Where is God’s love?

It’s a bright sunny morning and it’s easy to feel positive, but then I don’t have any great fears, doubts or worries hanging over my life. Do I have an easy life, and is there a reason for that?  Rather than think about that, I’d prefer to be concerned for those many people, it seems, for whom the sun doesn’t seem to shine and who are burdened by fears, doubts and anxieties. Several times recently my wife and I have commented about people we’ve seen either in the street or driving cars, people who seem stressed and people who seem angry. There seems a lot of stress and anger about.  Why, I think to myself, can’t these people experience the love of God that is there for them?

It’s all about perception and awareness.  Are you aware that wherever you are, God is there wanting to reach out to you to help you?  The lie that many have received is that God is only around to condemn, but that is exactly the opposite of the New Testament revelation in the Bible.  God has come to release us from guilt and condemnation.  But I am guilty, your conscience screams from deep down, despite all you do to suppress it.  That’s right, we are guilty, that is the truth, but that is exactly why Jesus Christ came to the earth, to take the punishment that deep down we believe we deserve.  Conscience is merely a tool to point out to us our true state, a motivating force, if you like, to help you along the path to bring change.  But I can’t bring it, I’ve tried, you cry from deep down.  Of course, which is why God holds His hand out to us to help us and empower us and guide us. We don’t only need forgiving, we also need guidance, direction and power to live by, and all of that is the promise of the New Testament.  All it needs is our acknowledgment of our true state, and our desire for God to come in and help – not just bandage up the latest wound, but to totally transform. Forgiveness and transformation! Not a bad offer!!!

That is the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, that our lives can be transformed.  That’s what makes it a ’sunny day’ even when it is raining!  I remember the testimony of a girl from the bad streets of New York, who had heard a street preacher and received this good news. Several weeks later the street preacher came across her again and expressed his concern for her living in that area. Her reply was that it was all right because her life had been transformed.  The streets were the same but she was different.

That’s what happens. All the outward world stays the same, but inwardly we are different, and that’s what makes for a ’sunny day’. Where is God’s love? people sometimes challenge harshly. The answer is right here, standing right next to you with His hand held out to you, wanting to bring that life transformation to you. No, it’s not too good to believe, it is just true.

For the last few weeks, on my sister blog, I’ve been working through the book of Job. It’s a book that I consider is possibly one of the hardest in the Bible to read yet, as I have worked slowly through it, it is has been one of the most rewarding sets of studies I think I have ever done. It is about a man upon whom dropped total catastrophe – for no reason other than God wanted him to stand out as a supreme example in the world.  It wasn’t because he did wrong – it just was!  This man thought he knew God and in his anguish he refused to accept guilt and blame, and he refused to accuse God of wrong. He knew his suffering was of God, he didn’t know why, and therefore he refused to condemn God.  An incredible example, and one that is so far from so many people today. (And yes, he ended up in a far better place than before!)

How easy it is to get upset when life doesn’t go as we want it to go.  How easy to blame God when it wasn’t His fault.  If God has a fault it is that He gives us free will and lets us get on and make a mess of our lives. The good thing about it, though, is that He’s always there, just waiting to reach out and take our hand that is stretched out to Him.  He never refuses to love us.  When we take that hand, we find life being transformed.  Sometimes the circumstances do literally change; other times it is our perception that changes.  As long as we say, “I’m all right, I’m OK, I can manage’” we can never take that hand, but it is still there and remains there, waiting until we come to our senses – and then the sun shines.

Thoughts of Heaven (3)

CONTINUATION from the previous blogs

(Start reading from end of Blog No.2)

In my mind’s eye, I saw us both feeling rather shy, aware that previously we really hadn’t known each other. How do we really ‘know’ anyone this side of heaven, because our knowing is all about receiving messages from outside the person? I hear your words, and I read your body language, but beyond that I don’t know what you are really thinking or feeling. Yet in heaven I have this feeling that there will be this openness and, if we can look back, we’ll realise that we knew so little of each other. And there’s more: what about the fact that I’ve lived so many more years on earth since he died?

