Heaven is our Home

Several people have mentioned the JI Packer quote I used during the sermon this past Sunday. All that distinguishes us as humans is eternal.  The reality of this truth is part of what makes heaven so awesome and hell so awful. 

The Reality of Heaven – JI Packer

“All human selves, with all the powers of remembering, relating, learning, purposing and enjoying that make us who we are, survive death, and by dying are actually set free from all shrinkings of personal life due to physical factors — handicaps, injuries and deteriorations of body and mind; torture and starvation; Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, AIDS and the like.  This was true for both Jesus and the believing criminal to whom he said, as crucifixion drained their lives away, ‘Today you will be with me in paradise’; and it will be just as true for you and me.”

J. I. Packer, “Did God die on the cross?”, Christianity Today, 5 April 1999,

I thankful for the encouraging comments many have offered about this past Sunday’s message.  One of our points was the need for us to have are hearts set on Heaven – for that is where Jesus is reigning, ruling and interceding on our behalf.  It is where he is preparing a place for  us– it is our home!   This is beautifully illustrated in the following, sent to me by Ben Wilson, one of our Elders.

The BOXER REBELLION

Between 1830 and 1949, China became the largest Protestant mission field in the world, occupying up to 8,000 missionaries at any one time. It also became the scene of Protestant mission’s largest massacre when, in 1900, a rabidly anti-Christian group known as the Society of Harmonious Fists, or the Boxers, waged a virtual war against believers. Nearly 200 missionary adults and children and 30,000 national Chinese Christians perished.

Among them was missionary Lizzie Atwater who wrote her family on August 3, 1900:

Dear ones, I long for a sight of your dear faces, but I fear we shall not meet on earth. I am preparing for the end very quietly and calmly. The Lord is wonderfully near, and he will not fail me. I was very restless and excited while there seemed a chance of life, but God has taken away that feeling, and now I just pray for grace to meet the terrible end bravely. The pain will soon be over, and oh the sweetness of the welcome above!

My little baby will go with me. I think God will give it to me in Heaven, and my dear mother will be so glad to see us. I cannot imagine the Savior’s welcome. Oh, that will compensate for all these days of suspense. Dear ones, live near God and cling less closely to earth. There is no other way by which we can receive that peace from God which passeth understanding. …

… I just keep calm these hours. I do not regret coming to China, but am sorry I have done so little. My married life, two precious years, has been so very full of happiness. We will die together, my dear husband and I. I send my love to you all, the dear friends who remember me.

Twelve days later the Atwaters perished. But it was not for nothing. When tensions subsided the missionary army returned, remaining until expelled by the Communists in 1949. The number of Chinese Christians grew to about 5 to 7 million by 1980, and has since mushroomed to an estimated 50 million—and counting.

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony,

for they loved not their lives even unto death. 

Revelation 12:11