MDM4M - Special Article Series

Modern Disciple Magazine for Men (MDM4M), published in Canada

Friday, November 21st, 2008

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The books arrived at our house once a month. Packaged in brown cardboard, held in the hands of my father who ritually checked the box at the post office each day after work. I was five years old and I waited with the eager anticipation of a child, expecting the books to arrive much sooner then they ever did.

Nature in its multi-colored cloak of habitats was the subject of these books. National Geographic had put out a series of hard cover books for children and won my whole hearted admiration. I broke my reading eye-teeth on these books, memorizing the words my mother read long before I learned to decipher their visual symbols. I "ate" animal information every meal of the day, hiding nothing in napkins, readily accepting all forms of nourishment. It was at this time in my life that I first gave myself to Jesus and became aware of paradise. A place to live forever, wear white and be with angels. Vague pieces of heaven put together from books, films and church teachings. Naturally I wanted to know if animals would be there. My five year old heart told me that it must be so, but when the question was posed to my mother she waffled, hedged and told me no. I was disappointed, skeptical and hesitant about going to a place without animals. How could I experience paradise, my heart cried out, if animals would not be there?

In how many Christian minds does this kind of question linger? How many hearts rebel at the idea that heaven will be empty of something that brings them life here on earth? Do painters dream of a world without color and form? Does an athlete long for a place with no need of skill and competition? How many musicians look forward to living in an environment void of sound? If I am to long for heaven it must hold something that I desire.

What exactly does this paradise look like? Is it filled with chubby cherubs twittering about, is time passed sitting on lawns and singing songs, is everyone dressed in the same white robes? The church is often guilty of painting a picture of heaven that is unappealing. Placing emphasis on the extinction of crying, fear, sickness and death, but surely it is more then what it is not.

The pastor of a church I once attended spoke from the pulpit about playing basketball in heaven. It was said in passing, but it was an expression from his heart. He suffered from severely deteriorated ankles that prevented him from playing this sport he loved. In fact walking and standing were somewhat of a challenge. His body more then fully restored, sweating on a basketball court was a picture of paradise for him.

This whole topic of heaven has been on my mind a lot over the past couple of years. And I have come to believe that as we grow still and listen to the deep beatings of our hearts and the voice of the Holy Spirit who resides there we can sample the flavors of heaven. A glimpse of what will be for us when Jesus is met in paradise. I would like to share a picture with you, placed in my mind by Jesus. It is not a prophetic vision or a direct, "thus sayeth the Lord", to be passed on to the masses. It is an example of the personal touch of Jesus in my life, a look into the deep desires of my heart, a snapshot of heaven.

A coastal river, transparent in purity, turquoise in its depths…cascading over the backs of raw coastal mountains, subdued in motion on the valley floor, easing into the Pacific ocean in a cove sheltered by granite and ancient trees. Verdant green sedges parallel its course mimicking the motions of the sea, crashing in waves into hills that plunge into the valleys deep black soil. A bench hewn from local woods sits nestled into the west bank of a hill dressed in cedars, firs, hemlocks, alders, maples… There is room for two and Jesus sits here with me, enjoying the beauty, enjoying me.

Moral Time, it does not exist; moments are not cut short, moments are not endured. The eternity and purity of Eden are restored. Animal and human relationships cease to fluctuate between predator and prey, fear and love. The unease of humans placed upon animals by the benevolent hand of God is vanquished. Daily I walk the beaches and forest trails with gargantuan bears, trailing my fingers through their thick golden, brown hair. Clinging to their necks, beating on their chests, thrown into the air in a playful match of tested strength. Boisterous bellowing and exuberant laughter fill the air and we play, and play, and play…

continued on page two