This makes me feel that those who worry about ‘their loved ones’ going or not going to heaven, are actually way off track. They envisage missing them in heaven because they envisage having the same feelings for them, and yet the reality may be that with different bodies and the ability to utterly know another being, that will mean that it will be such a different experience that it cannot be compared. If we get scared at that thought, it simply means we can’t visualize how wonderful that experience will be. Is this why Jesus decried the Sadducees’ talk about marriage in heaven? (Lk 20:35) Is it because the experience of relationship will be so much deeper and more meaningful than anything we had here, that looking back will mean that all relationships will seem as shadows and therefore there will little meaning in the new existence?

There is another thought about heaven which often crops up and which I believe is valid, and it is that heaven will be so much more ‘real’ than our experience here. I use the analogy of colour and no colour. If heaven is so much more wonderful then I imagine, then a reasonable comparison is like saying that everything that we know now is, by comparison, shades of grey and the new existence of heaven will be bright colours. But therein is the problem: how can someone with full colour sight explain what they see to a person who is utterly colour blind and only sees greys?

This concept of heaven being ‘more real’ comes up in the writings of C.S.Lewis. In his children’s book, The Last Battle, the children die in a train crash and go to heaven. They enter another land from the land of Narnia where most of their adventures had occurred and, to simplify the story, they respond to the cry, “Farther up and farther in”, and move into the land only to find it is a replica of Narnia except more real. I used to have a copy of his The Great Divorce (until someone borrowed it and forgot to bring it back!) but if my memory serves me right, he sought to convey the same thing there, that in heaven everything is more ‘solid’ or real and the ‘further in’ you go, the more solid or more real it is. Of course, as a Christian, he expresses the Biblical picture – of an ongoing life with full self-awareness and sense of personality and personhood, a place free from wrongs and free from pain. In other words, it is a place of pleasure and ultimate fulfilment, a place of life and light and colour and wonder.

This picture of a very real and wonderful afterlife stands in stark contrast to atheist, Philip Pullman’s picture in the last of his ‘Dark Materials’ trilogy where, in the afterlife, ghosts were trapped in a dark nothingness world but then the heroes release them and they dissolve into the rest of the physical world – Pantheism! It is playing with words; it is in reality a non-existence as we know existence, which is the fullness of life – energy with personality and self-awareness. If you don’t believe in a spirit world, then of course evaporating into nothingness is the best you can hope for. I’m glad the Bible paints a very different picture. It’s a wonderful hope and without it, existence in this world is just that, a temporary meaningless existence that will soon be gone.

So there I was, pondering the thought of seeing my dad again. Perhaps it will be, perhaps not. I’ve often thought that God would let us look back, if only for a brief moment, so we can see the reality of what has been in this world and see how much more wonderful the next is. One thing I’ve always been sure about, is that if He does allow us to look back with no limitation of understanding, I am utterly confident that we will never be able to blame or criticise Him for anything He said or did, or didn’t do. Understanding, I am sure, will remove all questions. The reason I hope it will only be momentary, this looking back, is that if our understanding is allowed to be total, we will see our lives as they really were and weep for our wrong understanding of life and also for the wrong thoughts, words and actions we had while here. I have a feeling that it will only be momentary because I wonder if suddenly we’ll see all the wrong sucked away to the Cross in its unique place in history. Suddenly we will understand. But if that is so, then it makes me feel I ought to make some more effort this side of heaven to understand what it’s all about, while I have the time. There’s a new day coming and I’d like to do what I can to be ready of it.

I’ll close with a more recent memory than that of my own dad. It involved my wife’s dad, who I also loved and respected. When he died, I visited the body in the Undertaker’s parlour (is that what you call it?). For a few minutes I stood there gazing on the body, quietly giving thanks to God for the life I had known and been blessed by. Without thinking, as I turned away to go, I simply looked up and said, “Be seeing you, dad,” and left. I will.

Thoughts of Heaven (2)

CONTINUATION from previous blog.

(Carry on reading from bottom of previous blog)

For instance, I am quite happy to accept that the Bible seems to suggest that heaven is the place where God exists, and that it is eternal and that it is wonderful and that there are no more tears, no sin and no suffering there. Those are the easy bits. But I have a problem with those people who just see heaven as a place where all we do is sing songs and fall down before the throne of God worshipping him, because that is the picture revealed in the book of Revelation.

So why do I have a problem with that? Because that picture is not ‘big enough’ and doesn’t honour the God who has made the world that we know. Now I believe that God is worthy of our eternal worship; of that there is no question, but the thought that that is all He has for us in heaven seems to demean Him. For instance, the picture in the vision in chapter 22 of the book of Revelation shows us an existence where we ‘serve’ God, which implies activity, and we “reign for ever” which also implies activity – and that is far more than merely standing singing songs or bowing down. It implies purposeful activity.

