Part 3 - The Joys of Heaven

Wow, what an amazing end to this series on heaven. (Part 1 is here. Part 2 is here.)I invite you to drop by Rexdale Alliance Church and download the 3 sermons and study notes. I doubt whether there was one person who left not looking forward to heaven now, a heaven that breaks out of our false perceptions and into sanctified imaginations. The joys of heaven!

-nostalgia and novelty.

-work and rest.

-continual learning in a humble and loving community.

-spontaneous worship.



Sunder made reference to Mark Buchanan's description of the "AAHS" and "A-HAS" that we will find in heaven, a deep satisfaction for our nostalgic yearnings for 'home' combined with delighted surprises that meet our yearning for novelty.



For many of us, work falls between a grudging acceptance to an active dislike, yet many of us remember those moments of accomplishing a task with all our heart and knowing the personal sense of accomplishment and the affirmation of colleagues and supervisors. Then there is rest. Those moments of complete relaxation, feeling a peace that has relinquished all anxiety. Too few and fleeting perhaps in our busy world! Heaven will be a perfect combination of both!



I especially loved this point as I am a self-proclaimed "career learner"! Heaven is going to be a continuum of "AHA" moments as I discover truth after truth! And in a community where there is no need to impress, no barriers to listening, no hidden agendas, and no false humility. Do you remember teachers who suddenly illuminate your mind with some truth and you think, "Wow!, that is so beautiful!" Aha, just think, Jesus speaking...you listening...inexhaustible beauty, wisdom, goodness...wow, that is Heaven!



And what about worship? So many of us are so limited in our thoughts about worship, because we only have that earthly flawed experience that includes loud music, slow hymns, tired worship leaders, boring sermons...etc... Sunder spoke of a man who gave his daughter in marriage to a blind man named William Dike. He offered him some risky surgery to restore his future son-in-law's vision, and William agreed on one condition: that the bandages be removed at the altar during the wedding ceremony. He agreed. Everyone held their breaths as the last bandage was pulled off. Not a sound was heard, until he uttered, "You are more beautiful than I ever imagined." Sunder said, that's what it will be like in heaven. Continuous spontaneous worship to His beauty.

======================================

Part 3 of Charlene's testimony:
After the death of her daughter, Charlene began to be tormented by the question of her son's salvation status. (In part 1, it was after his death that she came to the Lord). For a couple of years, she pondered and searched for the age of accountability and really came up with nothing. She remembered that he had attended a Christian camp, Circle Square Ranch, and casually mentioned it to one of 100 Huntley's hosts during a lunch at a women's conference and the struggle she had. This host, Lorna Dueck, tried to find out and even called the camp. They looked at her son's file but there was nothing to indicate he had given his heart to Christ. Then one day, Lorna called and asked her to share her testimony about how she dealt with her son's death from meningitis on air as there has been an outbreak in a community. At first, she was hesitant but obeyed God's nudging. She showed us a clip of that episode. Four hours before the show started, Lorna had been in touch with Circle Square staff. One of them went to an old shed and found a box with documents. In it was Charlene's son's profession of faith in Jesus. Two hours later, that document was faxed to the station. During the show, it was revealed to Charlene. In shock, she could only respond, "This is an answer to prayer." A peace pervaded her soul. that never left, even now, in the present.

========================

=====================
Prayer request for Charlene: She was diagnosed with kidney cancer 2 years ago. That cancer has spread to various parts of her body. This week she has been hospitalized with internal bleeding, possibly from her uterus, possibly from cancer there. She has had major side effects from treatment for the past 2 years. Charlene continues to serve the Lord, share her faith, with a steady peace and assurance. As a teacher who had to quit 2 years ago, she has touched the lives of many at-risk youth. Please pray for her healing for His renown. Thank you.