Heaven's Hug

There are many descriptors for eternity, but my favorite is unspeakable joy.  Jude 24 says it best:  “Now to Him, Who is able to keep you without…falling, and to present [you] unblemished…before the presence of His glory, in triumphant joy and exultation -- [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]…” (Jude 24, The Amplified Bible). 

 

Bottom line: there is something ecstatic about seeing God.  And in heaven we see all of God.  For as 1 Corinthians 13:12 assures us:  yes, “…now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later [in eternity] we will see him face to face.” (1 Corinthians 13:12, Contemporary English Version).    

Commonly called “The Visio Dei” this face-to-face encounter with the Lord is, in the words of F.F. Bruce “…the highest and most glorious blessing that mortals can enjoy…”  F.F. Bruce -- as all of life is clarified and comforted, reconciled and redeemed -- as we’re literally embraced by total cleansing, deep healing, penetrating grace, and unconditional, relentless love.  And so yes, heaven is a place – but a place dominated by a God who ‘bear-hugs,’ renewing all of life.

Recently I officiated at my first biker funeral, as in motorcycle bikers.  And it was a quite an experience, complete with leather jackets.  But there were moments when I wasn’t quite sure what was going to occur; the most prominent happened during the open sharing time when a big, burly biker came forward to share.  I mean he was a man’s-man’s, who could stare you down on any highway, and keep the upper hand.  And sure enough he started that way, presenting some great, macho biker stories.  But then I got nervous, as he indicated he was now going to interject a biker tradition right in the middle of the funeral.  Well at that, I wasn’t sure if brass knuckles would be flashed or a Harley would come down the isle.  But boy was I surprised, because you know what the biker tradition was:  it was hugging!  Bikers, I discovered love to hug!  And so this burly, macho biker invited everyone – right in the middle of the funeral – right in the middle of our grief – to reach out and hug.  And I’m telling you:  it made a huge difference – changing the whole character and climate – of everything.

That's what God in heaven does – God changes the whole character and climate of everything.  In the middle of our grief – God ‘bear hugs’ us and renews all of life.   No matter our journey, if life is abandoned to Him – the destination becomes one of total cleansing, deep healing, penetrating grace, unconditional, relentless love.

And so abandon life to God!   Stop trying to do, do, do -- work, work, work -- to deserve, to earn -- fulfillment and joy.   Let God do the work for you, on the Cross – lifting the burden -- saving you from sin and self – advancing you toward the best destination:  ultimate, total reunion with Him.   

Now that’s heaven – as we’re captivated not by a place – but a person – who envelops us, embraces us, with indescribable glory and renewal.