To ponder another aspect of this picture of heaven, think first about what we know of this earth. Modern TV programmes have done us the service of revealing something of the staggering wonder of this incredible world that God has made. What I find most staggering is that God has designed me as a human being with the capability of ‘enjoying’ the world. Yes, we also have the capability of abusing this world and destroying it and one another, but that, as I’ve said previously, is ‘another story’. This world is incredible and God has made me with sight, hearing, taste and touch so that I can thoroughly enjoy it. The variety of what is on this planet is staggering. Now if, as most of us Christians concede, heaven is wonderful, we are implying that it is MORE wonderful than this present world. If it is more wonderful than this world, is God going to consign me to just gazing at a few square feet of floor in His throne room? I don’t think so! The thing about God’s love and, I suppose, any real love, is that it gives out and wants to bless its recipients. God’s love for me, means that He constantly wants to bless me and give. (Yes, there is the other side of the coin about me being a giver as well, but let’s leave these many other ‘stories’ and focus on this one for the moment!) I’m sorry, I think if you have this limited view of heaven, you are seriously underselling the shear wonder of God’s love and His creativity.

Can I illustrate this by a conversation my wife and I once had at an air show. There were some American F111’s flying over and she exalted, “Wow” When I get to heaven I’m going to fly one of those.” My reply was, “Wow” When I get to heaven I’m going to fly like one of those!” Who knows how wonderful it will be in heaven? Whatever we grasp at, I’m sure we’ll underplay it because we seem to constantly be looking through Paul’s dark or smoked glass, or poorly reflecting mirror (1 Cor 13:12). We just can’t think big enough.

So why do I think we’ll be able to see people that we recognise? Well the apostle Paul, who seemed to get some of the biggest insights on these sorts of things, spoke of us having a new ‘body’, a ‘heavenly body’ (1 Cor 14:40), an imperishable, glorious, spiritual body (v.42-44). ‘Body’ whether it is physical or spiritual seems to indicate an entity that other similar entities can recognise and communicate with at the very least. I don’t know if you ever saw the sci-fi series, ‘Deep Space Nine’ in which there was a “shape shifter”? If you did, you may remember he eventually came across the home of all shape shifters that appeared like an oily sea called ‘The Link’, and when he stepped into it, seemed to dissolve into it and become one with the rest, and yet be able to reshape and step out as an individual when he wanted. Now maybe that’s a bit of a pantheistic mentality that produced that idea, I don’t know, but there is within Scripture this sense of unity and diversity, this being one with others “in the Spirit” and yet still a unique individual.

The fact that Moses and Elijah reappeared in their human form with Jesus on the Mount of transfiguration in the Gospels, suggests unique human personalities that remain unique human personalities even though they change their ‘shell’. So suppose I encounter my father in heaven, the father I knew many years ago. That raises some questions! What age will we both be, or will spiritual bodies be ageless? I suggest the latter, but one thing I assumed in my picture of my Dad is that we would both completely know each other. I know it’s taking it out of context, but I suspect it’s because of Paul’s comment that “now that you know God–or rather are known by God” which suggests an intimacy of understanding, and if that’s so, will we have same understanding when we encounter ‘people’ in heaven?

TO BE CONTINUED (Start the next blog from here)

Thoughts of Heaven (1)

I was driving along in my car having visited a friend who, humanly speaking, doesn’t look like she has long in this world, and my thoughts flowed to my own father who died a number of years ago from cancer, but a short while before dying made, I am certain, a profession of faith. I anticipate seeing him when I reach heaven.

Now I’m aware that this little paragraph above presupposes a whole load of things, and I really don’t want to be bothered here to ‘prove’ them, but just recognise them. First, is that I am certain that there is an existence, after life on this earth, called heaven. I believe that because the Bible says it and I’ve come to trust what the Bible says. “Why?” is another story, and this is not the place to tell it. But I believe and, in fact, I am certain about its existence.

