Have you ever wondered what heaven is like? We have a few glimpses in books like Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation. Still, these writers had a significant handicap. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew while John wrote Revelation in Greek.
Our modern day English language has more words in it than any language in history. Greek from two thousand years ago pales by comparison. The Hebrew of the Old Testament has less than half the number of words as the New Testament Greek.
For just a moment, put yourself in the shoes of any Biblical writer. Using only the English words you can find in the Bible, describe a cell phone. Is a car any easier? Now, you are starting to understand their problem.
Our modern day science fiction has created places and things which cause some people question how God fits into the equation. Is heaven a real place or just a figment of an ancient imagination? If heaven is real, what does it look like?
In John 3:1-21, Nicodemus struggles with some of these same issues. This very educated man goes to Jesus wanting to learn more. Jesus uses the wind to show Nicodemus does not understand earthly things. How can they discuss heavenly things?
The sum total of human knowledge is doubling on a regular basis. We are far more knowledgeable than Nicodemus and yet, humanity as a whole still does not know it all. If we did, publishers could produce a set of encyclopedias with the sum total of all knowledge.
For all practical purposes, the only real difference in humanity today and those who lived in Biblical times is the technology. Consider Ten Commandments: How many people throughout the world will break each Commandment today? Despite our technology, humanity has not changed.
My Christian journey has addressed these issues but I have made peace with them. I have been blessed with a hint of what heaven is like. Even those who claim to have been to heaven cannot describe it because they simply do not have the words to describe it.
I believe heaven exists. All I want to do is just get in the gate. The way I see it, the worst place in heaven has got to be better than the best place in Hell. Will I see you in heaven?
Grace and peace in the power of the Holy Spirit.
(J. Wesley McComb is a published author and a member of Christ Episcopal Church, 1534 7th St, Slidell, 643-4531.)
© by The Slidell Independent newspaper; originally published on August 6, 2009. Used by permission of publisher and author.