Heaven : The Rev. Dr. Dennis Winkleblack
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HEAVEN
John 10: 22-30 Revelation 7: 9-17 Acts 9: 36-43 Psalm 23
When was the last time you heard a sermon about “heaven?” Today guided by the beautiful imagery you heard read from the biblical book, Revelation, you’re going to hear one.
Now, before you get too excited, I need to remind you that in one sermon a preacher can’t begin to address all the theological concerns inherent in a doctrine of heaven or more properly, eschatology, that branch of theology that has to do with last things. So, if this sermon creates more questions about heaven then you already have, then that’s good.
What’s more, to add to the drama of a sermon on heaven this morning is the irony that tomorrow is Earth Day! Heaven and earth: dear preacher, pick one.
Well, I am picking one – heaven – because the lesson from Revelation is the one that most grabbed me today. Indeed, it’s a scripture perfectly appointed for us in this Easter season when we’re reminded of the importance of living resurrection, of living our resurrection.
So, how does heaven fit in with living resurrection? For me, it has to do with fear. That is, in his resurrection Christ not only destroyed death forever, but also the fear of death.
Why is this important? Because it’s our fear of death – implicit or explicit – that keeps us focused on all the wrong things during our brief sojourn on this planet.
So, I’m picking heaven today, but I hope, I pray that you will get the larger picture: That is, we can’t begin to really love earth until we embrace heaven.
Accordingly, in a few words from the poet Wendell Berry, for me heaven and earth come together: “Found your hope, then, on the ground under your feet. Your hope of Heaven, let it rest on the ground Underfoot.”
This, of course, is where all good heaven theology needs to lead us: to that which is underfoot.
Of course, first we need to imagine this hope of heaven.
I say imagine for an obvious reason: 3D schematics are simply not available. Which is the reason our spiritual forbears described heaven in such visual effects as pearly gates and streets of gold.
Personally I love the images from the prophet Isaiah about the world of shalom that God intends where enemies become friends, where no innocents are harmed, etc. We also have Jesus’ words about going to prepare a place for us, a mansion of many rooms.
And then there’s today’s reading of John’s vision of our final home: “They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Isn’t that beautiful?
Still others have been inspired to paint or sculpt or write poetry or music that made heaven more imaginable.
For example, the hymns of African-American Christians in particular are rich with the faith that though things are hellish now and I don’t even have shoes, “when I get to heaven going to put on some shoes and march all over God’s heaven.” Or the hymn we’re going to sing later, “When We All Get To Heaven,” which was written by Eliza Hewitt who spent most of her adult life confined to bed.
To be very sure, it’s understandable why people who are persecuted or very ill with no hope in this life would focus on life after death, on heaven.
Which is not so much the case now. Indeed, if a person expresses much of a longing for heaven nowadays, that person will likely be viewed with great suspicion.
And then, of course, there’s the accusation Christians hate to hear directed at them by their critics and lead to preachers like me doing all we can to avoid heaven-talk: the criticism that our religion is only about pie in the sky by and by. Which is the opposite of true religion that is nothing if not solidly grounded underfoot.
In any case, for whatever reasons, you don’t hear much about heaven any more. Which is too bad.
Why? Ultimately because never thinking about heaven is to waste a real blessing from God. But, not only that, without a vision of heaven to lure us, we can actually end up making a hell of a mess out of our lives.
So, back to my earth day project and a vision of heaven. A vision. The writer of Proverbs says that without a vision, the people perish. Or as Yogi Berra once said, “If you don’t know where you’re going you’ll never get there.” Sometimes Yogi got it just right!
A vision of heaven. We need a vision that is faithful to our Holy Scripture, consistent with our faith tradition and grounded in reason. Plus, to say the least, this vision must be accessible to not only the best educated among us but also the least.
Accordingly, we must all be grateful that God has given us a teacher, Jesus, who used metaphors and similes all day long - The Kingdom of Heaven is like… Pearls, a mustard seed, leaven, etc. Who said, “I am the way, the gate, the way, the truth, the life.”
The Masters’ Golf Tournament was held last week in Augusta, Georgia. It’s probably the most famous golf tournament in the world. Some years ago, Arnold Palmer, upon seeing the Augusta National Golf Course for the first time, declared, “When I first pulled down Magnolia Lane and looked at the golf course I thought this must be what golf is like in heaven.”
