on us, this wishing we were someone else somewhere else, vanishes too. our craving to go beyond is always and fully realized. our yearning for home is once and for all fulfilled. the ahh of deep satisfaction and the aha of delighted surprise meet, and they kiss.” –Mark Buchanan
Did you know that after Columbus discovered the new world, on their coins Spain put “Plus Ultra” which means “More Beyond.” isn’t that beautiful?
When I came back from Brasil in ’99, I felt clearly that God said, in some weird way, that Brasil was mine. Going back this summer, Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” was a special verse to me. Inherit? I was like, what? you know what? I still don’t get it all, but maybe those deep desires God has put in me are not just for this life but the next. I certainly don’t know how to rule, but that is part of heaven. And I certainly don’t want to rule all of Brasil (YIKES!*giggle*), but…It is neat to imagine and wonder and know that it is gonna be good.
I stood and asked God today what He wanted me to do this year. And I thought that if this were my last year on earth, would I want to spend almost half of it in Brasil and the rest doing what I am doing. And you know, I answered a strong “yes.” And then I thought that if this was my last month on earth, would I want to be working at the center and taking classes…and again, affirmative. Isn’t God good to me? I am doing just what I would do if I had any choice in the world. That is incredible! I mean, of course there are little things like money issues (I would spend like no tomorrow and give it all away if there were no tomorrow)…and I think I would be more bold with strangers and outgoing and covet my time more…but I am where I am supposed to be. And each year I live on earth I want to be able to say that.
last week I was driving to pick up kids and suddenly I was crying. now, I know I am sometimes an over emotional girl, but normally I understand a bit of what is going on. but this time I had simply been thinking of heaven and life, and how I wanted life and this world to know that it had no hold on me. I wanted it all to fade away. and then the tears came and suddenly it was like it hurt to live. Someone asked me along time ago who was my Bible hero. I could not think of anyone at the moment, but now, years later, I have my comeback–Enoch. Anna said it was just because I wanted to be different:). But it is because he is the one that got to walk with God…and walk right up to God…or fly…or whatever happened.
“I saw a dying cosmos hold out its weak right arm, longing for a transfusion, a cure for its cancerous chasm. I saw the Woodsman (symbol for God), holding what appeared to be a tiny lump of coal, the same size as the blue-green marble he’d held before. The Woodsman squeezed his hand and the world around me darkened. just as I felt I would scream from the unbearable pressure, the crushed world emerged from his grip a diamond. I gasped air in relief. I saw a new world, once more a life-filled blue-green, the old black coal delivered from its curse and pain and shame, wondrously remade. It looked so easy for the Woodsman to shape all this with his hands. but then I saw his scars…and remembered it was not.” –From the novel “Edge of Eternity”
goodness. I hope you are not getting the wrong idea here and thinking I am morbid or living in space or “out there” somewhere. It is all just so real and true. I found the song that I want sung at my funeral someday. it is called “Closer to you” by Mark Schultz
Closer to me
I’m tired and I’m weak
and every breath within me
in longing just to be
Closer to You
so I face the road ahead
‘Cause I know there’s no comparing
To what’s waiting at the end
Chorus:
So let the rain start falling where it will
And I will run though this valley
just to climb to that hill
and if they ask why I’m smiling
After all I’ve been through
it’s cause I’m just a day closer to You
Closer to me
I hear You whisper in the wind
You say although my life is fading
a new one will begin
Closer to You
And I know I’m not alone
Cause I can hear You in the distance
Saying you are nearly home
Chorus
And if they ask why I’m dancing
though my days may be few
it’s cause I’m just a day closer to You
Closer to me
You’re in the laugher and the tears
Of the ones I leave behind me
Who have prayed me though the years
Closer to You
And I know it won’t be long
until You’re running down the pathway
and You take me in your arms
Chorus
And if they ask why I’m singing
though my life’s almost through
it’s cause I’m just a day closer to you
****
Plus Ultra,
Rachel
