“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and
no mind has imagined what God has prepared
for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9b (NLT)
C.S. Lewis answered letters written to him. These letters, thousands of them, almost
always asked questions; people wanted advice and understanding about the
spiritual realm. Lewis’ writings always struck a chord with readers in
a precise and intriguing way.
One lady, Mrs. Johnson, asked Lewis if Heaven was like one of the
places in his children’s books. The
answer she got was easy enough for a child to grasp:
The good things even of
this world are far too good ever to be reached by imagination. Even the common
orange, you know: no one could have imagined it before he tasted it. How much less Heaven.[1]
At the risk of contradicting the revered Dr. Lewis, you can
imagine anything; that doesn’t necessarily mean you get it right – but
you can put your mind to wondering about heaven.
I’ve been doing that more lately.
I’ve been wondering a lot about my Mom recently, and what she’s
doing in heaven. I’m certain you also
have loved ones you miss. This is why we
have questions about heaven.
Through Paul the apostle God said our imagination is not equipped
to fully grasp the kind of place He is preparing for us. That is an amazingly satisfying bit of
knowledge for me.
Somehow the smile of God is at back of that statement; it gives me
great joy to know God has thought about me from before the cradle (Jeremiah
1:5) and nurtured me throughout my life here, and He has also made
preparation for my walk with Him in eternity.
If I can’t taste this orange, I can anticipate it with joy. In fact, for me, just thinking about that physical
orange waiting for me in the refrigerator can start my digestive juices flowing. I savor that first bite.
But there are so many different kinds of oranges;
it’s almost like a new experience with each one. This is where my imagination about the taste,
texture and substance of the eternal orange of heaven takes me…off into wonder
and humble questions.
I have many questions, and if I know little about what life will
be like with Jesus in glory, I at least know it’s going to be better than
anything my imagination can dream up.
And I rather think my mom, and her mom will be there to welcome
me. Having known their kindness in this
life makes me think they will be there when I arrive, and they’ll have several
oranges waiting for me, peeled and chilled!
Along with answers; lots of answers!
For You Today
What do you
know of heaven? Are you so filled with
“why” questions that the joy of anticipating your heavenly home with Christ is
turning the orange a little sour?
Take heart;
the crop on that Tree of Life is new every month!
He said
so! (Revelation 22)
Can you see
His smile now?
[1]
The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, Volume III: Narnia,
Cambridge, and Joy 1950-1963. Copyright © 2007 by C.
S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved. Used with permission of HarperCollins
Publishers.
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