Good going, Arnie. That’s the spirit. After all, it’s this kind of metaphorical thinking that produced the traditional image of heaven as a place of pearly gates and streets of gold.
So we need a vision that we can grasp. And we need a vision that inspires. A vision for all creation and not just for our golfing pleasure.
Still, if heaven is only a place for me and people like me to escape hot places and annoying people, then it’s a poor heaven.
On the other hand, if heaven can be a goal for inclusivity; if heaven can be a goal for consummate love and justice; if heaven can be a goal where no one has too much and no one has too little; and where everyone is delighted that this is so; if heaven can be a goal where there is no guilt, no shame and no messing up; if heaven can be a goal where no one is even tempted to harm another or commit an act of terrorism; if heaven can be a goal for people on the margins being treated as people on royal thrones; if heaven can be a goal for all colors of skin being equally prized and glorious; if such is heaven, then it can be a goal for us right now, and inspire us to keep reaching for it for the sake of God’s mission in creation.
Well, enough rational thought. If nothing else, I want to leave you with a mind-picture, a heart-balm and a spirit-driver to the end that the lure of heaven might inspire all you are doing underfoot. For this, we need some images.
Here I want to introduce you to Daniel Aleshire, who is now Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools in America and Canada and a former pastor and professor. His portrait of heaven is, to me, audaciously wonderful.
This is heaven, he writes. “Imagine the best there can be, and it is better. Imagine the most beautiful there is, and it is better. If imagining is hard for you, how about math? Take the best day you ever had, add to it your most tender moment ever, multiply that by the best thing you ever did, then add the greatest joy you have ever experienced and the most noble desire you ever had. Now multiply that by 1500 taken to the power of a cube, and you will have some of the dimension of heaven.
“If math is hard for you, how about a picture? Picture a world where each person makes a difference, each makes a contribution, and everybody knows life is better because of the gifts each brings. Picture a world where every unblessed child has a beaming parent telling people on the street, “This child is mine, and I am so proud with her. Picture a world where every abused spouse experiences only gentle touches and kind words and knows the joy of fearless love.
“Picture a world where every poor soul who craved the addictive and was slave to the destructive has been set free, and never feels those death-dealing compulsions again.
“Imagine a world where there is more than enough food for everybody, and none of it ever goes to waste. Imagine a world where everybody has a room, and everyone is perfectly content with the place that was made just for them.
“Picture a world where Ku Klux Klanner and neo-Nazi cry in joy while they sing with people they used to hate, ‘Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we’re free at last.’”
“Imagine – you. You get up in the morning, wanting to do what is right. And that’s exactly what you do! As you do the good and perfect, you never get bored by it. You get a kick out of it. It feels right. . . fits like an old shoe. It’s so much fun doing good, some days you sneak off by yourself late at night, when nobody is looking, and do some more. It’s more fun than getting that last bowl of Haagen-Daaz. It no longer seems so strange for you to do what is right and loving and just. It is just what comes naturally to you. You go to bed at night with no regrets, no remorse, no second thoughts. No one is upset with you. No one has misunderstood you, no one has been offended by you. You go to sleep thinking to yourself, ‘Life just can’t get any better than this.’”
“But in the morning when you wake up, it does. Imagine that!”
Isn’t all this heavenly? And you know what, it’s faithful to our Biblical tradition. And, inspirational enough to lift us beyond the thus and so of every day life. And, hopefully powerful enough to get under our skin, get into our heads and hearts so that, thrilled and empowered by an audaciously wonderful God, this vision will impel us to live our lives passionately, concerned about making life for others as close to heavenly as we can, now.
Aleshire also tells the story of his then 4 year old son, Jonathan who out of the blue asked his mother, “Mommy, when do we go to live with Jesus?” His mother responded, “When we die.”
Jonathan then asked: “Will Jesus have any food?” And his mother replied with a smile, “Yes.”
But Jonathan persisted, “Will Jesus have food I like?” Aleshire’s wife said “Yes.”
But Jonathan had one more question. “Will Jesus have macaroni and cheese?” When his mom said “yes,” Jonathan jumped up and down shouting, “Goodie, Goodie, Goodie.”
Whether we’re 4 or 104 or in between, we need a hope, a goal, a vision of God’s intention to inspire our days on earth, our days of caring for what’s underfoot. Confident that when our days are done, we can say with 18th century Anglican priest and founder of Methodism, John Wesley, who said fearlessly on his death bed: “The best is yet to come.”