Friday, October 30, 2009

3-year-old Theology

Somehow yesterday in the car, Nathan and I got to talking about Heaven.

It started with him asking why we lived in Fort Smith, me answering that it was a great opportunity for Daddy and God had opened some doors (maybe not the best choice of words to use with a 3-year-old), Nathan asking if God had opened garage doors (Nathan LOVES garage doors - ours, the neighbors', anyone's), which led to him asking, "Where is God's house?"

I tried to explain that God's house is in Heaven, God's house is the Church, and God's house is in our heart.  We even got into a small discussion on what it means to ask Jesus into your heart.  He wanted to know where Heaven is.  I'm pretty sure folks who have many seminary degrees still don't know the answer to that one, but I said that I thought it was "way past the moon," since he's also fascinated with the moon right now.  That seemed to be a good enough answer.

He wanted to know if we could go to Heaven.  I'm sure he meant "can we go right now?"  (I wasn't expecting to have the Death Discussion at that moment in time, but somehow I muddled through.)

Then we were talking about what Heaven was like.  I told him he had family members looking forward to meeting him when he got there.  I told him that there wouldn't be any hurt, that he'd never be hungry, and that he'd never get too tired and grumpy.  Then I said, "There's nothing bad in Heaven." 

His response: "There will be no breakable things in Heaven."  "Well, Nathan," I said with a bit of a chuckle, "I've never thought about it like that, but you may be right."

The more I think about that, the more I realize the truth in his young words.  There really will be no breakable things in Heaven.

No broken bodies.  No more sickness, injuries, aches and pains.  Our pastor this past Sunday said that only Jesus would still have scars in Heaven, but I'm not sure I agree with that.  (Please point me to the verse if I'm wrong.)  My husband lost his leg below the knee almost 13 years ago.  I am certain he will have two legs again in Heaven, but somehow I think a faint scar may still be there - not as a reminder of the pain, but as a reminder of how God used that accident here on earth and of God's ultimate healing in Heaven.

No broken promises.  God has never broken one of His promises, and we will see them all fulfilled when we meet Him face-to-face.  It's easy to see how many of His promises are kept here and now, but many others are fulfilled in ways we just don't understand.  None of us will break promises to each other there, either.  It just won't even be possible.  No sin!  I can't even imagine.

No broken commitments.  No broken relationships.  No broken marriages.  No broken hearts.  No broken spirits.

There are no breakable things in Heaven.  Thank You, Lord!

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