Second, I go along with the Bible’s assertion that not everyone goes there. I’m quite comfortable with that because I see that throughout our lives God gives us the ability to make choices about our lives and presumably, as the Bible says, about our destiny after this earth. I’m not going in to the alternative to heaven; that also is another story and here is not the place to tell it. Part of this confidence, that not everyone goes there, is linked to the means that the Bible seems to spell out quite clearly, which is that Jesus Christ is the doorway to heaven. Whether anyone or any other way exists, seems highly doubtful although the apostle, Paul, does seem to make some suggestions in the early pages of his letter to the Romans.

Third, I have this expectation of seeing my father again because he did, I am certain, make a profession of faith that will have carried him to heaven, even though his time after on earth was very short. I would also add that I am also certain that I will see my mother there as well, because she also made a profession of faith and lived by it a number of years before her time came to depart this planet – but this is more about thoughts of my father, so I’ll stick with him if I may. Having pondered this as I drove along, I realise that I have made a great jump of faith in saying, “I anticipate seeing him” because the Bible doesn’t actually say that, but it says a number of things that imply that possibility.

That takes us on to ponder about just how much we ‘know’ and how much we have to ‘assume’ or even guess at. There are those who like to be utterly dogmatic about every aspect of their faith, but I would suggest that their dogmatism is actually a sign of their insecurity. I believe I am more sure of my faith now, after forty years of being a Christian, and yet I am also more sure that there are many things over which we cannot be utterly dogmatic, and if we are, we just show ourselves to be silly to thinking people. I like the way Francis Schaeffer used to put it – the Bible doesn’t tell us everything but it tells us sufficient upon which to build faith. The bits I am not certain about I’m happy with, because of the assurances that I have with the bits that one can be sure about, and heaven is a bit like this.

TO BE CONTINUED

(This is going to be a long blog, so I’ll stop there for the moment and continue with some more in a day or so. This is enough to ponder on for the time being. I’ll explain more shortly)

Anniversary

I don’t know how to write this blog today. Why? Because I want to celebrate the 35th wedding anniversary of my wife and I today, yet I’m not keen on focusing on us! However it’s a good thing to celebrate. I’m aware that I feel bad about writing this because I’m aware that there are lots of people out there for whom marriage has not been a blessing and I don’t want to tread on their toes. However, there may be someone who might be encouraged to stick at it after they read what I’ve got to say.

Today we looked back over 35 years that, for the vast majority of the time, have been brilliant. Yes, there have been times when it was less than that and on one occasion I walked the streets deliberating whether we had a future – but we had and have. We have three wonderful kids and now three wonderful grandchildren. In one sense I think we are both people-people but when it comes down to it, we enjoy each other’s company far more than anyone else’s – and I think that’s how it should be. We delight in the kids being around and when we’re with friends, but she is my best friend and I’m hers (she said it!)

When we first went out, her most common words were, “I’m not sure.” and so for the first years of our lives together I had to bring reassurance to her. I often tell my congregation, “Tell your partner you love them – and do it often.” – and I do. She needs to hear that, and I believe all partners need to. I’m pretty rubbish with the flowers thing, but we go out together often, whether it is shopping, browsing or just walking. I wouldn’t want to hold anyone else’s hand – and certainly not do anything more! I’m committed to this girl and she to me. Her love has transformed me and I suspect my love has transformed her – I believe that’s how it’s supposed to be. Nagging never does anyone any good – but love transforms.

I want to be there to share her joys and to hold and comfort her when she’s struggling – that’s what I’m there for.  We share virtually everything but I think we’re still very much individuals. My biggest fear is that one day she might go to heaven before me and I dread the thought of the incredible hole there will be in my life – love can be painful, very!  We sing together, laugh together, and feel serious together. She tells me off and I tell her off, but that isn’t condemnation. I’m there for her and she’s there for me. We say sorry to one another when it’s necessary. I’m incredibly grateful to God that he designed us so that we can enjoy another person so much.  We look at flowers together, shoo the magpies away together, pick up tired bumble bees together. She looks after the plants indoors and I look after the plants out doors. I can tell her when I don’t think her clothes are suitable because only with such honesty will she know I mean it when I compliment her – which I do often.  She tells me when she thinks I look a scruff! In a day when marriage isn’t fashionable I’m just grateful that we’ve had a good experience. It’s been a good thirty five years and it’s worth the effort. Why does it work? Well I think from my perspective it’s because I’ve decided to always work on the “how can I bless my wife today?” principle, and I’ve got a feeling she works similarly for me. Is it perfect? Of course not! But it is good.