 | Pastor Dave grew up in northern New Jersey in a very diverse cultural area. He attended Central College in Pella, Iowa received a BA in sociology and psychology. He was an offensive guard for their NCAA Div III National Championship team in 1974. In speaking for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he sensed a call to full time ministry. Meeting is future wife Sandy at Central, went to Michigan to finish her college while Dave started Western Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Dave married Sandy in 77 and completed his Masters of Divinity degree in 78. Pastor Dave’s first church was in Fort Lee, New Jersey, home of the George Washington Bridge. Their three children were born there and he also served as a Police and Fire Chaplain for the city. In February 1991, they came to Wichita to start Harvest Community Church. In 2006, he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Covenant Theological (Presbyterian) Seminary in St Louis. During that year he gained a daughter-in-law with now 2 grandsons of 3 years and 6 months old. Besides Pastoring at HCC for the past 20 years, he has been Director of the SCSD & WPD Police Chaplains for 11.
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Religion
2011-04-01 10:42:00
Honoring God enough fulfillment for eternity?
Question: The other day my friend and I were talking about Heaven and what it will be like. She said you praise and honor God all day. It’s difficult for me to understand how that’s all one will do… and do it forever. I have an even harder time imagining my husband enjoying it. While we both go to church regularly, it’s not something he looks forward to. Is there more to Heaven than this… or will this be enough?
Answer: The common concepts of heaven have come from a mixture of folklore and bits and pieces of a scripture emphasizing certain aspects of it. One image I had as a child came from Saturday morning cartoons in black and white when a person died they would leave their body in kind of a ghost like image and then end up on a cloud playing a harp. Another image came when I was at a funeral and the preacher talked about that faithful choir member joining the great choir in heaven singing praise forever. Some see it as a retirement community with numbing boredom. Sadly, heaven has gotten bad press because it is nothing like what our Lord has prepared for us. In the Bible, we are given glimpses of what heaven will be really like. It gives us enough to look forward to it, but enough to keep us guessing.
First, it is a definite place (John 14:3). In fact, it is also called a country (Hebrews 11:16), a city (1:10) of which the believer is a citizen (Philippians 3:20). If we mediate on these we see them as a depiction of a place where we belong, a place where there is always activity, action and a place where many people live with a great amount of social interaction. But the neat thing about it, all the things that prevent us from having true, intimate fellowship will no longer be there. Our relationships will be regained and renewed. (Revelations 21:5) They will be on levels never known before on earth. They will be deep, rewarding and fulfilling with none of the disappointments, selfishness’s and pride that hurt them here on earth. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
Second, we will accomplish many and great things in the Lord. We won’t have the insecurities that often hamper us from striving for good and great accomplishments. We won’t doubt the Lord or rebel when He calls us to do anything, because in perfect obedience like Jesus, we will do whatever He asks us. (1 John 3:2) Yes, there will be singing and rejoicing around the throne of God, but no longer will it be burdensome. (Rev. 14:3) As a cheer for our favorite sports team, flies in jubilant expression from a mouth and bodily gymnastics in front of thousands or our friends in front of a TV, so will the praise flow. But we all will enjoy it because it is the expression of a deep hearted gratitude and awe of the Holy captivating presence of the Almighty!
Third, it will be much like what we experience now on this earth without all the impediments of this fallen creation. It will be a time of great discovery and learning (1 Corinthians 13:12). We know in this life we only use a small portion of our brain capacity where in heaven that will no longer be so. We discover the magnificence of God and all that He did with His new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1). We also will be able to appear and go places without being inhibited as Christ did during His resurrection appearances (Luke 24:36) and be tangible to touch (vs 39) and physically embrace (John 20:17). It will be a time of getting re-acquainted with loved ones who have gone on before us from angels and biblical characters to ancestors (Rev. 5:11; 6:11).
Fourth, the sheer beauty and magnificence of His new creations will be overwhelming and enthralling! John in the limitations of earthly language tries to describe it to us and it is truly brilliant the way he describes it in Revelations with walls made of translucent gold and foundations of precious jewels, gates made of a single pearl and streets of gold. (Revelations 21:18-21). It will all be part of our experience! WOW!
But the greatest experience beyond all the glitz, beauty and immeasurable growth, is being in the full presence of the Lord. (Revelation 21:3) All the other stuff is great but that is what it is all about! Galileo rightly said, “The intention of the Holy Spirit is not to teach us how Heaven goes, but how one goes to Heaven.” You see, as Sir Issac Newton the famous astronomer who after looking at God’s vast universe with his telescope said, “But when I lay it aside, go into my room, shut the door, and get down on my knees in earnest prayer, I see more of Heaven and feel closer to the Lord than if I were assisted by all the telescopes on earth.”
My prayer is that all who read this article know that Jesus Christ died for their sins and rose so they could enjoy the wonderful joy of Heaven in the end but start tasting it now. That you will share in the magnificent life with God in His heaven. Not a boring place but a place greater than you ever imagined. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) Looking forward in seeing you there!
