Heaven is a wonderful place…

When I was in Sunday School I remember us singing a catchy little song that went something like this [feel free to sing along]:
Heaven is a wonderful place,
Full of glory & grace.
I’m gonna see my saviour’s face;
Heaven is a wonderful place!

Heaven is indeed something to look forward to, but it is not a way off yonder. By definition Heaven is where God resides; where He is, is where Heaven is. Heaven is where God’s authority reigns.
In Christ we have been set free from our slavery to sin and as a result God, through His Holy Spirit, dwells in us. This is almost impossible to comprehend [fully] and yet this is what is happening in your life; God is in you. If God dwells with and in and around you then Heaven is not way off; it is right here with us.

Interestingly this is not some new notion; it is what the people like Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Elijah et al would have considered a reality of existence. Heaven is not way off, it as much here as the mug of coffee in front of me.

If we are His, Heaven is around us – infusing our very existence. We see His face each morning as we meditate on His word. This closeness to Heaven is not our little secret; people need to see God’s glory and grace [in us]. If they are not seeing evidence of God’s glory and grace in us what are they seeing?

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Col 4:6 NIV) Or as another translation puts it: “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” (NLT)

-Andrew Carey