A Glimpse of Heaven

Quarantine has been an interesting time and it probably has revealed a lot about ourselves in one way or another. It may be a new hobby, a new skill, impatience, triggers etc. During quarantine I already knew I had fears and anxieties, but it was really easy for me to escape and distract myself with working or surrounding myself with people. I will be the first to confess that over the past month and a half or so, I’ve been overcome by the fear of death and suffering. And the ironic part, I know as a christian, I technically shouldn’t be struggling with it, but here I am laying it out.

I feared how it would happen, what would it feel like and then that would lead me to walk with this weight of anxiety constantly anticipating “ what ifs”. It wasn’t healthy, but I walked around carrying this burden and fear. But it wasn’t until this past week after asking Deb to pray for me and this sermon from this Sunday where I just felt my chains break. I could finally understand verses, “ to live is Christ, to die is gain” ( Phil 1:21) or “ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” ( 2 Corinth 4:16-18) with not just my mind, but also with my heart.

Please take a look at this sermon by P. Ray, it will literally get you fired up about heaven and just the beauty and glory that is covered all over it. It talks about the life giving peace we can have with death because there is life after death; a life that is far more precious and greater than anything we can have on this earth. And it’s not really in terms of worldly pleasure, but the greatest gift is being in the presence of Jesus, God the Father, and Holy Spirit without hindrance and the abundance of life.

But another verse in 1 Samuel 2:9 really helped me to see the root of my fear and anxiety. The context is a prayer made by Hannah ( a freaking woman of God) and one of the verses she prayed was

“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,

but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,

for not by might shall a man prevail.”

This verse revealed a key lie about God I didn’t know I had. I feared death and suffering because of the harm and pain that would come upon me and moreover did not believe God would protect me. If I were to obey God even to the point of death, I subconsciously questioned if it was worth it because I did not believe God would be there with me. But this verse and even Psalms 23:4 helped me understand God would not only be there, but he promises to guard our steps and lead us throughout it.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me”

The truth is, God is with us and He protects us. Even as he leads us into uncomfortable places of trust, God will guard us as we walk faithfully. He promises it, he will never leave nor forsake us, he will protect us until the end. Man what a comfort. It really comforted my soul to know I am free to live radically and for God without hesitation because he will protect and lead me each step of the way. So as I grow in understanding who God is and lean on that, it allows me to see that my life is purposed to be used by Him. And a resonating truth that parallels this, all comes from God and is ultimately for God. From my physical needs ( food, water, etc) to my emotional needs ( feeling of needing to be accepted, heard, seen, and loved) to even life itself. God gives all and gives even more abundantly after death. So I am encouraged and thankful God allowed me to see the deep seeded lie and has given me more joy to know that Jesus’ death and resurrection is what gives me full access to Himself. And it’s in him that I have all that I need and that I am able to love and give selflessly as He has called me to. Pastor Peter said it spot on

“If we no longer fear death, we can be freed to live the life God wants us to live.

We can love more, we can give more.

But if we fear death, our obedience will always have a limit”

Amen. That’s literally it. So if I know that death has already been beaten and that an even better life lies ahead and God is protecting and sustaining me to the end, what do I have to fear?

My hope is that we can live in light of eternity, with hope and confidence in the God who cares and loves us more than we know.

Life is short, eternity is long. Let’s prepare for what actually matters!