Heaven Here and Now - and for Eternity

I believe that heaven begins now.  Jesus was frequently saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”.  He often prefaced His description of the the Kingdom of Heaven with  the phrase, “It is like…..”  He never came right out and said what it was, just what “it is like.”  Maybe that is because He knew that our human minds simply could not comprehend it.  We humans seem to want to  know everything in a concrete way and are a bit uncomfortable with the mystery of not knowing.  Because many of us are like that, we create in our minds what we think and want heaven to be and cling to that idea.  Do I believe in Heaven. Absolutely!  Do I know exactly what it is? No I don’t. 

The “hope” that I have is that I can live in the Kingdom of Heaven now AND for all eternity.  This is the hope that is an “anchor to my soul” and that fills me with peace.  God is with me even now in all His fullness and will be throughout eternity.  THAT is what fills me with hope and changes EVERYTHING about my life here on this earth as well!  That hope enables me to see things differently. To look for the hidden among what is seen. It is what helps me to more fully understand that I live by faith and not by sight.  I embrace this mystery. I find hope in it.

Growing up I used to hear this scripture a lot in church:  “No eye has  seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him..."  (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)  This was read at many funerals or when talking about heaven…..as though it was something only experienced after we died.  But as I read that entire chapter, I firmly believe it is for here and now.  It is the revealing of the mystery of God, it is the wisdom of the Spirit, it is “deep calling to deep” and it is the awakening of the soul to live in the fullness of God here and now.

The transformation that God performs in our hearts, minds, relationships, bodies, emotions, etc. begins here on this earth.  Jesus came to help us step into this abundant life, this Kingdom of God that many people (especially the religious leaders) refused to step into because it wasn’t what they were “expecting”. 

When I lay down my expectations of who and what and how I want God to be and act, and instead surrender to His mysterious love – the Kingdom of Heaven opens up before me in ways that “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind can conceive…..”  I find love filling me in ways I could never have conjured up. I find “crazy peace” in situations that make no sense. I find forgiveness pouring out of me when it seems impossible, I find dying to self more appealing that the quest to “find myself”, I find relinquishing more fulfilling than conquering, I find God’s wisdom confounding the wisdom of this world. …..and so much more.

My thoughts about Heaven have changed over the years.  Heaven is not just a “destination”.  Heaven is not just the “reward” for enduring life on this earth.  It is a way of being, of seeing, of thinking, of loving, of being present with God…..and Jesus came to show us how to live that way here and now AND for all eternity.

Living in the Kingdom of Heaven today,

Vicki