No Dentist No Visit

On Wednesday night one of the reasons folks gave for wanting to go to heaven was they did not want to go to Hell. What do you suppose God thinks of that? The only reason your children want to come to your house is they do not want to go to the dentist. No dentist, no visit.

 

How much of our vision of heaven in influenced by what we see around us in this world?

 

It was enough for David to know that: goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalms 23:6). Did he need more details? Did he need gold streets or pearly gates or was it enough to know: … in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. David was satisfied with looking forward to relationship with God not possible here (Psalm 16:11).

 

Abraham was: looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10). Was Abraham expecting a literal city; a walled, fortified Jerusalem here or was he looking forward to the security which comes from knowing there is nowhere else he'd rather be.

 

The OT tells us Abraham and other patriarchs admitted they were aliens and strangers on earth. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. A better country is a different kind of country one with a spiritual country without walls and fortifications and houses and streets. Not even golden streets (Hebrews 11:13-16).

 

Since we like to speculate do you suppose David or Abraham would wait for the next bus to heaven? Do you suppose Christians in countries where they have no access to clean water, where they do not have enough food to feed their children, would wait for the next bus to heaven? Our culture has corrupted the church and we would prefer to stay here and if it were possible we would accept all the benefits of heaven even if God were not there. As with those folks who want to go to heaven because they do not want to go to hell does anyone want God? Did Jesus die just to provide us a better place to live?

 

No reply is necessary.