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THE GOSPEL OBSERVER
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"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20).
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September 10, 2006
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Contents:
1) What Can We Know About Heaven? (Robert F. Turner)
2) The Bible's Influence on Our Language (Steve Klein)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
What Can We Know About Heaven?
by Robert F. Turner
"Now my idea about heaven is..." and then the writer or
speaker reveals himself far more than he tells us about heaven.
The materialist, sensual, mystical, aesthetic, and surrealist
all have a field day with heaven. It is "pie in the sky" to
those who ridicule its reality, and an extremely plush "paid
vacation" for those who equate "real" with earthly literalism.
"Heaven" is a divinely revealed place, state, or
condition; and we can know only that which is revealed about it
in God's word. We say "place" with some hesitation, using
accommodative language; for "location" is space related and may
lose its literal significance when applied to eternity. But
God's word is directed to time and space related beings, and
information about deity and eternity are necessarily couched in
terms that translate into mental images. We can not truly
imagine "eternity" or things eternal in nature, so we must
expect the Bible to use anthropormorphisms: whereby things of
God, totally incomprehensible to mortal man, are described in
the time and space terms of man.
Jewish typology finds its final usage here. God built a
literal people, a literal nation, through whom His Son would
put on flesh and dwell among men. He used these people, a
distinct advantage to them, as His vehicle for demonstrating
God-to-man dealings (Rom. 3:1f; 9:4-5). Then, as His eternal
purpose began to reach its fruition in Christ, the literal
kingdom of Israel is seen as a type of His spiritual rule over
whosoever will. Christ reigns on "David's throne" and is our
High Priest "after the order of Melchizedek" (Acts 2:30f; Heb.
6:20f). Scattered Israel finds a "highway" and "returns...in
righteousness" (Isa. 10:20f; 35:8f), and all Christians are
"Abraham's seed" or "the Israel of God" (Gal. 3:29; 6:16). It
should come as no surprise that heaven is called "New
Jerusalem," and praise to God there is described in Jewish
terms: "golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of
saints" (Rev. 5:8).
The apocalyptic description of heaven (Rev. 21:1f) speaks
of the "Holy City" Jerusalem with its walls of jasper and other
precious stones; its street (singular) of gold; twelve gates,
each made of a single pearl, named after the twelve tribes of
Israel. The tabernacle (KJV) of God is there, but this is the
true abode of Jehovah -- not a "tent" in which the "presence"
of God is indicated by a cloud of glory. In fact, we are told,
"I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the
Lamb are the temple of it" (21:22). God is on His throne -- for
the authority of God is eternal. There is plenty of water and
trees, including the "tree of life" (restoring that which was
lost when man was separated from Eden). The high imagery is
further indicated by the measuring of the city: "the length and
the breadth and the height of it are equal" -- a perfect cube
(21:16b).
Materialists may literalize heaven to a point of
absurdity: as though heaven will be the fulfillment of their
most covetous and lustful appetites. We sing, "I want a gold
(mansion) that's silver lined" -- forgetting that the street is
made of gold. It seems we should realize that Bible
descriptions of heaven which emphasize its beauty, its value,
the peace and lack of pain that prevails, etc., are relating
heaven's wonders to the human realm. We cannot improve on God's
way of describing heaven, and would be foolish to try it. But
there is ample evidence God is telling us that holiness,
righteousness, purity, and praise of God find perfection there.
This means little to worldly people, but is given its true
significance by the genuine child of God.
Paul wrote: "Our citizenship is in heaven: whence also we
wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20).
Philippi was a Roman colony where citizens were mostly retired
soldiers, given full citizenship in the "mother" city Rome.
Though far from that city, they dressed Roman, spoke Latin,
observed Roman morals, were governed by Roman magistrates,
"remained unshakeably and unalterably Roman" (cf. Barclay).
Paul was saying the Christian, no matter where he is, must
never forget he is a citizen of heaven; and his conduct must
match his citizenship. To this kind of people, heaven is "going
home." Oh what a wonderful thought to those who have practiced
heavenly citizenship, longing for the day when they will dwell
in God's presence. "Home to heaven" will be a happy trip for
those who, on earth, hunger and thirst after righteousness
(Matt. 5:6). But what of those who have no such taste? Can we
expect them to long for a life totally different from what they
now pursue?
