Disciplical wrote:People's interpretation of heaven tend to vary greatly. As far as I am aware, there is no solid consensus on what heaven could be like. The Bible doesn't seem to be all that forthcoming with information regarding our next life. What do you picture when you think of heaven?
Personally, I would want a world similar to this one, without sin and pain. Imagine experiencing all the joys of life without any negatives. I'd like to a place to gain infinite knowledge and wisdom and understanding. I've always thought I'd love to learn all the earth's many languages - shame I'd need many lifetimes to do it! A place where family and friends exist together free from pain and the inevitability of death and suffering, and a place where one can explore and continue learning and experiencing. I imagine this sounds whimsical but this would be an ideal existence.
What knowledge do we have of heaven and how do you interpret it?
I guess I have always had a somewhat whimsical view of what heaven may be like.
A combination of my own imagination and scripture.
To live in the reality as we know it and imagine a place without sorrow, completely devoid of tears and suffering is a reality, beautiful as it is, that escapes I think our greatest imagination.
Whether heaven is in the spriitual realm or in the future Kingdom here on earth it almost surpasses our ability to comprehend an existence so perfect and harmonious.
I long for it, but I can't really begin to explain what the spiritual coming home would really be like.
I have many words I could use to explain what I may think it could be like but I don't think it would come close.
The best idea I have is a dream I had about a year and a half ago.
It came at a time when I was emotionally struggling. I had custody of my niece and nephew since they were very little, 18 months and I was really in turmoil how my role, as their mother for their upbringing conflicted with the role of my sister, their birth mother.
I knew no other way but to throw myself into the role and love them unconditionally as any mum would.
After a couple years this was an effortless role on my part, they quickly became like my very own.
But the emotional mind field was difficult when my sister, in many ways quite understandably took away from my role and told the children "that's not your mum, I am".
I have never held anything back from the kids, mums and loving dads don't have to biological to play such an important role.
But I was all over the place, thrust into the situation not be my own mistakes but by a sister that could not look after her twins. The emotional landslide this caused was extremely difficult.
Not only for me, but my two children and my husband.
One night I prayed, well just broke down before God and said 'I'm struggling, what am I to these children? What about my sister?. I didn't ask those exact words but the gist was there in between the heartache.
Before my sis got sick she was beautiful. Artistic, athletic, and gorgeous. In our early years of high school she was the envy of everyone. Myself included but years of mental illness, copious medication and lifestyle she turned into the laughing stock.
obese, mentally unstable, scattered and physically quite obviously not all there.
So this night I prayed and cried for me, for her, for the kids. I was confused, angry and emotional.
Then I saw the twins laughing in my dream. They were much older near adolescence. They were in a field and so carefree. I instantly recognised them in my dream. Even though they were so much older it was their voices that instantly made me realise it was them. There was a woman sitting on a tree stump with them laughing and interacting with them. They all looked so happy.
It seemed instantaneously that the thought arised 'who is that woman' that I moved much closer onto the scene.
I knew the answer as soon as I asked the question.
It was my sister.
She was unrecognisable as I know her now but it was her, as she should have been if life didn't rob her of her chance to be what she could of and should have been.
I watched in my dream, mesmerised by her beauty, her peace, her laughter, her joy and her children.
That for me was a glimpse of heaven.
When everything that this world corrupts is made right.
I know people may say, well you dreamt what you wanted to see.
But I didn't.
I wanted to see myself with my children.
My indignation was 'I am their mother'
But God showed me something different.
I am in no way taking away from my role in their lives, and I will love and care for them as if they were my very own.
As the most precious, little beings that they are but one day when everything is as it should be, my sister will have her children.
That is heaven for me.....
When everything is just as it should be.
I know, silly ...
haha
