Matt 12 and 13
I watched a ridiculous movie the other night. Seth warned me and tried to remind me that we had seen it already and it was profusely dumb, but I needed to remember for myself. The movie is titled "What Dreams May Come" and it's all about what happens when we die. I might be considered morbid, but I am absolutely intrigued by movies, books, conversations... that deal with life after death. I'm not obsessed with it in an unhealthy way- I just find it fascinating.
In this particular movie, the main character dies in a tragic car accident and finds himself in "heaven." They portray heaven as though it's up to the individual's interpretation. His heaven is what "he wanted it to be." He visits his kid's heaven and it is completely different. It was a combination of earthly dreams and fantastic imaginings all rolled into one. He asks if God is there and his heavenly guide tells him that He's somewhere up there just screaming out ways that He loves us. To add to that, if you get bored with your heaven, just go back to earth and be "reborn". (Spoiler alert!) Which is what the lead characters ended up doing in the end. They reincarnated themselves so that they could have another lifetime adventure and start all over again.
All of this gave me an abysmal pit in my stomach. (It also could have been the pickled cauliflower I had just eaten as well... pregnancy cravings). To think of a heaven that you interpret based solely on YOUR finite imagination and that the God you desired to know your whole life is still as far away as He seemed on earth, is depressing.
Thank goodness we have a more accurate, more fulfilling description given to us in scripture! No one knows all the details, but we do know that it is not an obscure and abstract dream world based on individual creativity. It's a perfect reality centered around our all-knowing, all-powerful, loving, creative Father. Finally, the beginning of what life was meant to be; deep and intimate communion with our Creator for eternity. *warm fuzzies*
In Matthew 13, Jesus talked in parables to multitudes of people about the kingdom of heaven. I assume that this subject would be a favorite of our Lord's to talk about. It's His home and the ultimate destination for those whom He draws to Himself. He tells 8 parables back to back that begin with "The kingdom of heaven is like..." Some are straightforward and some are confusing and some are just scary.
Verse 49: The Parable of the Dragnet
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
This is straight from Jesus' mouth. There is nothing "politically correct" about this statement; and it doesn't leave any excuse to beat around the bush. There will be judgement and there will be a separation of wicked and just ("Just" meaning justified through Christ alone. See Romans 5:8,9).
I urge you to read this for yourself. The Holy Spirit is much more sufficient in revealing these truths to you.
Another good read about the kingdom of heaven: "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn. I read it several years ago and it was an incredible way to refocus on an eternal perspective throughout my day. Such joy and hope come through knowing that this is not it!
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