The critical question for our generation—and for every generation— is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there? John Piper
I first asked myself this question about twelve years ago, when Francis Chan quoted Piper in his book, Crazy Love. Our small group was going through Crazy Love, week by week, being stretched and challenged in new ways. Having the hard conversations with ourselves and with each other.
This one hurt.
This one pointed out some ugly in me.
I wanted the security. The happiest fam reunions. The comfort. The peace of heaven. The stress-free living. The forever home without crime or sin. The place where everyone always got along. I wanted the forever-ness of salvation that I was still trying to earn at times on earth. I wanted the tear free, cancer free, poverty free life. I want to rest without playing the what-if game with endless scenarios and anxiety. An existence free from the wiles of satan. I wanted kids to be kids without illness or kidnappings. And let’s be honest, I even wanted all the endless snacks without kitchen clean up on the daily. And Jesus was a part of all of these things.
But when I stopped and processed heaven – and really dug deep, I cared so much about all of those aspects of heaven, and not enough of Jesus, THE CENTER of it all. He was in all of it – but as part of it. Not IT.
The depth of my relationship with Christ hadn’t reached the point, where together with him was the ultimate. Having him, and only him, wasn’t in the forefront of my mind when thinking of eternity.
It was humbling (sad, really) to realize the self-focused nature that I somehow built heaven to be in my mind.
So then what? I mean, shoot, am I even a Christian then??
You know what’s cool about God? He knows. He knows and yet he loves. And guides. And sanctifies – which is just a religious sounding word to describe the process of becoming holy through faith in Jesus.
If you ask, seek, and knock, he will answer.
I prayed and asked for Jesus to be at the center of my heaven. For my relationship with Jesus to grow so deep that nothing else in heaven mattered but him. I prayed that my heart would long for him, not just the security he brings.
It wasn’t an immediate and overnight change, but a transformation in my heart took place over time. He is so faithful to answer our cries. The depth of my love for Jesus has grown, and my longing for a forever home with him at the center has been solidified in my heart. Definitely stronger than it was, and I’m confident it will continue to grow. He promises to continue the work in us that he has started.
Our reading today is Psalm 26. David shares the depth of his love for the Lord and longing for heaven with him is evident:
Lord, I love the house where you live,
the place where your glory dwells.
Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with those who are bloodthirsty
I believe, like David, the place where the Lord dwells is lovely, and exactly where I want my soul to be. With him, forever.
Cover photo: painting by Kerolos Safwat, First Day in Heaven
