25 April, 2011

A Question Worth Asking (and answering...)

"The critical question for our generation—and for every generation—is this:
If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there?"

— John Piper (God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself)

I came across this quote from John Piper while reading another book that referenced it and found it to be very troubling.

Why did I find it to be troubling?

I found it to be troubling because it caused me to do some soul-searching and to think about how I would answer the question.

Am I looking forward to heaven because of how great it will be, or am I most looking forward to heaven because I will finally get to be with Jesus in person?

The answer to that question is very telling of my list of priorities and where "my comfort" ranks on the list.

This question has caused me to re-examine my relationship with Jesus. Not in the general sense of my salvation, but in the personal sense of my relationship with the One who laid down his life that I might have life.

Do I really know this Jesus that loves me more than any other?

Do I know him so intimately that the thought of being with him one day in heaven causes all other inferior thoughts to melt away?

The answer is no. I don't know him that way.


But I want to. I long to. I must.


How would you answer the question?

I mean really answer it, from deep down inside you where you know that God already knows.


May we know you Lord Jesus, and may knowing you create in us a thirst for you that will one day be quenched when we see you face to face.
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