First, credit to Mike Wittmer for the title of this post (see his book by that title here).
In Heaven is a Place on Earth, Wittmer encourages us that God’s people have an earthly destination. We are “earthlings” created for this earth. Believers will not spend eternity hovering about in the clouds somewhere strumming golden harps.
When I first heard this point in seminary, it was new to me. In fact, I had always been scared that Heaven would be a combination of an old person’s home (don’t have fun or you will break something) and church (you will be bored stiff).
While I didn’t want the alternative destination, I wasn’t sure I was going to have much fun in heaven.
In recent years, however, there has been an increased emphasis amongst theologians on the continuity between this creation and the next. While it is true that this earth will be purged by fire, that doesn’t mean there is no continuity whatsoever.
If you haven’t explored this thought previously, then spend time reading what Tullian Tchividjian wrote today, as well as the posts to which he links.
Tullian writes:
For a long time now, I’ve been convinced that the way most Christians think about redemption is influenced more by ancient Greek philosophy than by the Bible. We think of ultimate redemption as being redemption from the body, not of the body; redemption from the world, not of the world; redemption from the material, not of the material.
This, however, goes against what the Bible clearly teaches about redemption.
In the Lord’s Prayer we see that God’s ultimate goal is for earth to become like heaven: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” God’s mission is to bring heaven to earth—this planet!
You can read the whole thing here.
