Monday, December 5, 2011

Heavenly Minded

Do you know there's a lovely phrase for death used throughout the Bible?
". . . he was gathered to his people . . ."
Abraham (Gen. 25:8), Isaac (Gen 35:29), Jacob (Gen. 49:29), Aaron ( Nu. 20:24), Moses (Nu. 31:2), a whole generation of Israel (Jg. 2:10), and Josiah (2 Ch. 34:28) were gathered to their people.

In our day, a man named Don Piper experienced being "gathered to his people" when he was pronounced dead at the scene of a car accident. In his book, "90 Minutes In Heaven," Mr. Piper described being greeted by a crowd of loving family and friends in a place of beautiful music, peace and brightness.


Have you wondered how your husband was "gathered to his people?" Who has he met in Heaven? My first husband, Bruce, died unexpectedly, but in the months before he died he talked about Heaven and how he longed for it—and he even planned who he wanted to meet! Bruce was a pastor, and he wanted to trace his spiritual geneology---he wanted to know who led his pastor, Syd Bristol to the Lord, and who led the person to the Lord who led Syd Bristol to the Lord, and on and on all the way back to the first Christians! Who else but a pastor would think of that?

I'll bet he's still busy looking up all those folks.

What do you think about Heaven and the people there? Click on the comment line below or e-mail me at WCPlace@gmail.com to share your thoughts. ferree

Hebrews 12:22-24 (English Standard Version)
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.



3 comments:

  1. I wish we knew more about heaven. It would be nice to know what our loved ones are experiencing and to understand just what their reality is like there. But God promised it was going to be more wonderful than we can think or imagine and that's all I really need to know until I too am gathered to my people. What a glorious day that will be!

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  2. When I was first widowed I received some books about heaven, but really couldn't bring myself to read them---they were too long! After a couple years, tho, I picked them up and was fascinated: I think they're both simple entitled "Heaven." One by Randy Alcorn, the other by Joni Erickson Tada. A fiction book by C.S. Lewis really captured my imagination and brought me comfort for some reason I've never been able to explain---it was called "The Great Divorce" and it's a strange little story about a bus ride from hell to heaven. I guess I appreciated the boundless imagination and interesting insights and possibilities. It's true, though, know God we know it will be more wonderful than we can ever imagine. Thanks for sharing, Renee'!--fbh

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  3. I think about Heaven all the time, although I can't even begin to imagine what it's like. Instead, I find myself imagining what it's not like. It won't be stressful or sorrowful at all. I'm all about that!

    I've thought about people I'd like to meet in Heaven. Of course I want to see Michael, but I'm looking forward to meeting so many people who have influenced my faith with their writing or their music.

    I think that Joni's book is called "Heaven: Your Real Home". I have a devotional based on that book.

    Looking forward to seeing you there, too! :)

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