Looking at this picture makes me think of a vacation with joyous rest, where there are no
worries or cares in the world. Imagine nothing but peaceful bliss and yet even on this good day, it simply can not compare to what Eternity with the Lord Jesus will be like.
The Bible gives us a glimpse into this glorious abode where supernatural to us now is only natural
and normal there. Where there is beauty and perfection beyond comprehension. And yet I wonder how many of us who personally KNOW the Lord Jesus Christ actually ponder this? Unless of course you have been through struggle after struggle and difficulty and difficulty.
Suffering makes you long for Heaven. It makes you long to be in the presence of a perfect God, while embracing and feeling His rapturous love, a feeling this world and physical existence could never give you. Right now, we can not feel the height, depth, length or breadth of God's love until we are made into the incorruptible ( I Corinthians 15:52-54 ). Certainly we can experience and know of God's love and care over our lives but nevertheless, it does not negate the pain and suffering of living in a flesh and blood existence that is subject to frailty, weakness and sin. We know each day we are dying, certainly as we age.
It is sin that brought death to us all (Romans 5:19), but it is JESUS CHRIST who has conquered death and the grave. Oh Praise be to Jesus who has given us victory over death and the grave! The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is in the Law. But thanks be to our God, who giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.........(I Corinthians 15:56-57).
I was reading an inspiring story written by Don Piper called "Ninety minutes in Heaven". I found such excitement, but also relief when I read this book because I finally found someone to whom I can relate. I too just want so badly to be in Eternity with my Lord Jesus. I think about it everyday. This mindless physical existence inspires very little hope for me and is a constant reminder to affectionately long for my real home where my true citizenship is. This book tells the true story of Don Piper, who in 1989, endured a serious auto accident that literally killed him. When rescue personnel arrived on the scene, Don Piper had no vital signs, he was pronounced dead at the scene. For ninety minutes, while his corpse lie there all mangled in his tiny ford escort waiting for his body to be extracted from all the steel, he was taken to Heaven and given a glimpse of this realm of glory. While he was there, God sent a pastor, who happened to drive by the scene of the accident, to pray for Don's lifeless body. So ninety minutes later when this pastor prayed over Don's body, the supernatural, although completely natural and normal to God, happened and Don came back to life.
But notwithstanding many years of agonizing pain and suffering. Because of the severities of his injuries......much too traumatic to describe without making one's stomach turn, he was reduced to such limitations that he felt worthless. I know exactly how that feels, Lord knows I do. He struggled with depression most days, often longing for isolation because he had been reduced to "unimpressive" measures by the world's standards. Many times he refused help from those trying to minister to him. His injuries prevented him from being raised up and down and being repositioned in the bed. Just the slightest move of his extremities caused excruciating pain, even while on large doses of morphine. He endured many bedsores before they finally switched his mattress to an air mattress designed specially for bed bound patients (bed bound patients struggle with decubitus ulcers and pneumonia). One time he writes that he was unable to move his bowels due to inactivity, so he was given a fleet enema. He describes in detail the absolute embarrassment this caused him because he literally exploded feces in his pants and in the bed while this young pretty nurse aid had to clean it up. His recovery was long and arduous and that is why the realities of his circumstances where so hard to accept. He questioned God many times as to why God would torture him by bringing him back to this kind of suffering? Especially after he experienced Heaven for 90 minutes.
Why would God do this? Why would God inflict such horrible pain? These questions he asked himself everyday. I imagine Job who cursed the day he was born, questioned God many times as to why he would even be born only to know trouble and sorrow all the days of his life (Job chapter 3)........read it, it's there!
Don Piper went to Heaven when he died and yet God allowed him to live to see his devoted wife and children. And yet even with these lovely blessings, Don still wanted to be in that realm of glory.....so far removed from this flesh and blood existence. That right there explains why many Believers want to be in Eternity. They do not want to wait, they want to go now, even leaving behind many temporal blessings. When God allows you to experience excruciating pain, rejection, and loss, or He allows you a glimpse into this incredible paradise, there is only one response............to be where Jesus is and nothing else for therein lies my future......my destiny (Job 3:20-24).
I would encourage everyone to read Don Piper's testimony. It will inspire you to long for Eternity and if you are not Born-Again, it may challenge you to think a little harder about where you will spend Eternity.
