Heaven

While the Scripture talks about heaven, the church is reticent.   Life after this life is the subject of sermons on Easter Sunday, though not always in every place.  If our church is liturgically oriented, we will likely hear a second word about it on All Saints Sunday in the fall.  Of course, heaven might be mentioned as "a better place" at funerals and memorial services, but even then, it seems like a topic that must be handled carefully. The church at some time in its past might have been accused of being too other worldly oriented, but no one can seriously make the accusation hold up in these days.  

The church of our day has become an outpost of service in the world.  There is much talk about being the hands and feet of Jesus in the places where the needy and suffering of the world struggle to live.  Certainly, there is nothing wrong with those messages which inspire the saints to be those willing to wash feet, touch the untouchables, and to live generous lives.  What is troubling is that it must be one or the other instead of both.  What we want to avoid is becoming so other worldly that we are of no earthly value.  We also do not want to become more like a social service agency than a spiritual community committed to preaching a gospel message which lifts up the preparation Jesus is making for us in the heavenly place.      

There are only a few things in this life which are certain and one of them is that we will all die.  I have known a few who believed firmly that they would not die, but would live to see Jesus returning in the clouds, but even their voices have been stilled.  The church has a unique place in the world.  Its message of the abundant life is heard nowhere else in our society.  The church seems able as it equips people to live, but another part of its calling is to enable people to die with a sure hope in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.  May we be found faithful.