Heaven

This past Friday during small group, we started to talk about what we thought Heaven would be like. I never gave it much thought because it was just so unimaginable that I thought it was futile to extend past my puny human imagination of what glorious God's place is. But it was a good exercise because it gave me Joy to remember one of Jesus' promises - that He will prepare a room for us there. I find many times, this isn't dwelled upon; for me, probably because I feel guilty focusing on a 'reward' of my faith, instead of focusing on God, for being God.

Then today, while I was driving home from the gym, I wondered whether or not we would feel pain in Heaven. Suffering will be gone, but pain is more complicated - God feels pain - I pain Him, we all pain Him, lost souls pain Him. Would I feel that aching pain in my heart when I realize that I'm in Heaven and some of those I loved weren't there with me? Would I feel the pain when I realize that some of those who weren't there were because I had forsaken opportunities to share the Gospel to them when we lived on Earth together? It would be the worst pain; because there would be no 'later' to try harder or a 'maybe they came to Christ at their moment of passing away. we don't know but God knows'....by then, it will be clear - that clear division between Heaven and Hell and knowing who's where. And pain is also an integral part of love - we are in pain because we love people and when we see them hurt, or when they hurt us, we are in pain. I guess there won't be people hurting each other because that wouldn't be possible. But part of loving someone is also enduring pain; God showed His ultimate love for us by sending His only begotten Son to suffer and die innocently for us - how much did that hurt the Father to have to turn His back on Jesus - and that was ultimate love...

well, I know that God's Heaven is perfect, unimaginably perfect...