The passage in Philippians continues: "(Christ) who shall
fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be
conformed to the body of his glory...." In Romans 7 the body,
with its fleshly appetites, is seen as a "law" (force) which
wars against the inward man or mind desirous of doing God's
will. The conflict results in a "wretched man," captive to sin
in his members and delivered only by forgiveness through Christ
(7:18f). The Christian must strive to "put to death the deeds
of the body" (8:13). Paul then promises that though we "groan
and travail in pain...now" (8:22), we wait for our adoption, to
wit, "the redemption of our body" (v. 23). This body, with
appetites which war against our desire to serve God, will be
changed in heaven -- the conflict will be over. How wonderful
for those who war against the flesh here! But what of those who
"let themselves go," and revel in appetites of the flesh? Do
they long for a body change with fleshly appetites removed?
I am persuaded heaven is not for everyone. It is a
prepared place for a prepared people. Heaven's invitation is
not limited; its glories are available to all. But many are ill
prepared for heaven, and I cannot believe God would force
heaven upon anyone. There is an old story about a slave whose
"Massa" had died, and who was asked if he thought the Master
had gone to heaven. He said the "Massa" always talked about
places he planned to visit, and made great preparation for
going there. But "Massa" never talked about heaven, and made no
preparation for that destination. "Chances are he ain't makin'
dat trip!"
Sorry -- I can't tell you any more about heaven than what
you can read in the Scriptures; and I can tell that only in
terms used by the Holy Spirit to give us some idea of its
wonders. But God's word clearly warns us of an ultimate "last
day" when judgment shall be declared, and we shall face one of
two eternal destinies. The righteous dead shall be there (1
Thess. 4:16), and so shall the wicked. "Marvel not at this: for
the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear
his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto
the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto
the resurrection of judgment" (Jn. 5:28-29). Christ makes it
clear that the destinies are the same duration: saying, "And
these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous
into eternal life" (Matt. 25:46).
Whatever heaven will be like, it will be "home" for the
Christian and an end to the struggles of this life. Those who
are striving to serve God in the here and now are going to love
it. I doubt that those who ridicule the godly life would be
happy there. And that is doubly sad, for it is highly unlikely
they will like the other place.
-- Via Guardian of Truth XXIX: 22, pp. 679, 691, November
21, 1985
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-2-
The Bible's Influence on Our Language
by Steve Klein
The Bible has influenced the English language in untold
ways. Although we may not realize it, many of the common
phrases we use to express ourselves are rooted in Scripture.
Here are some well known sayings that actually come from the
Bible:
* The skin of my teeth. Job said, "My bone clings to my
skin and to my flesh, And I have escaped by the skin of my
teeth" (Job 19:20).
* A drop in the bucket. "Behold, the nations are as a
drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the
scales..." (Isaiah 40:15).
* The root of the matter (or problem). "But ye should say,
Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in
me?" (Job 19:28)
* Living off "the fat of the land." "And take your father
and your households and come to me, and I will give you the
best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat of the land"
(Genesis 45:18).
* At their wits' end. "They reel to and fro, and stagger
like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end" (Psalms
107:27).
* All things to all men. The apostle Paul said, "To the
weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made
All things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (1
Corinthians 9:22).
The Bible's influence on mankind has been so pervasive
that most people commonly quote phrases from it without
realizing it! If the speech of people of the world has been
slightly influenced by the Bible, the speech of God's children
should be greatly influenced by it. Christians, who are to be
constantly studying God's word and striving to live by it, will
naturally demonstrate it in speech.
* We will speak "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).
* We will speak as the oracles of God, sharing God's word
with others. "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles
of God" (1 Peter 4:11).
* We will speak with grace, answering spiritual questions
with wisdom and solid Bible knowledge. "Let your speech always
be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you
ought to answer each one" (Colossians 4:6).
* We will utter "sound speech" which promotes spiritual
health. "...sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one
who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say
of you" (Titus 2:8).
* We will not engage in filthy talk or dirty jokes.
"...neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse
jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks"
(Ephesians 5:4).
* We will not lie. "Do not lie to one another, since you
have put off the old man with his deeds" (Colossians 3:9).
Some time ago, I met a young preacher who impressed me in
this way: His every day speech sounded like the Bible. He
used very few of the popular "in" phrases that you hear from
most young people, very few of the catchy religious sayings
that you hear from many denominational preachers, and very few
colloquialisms common in his region of the country. In every
day conversation, he sounded like he was reading the Bible.
Isn't that how every Christian should aspire to sound?
-- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New
Georgia, June 25, 2006
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News & Notes
Let those of us who are Christians continue praying for
Luther Shuff, Joe and Maxine Pine, and Clyde and Annie Mae
Jackson for their health; and Joe McGregor's brother Bob who
will have to be on oxygen the rest of his life.
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MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
1022 Myrtle Street
Denham Springs, LA 70726
(225) 664-8208
Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 PM
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com
web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go
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