A lot of people believe that the place we call heaven will be wonderful. That is why the bereaved will sometimes say things like, “he has gone to a better place”. Hope in eternal life is, of course, entirely scriptural.
However, not a lot of people seem to believe in heaven before death. When asking a Christian “How goes it with your soul?” very few say “I’m in heaven”. If they did we’d immediately assume that they were living some kind of opulent life.
But if we are not living “in heaven now” our faith is impoverished and impotent. Jesus did not expect his followers to limp through life hoping to get into heaven. He expected them to march through life trusting that heaven was in them and around them. The Gospel’s use the term “Kingdom of God” when speaking of heaven’s accessibility (Matthew’s Gospel uses the term Kingdom of Heaven). Jesus promised: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Lk. 12:32).
In our worship on Sunday windows into the Kingdom will be opened to us as we celebrate God’s work through Maralise in Malawi, read scripture and share in the Lord’s Supper. The question is – will we simply look through the window or boldly step through the door and commit to the Kingdom of God?
God Bless, Sean