I have a theory to present to you. Can’t prove it, but it sure makes sense to me. Might make perfect sense to you also if you’ll open your mind to a radical view…of heaven. So fire up those brain cells! Here goes:
Fact #1: God created time. For us. He didn’t need it, is not bound by it. We needed it. So God created time merely for us.
Fact #2: God doesn’t live in time as we know it. Because he’s not limited by the NOW as we are. We can live only in our time…this time…now. But God exists in all of time, all the time. (Close your eyes and think about that for a bit; let it sink in!) How long is that anyway? From before time was created by him…into eternity. He exists in ALL of that at the same moment.
Fact #3: Heaven was created by God too. If God has a “home”–besides in the hearts of his followers–it’s in heaven. This is where we (again, we believers) go when we die, and we’ll be there until Jesus comes to earth again. Meanwhile, earth is turning and living in created time, revolving around the sun. Heaven, however, isn’t at all limited to or controlled by time because God is the “sun” there.
Fact #4: Heaven is not waiting for earth to complete its role in God’s plan. That’s completely backwards. Instead, earth is waiting for heaven, eagerly watching for Jesus’ return and to bring this earthly time to its conclusion. Therefore, all those Christians who’ve already died aren’t pacing around in heaven as they wait for us to arrive. Heaven doesn’t wait on earth. God doesn’t wait on his creation. Because he is God!
Fact #5: We Christians are “already justified” by Christ’s death and resurrection. Positionally, we are already sinless because of what Christ did for us. God can “Make us stand in the presence of his glory, blameless, with great joy” (Jude 24; that verse never fails to move me) because we are symbolically ALREADY forgiven, justified, and restored. Additionally, the very moment we were saved we received eternal life; our place in heaven was and is secured! How have all those things already occurred? Because God looks upon Christ and what he’s done, rather than us. Therefore, we are also…already in heaven in “real” time. Heavenly time. That’s the real reality!
Fact #6: No one who’s gone before is lonely in heaven, waiting on the rest of his/her family to follow. No child awaits parents. No grandparent awaits children and grands. ALL CHRISTIANS are already there because heaven operates and exists in God’s time! Immediately, when we die, we’ll be with ALL our loved ones. Christ will welcome us there and at that moment, the concept of time (for you or for me) will end. Because at that point we’ll have all of eternity to be with loved ones, serving and worshipping the One who is worthy of all praise!
Fact #7: Because 7 is a biblical number, I needed one more point: The next time someone comments about a loved one in heaven who’s waiting for you…the next time an unbeliever accuses you of not living in reality…or the next time you doubt the existence of heaven…tell yourself this: In God’s time–heavenly time–I’m already there! That should put a smile on your face. Whoo-hoo!