Reflection by Keith Funk

We wish you not to remain in ignorance, friends, about those who sleep in death; you should not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again; so too will God bring those who died as Christians to be with Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 REB)

I understood the purpose of being a Christian in my youth was to know that when I died, I would go to heaven. By believing in Jesus, who died for my sins and accepting him as Lord, I was saved. I know of others, both then and now, who understand this as why we should be and become Christians. From this, we also take comfort in knowing of loved ones who have died believing in Christ and who are now at home with the Lord in heaven.

Of course, the promise and the hope of being a Christian is the promise and assurance of eternal life. Many of us have grown up equating eternal life with going to heaven when we die. Maybe this is where you are in your faith. I want you to know that I am thankful that you live with this hope. However, in today’s blog, as in past weeks, I want to share with you of God’s vision and God’s promise of new creation that offers unsurpassed hope in all that is before us.

Now in the faith and life of the early church, this understanding of new creation, presented in Revelation as the resurrection to life, and “a new heaven and new earth”, was the great hope of those who followed Jesus. But a question for early followers Paul was writing to in Thessalonica had to do with loved ones who had already died before all this had taken place. Paul tells the Thessalonians in essence, “They are O.K. They haven’t missed anything. Presently, they are with and in the care of the Lord. They will be with Jesus when he returns. So, as the promise of the coming new creation is for us presently, so it is for them even as they are now with the Lord.”   

When I served in the pastorate, I attended many bedsides of those who were approaching the end of their lives. I regarded this as both a cherished and sacred time in offering comfort, assurance and hope to them and their loved ones. Of course, these precious ones were both seeking and anticipating heaven, being in the presence of Jesus, and being reunited with loved ones who had gone before them. To be with the dying and their loved ones, ministering to them with the assurance of Christ’s love and God’s care for them was joy in my own shared tears of grief. I offered, “God’s got this,” and “The best is yet to come.” I was communicating that God has got you and nothing here and now or going forward can change this. Such expressions, for me, are not simply assuring words to be spoken at a bedside, this is rooted reality that I hope all may know in facing life and death in the care of our Lord.

Last week, I shared a quote from N.T. Wright: “Heaven is important but it’s not the end of the world.”  I believe what Wright is addressing is a common understanding of how heaven is often understood as the end of the story when we die. While I hope that people are assured of life after death, there is the greater promise of more that awaits. Wright goes on to speak of this as, “Life after life after death.” This points to more than heaven, but of God making, “all things new” (Revelation 21:5). All things: new earth, new heaven, new life—nothing left untouched from God’s renewing purpose. Think about it, what could be more exciting!

No doubt, you have heard it spoken of someone who is because of age or failing health, as “They are a shadow of their former self.” I offer another quote from Wright that speaks to us where we are considering the coming of new creation where all things made new: “We are [now] a shadow of our future selves.” In other words, for us now and for loved ones who have gone before us, the promise of God’s new creation goes with us and awaits us. It’s more than heaven, and the hope of it just keeps getting better.

Peace be with you.