tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14475017.post8239365470086626213..comments2023-12-13T05:00:17.120-05:00Comments on Rebel Pilgrim: The Heaven/Earth Combo PackJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538587978303331203noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14475017.post-80414342433086775852010-12-14T15:20:20.046-05:002010-12-14T15:20:20.046-05:00"Perhaps I will be free, for instance, to try..."Perhaps I will be free, for instance, to try a few careers that interest me after I die and am resurrected."<br /><br />This concept has made me rethink the catholic idea of patron saints. Their idea is that those who have physically died are awaiting resurrection in the presence of God and have already begun to experience this new heaven/earth. While they wait for the complete fulfillment, God has given them jobs to do... oversee the administration of God's will in this or that. Thus, just like Jesus gave his followers the ability to do "even greater works" than he performed here on earth, the Godhead has given specific believers awaiting resurrection the ability to act on God's behalf in this world. It goes back to your concept of having purpose in heaven other than simply raising our hands and voices in praise... we will worship God through the divine tasks given to us by the Almighty One. The idea of work = worship is very Calvin, and if we don't ascribe to "soul sleep" then I think the idea of patron saints is actually very consistent with what you are talking about here.<br /><br />Also, I love how Revelation 21's "new heaven & earth & Jerusalem" comes straight out of Isaiah 65:<br /><br />"For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress."A Modern Ancienthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06236166025918312835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14475017.post-83492327873159517172010-12-14T11:41:22.842-05:002010-12-14T11:41:22.842-05:00Or perhaps although we can say today that we can d...Or perhaps although we can say today that we can do all things in Christ, but we really don't always believe it deep down, or aren't always successful in the end, but in Heaven (whether it be here or "there") we will always succeed. I don't think we'd lose the joy in doing things that come easily, in fact how much more enjoyable will it be to find success at things we always had to work hard to do well at let alone excel at but now could attain w/ grace and ease. The end of your post made me think that although as Christians we say we are waiting for Christ's return, that if we lived that way, really lived as if we were waiting as if His return would be the beginning of this everlasting new life, than wouldn't be truly be living our lives differently? Our goals and visions should be striving to prepare us and others for that new lifestyle, to start thinking in that new frame of mind, so maybe we can imagine what it's like to have that true hope that we can do all things in Christ, although, I know you might know, for me now, that's a bit of challenge. Thanks for challenging me to think more about these things.amymckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12211012311410084690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14475017.post-77515648417134092672010-12-14T09:28:50.573-05:002010-12-14T09:28:50.573-05:00Great post Joe. The association of work with pain ...Great post Joe. The association of work with pain strikes me as having been part of the other package deal at the Fall when heaven on earth came undone. It's so easy to confuse the two now - if it's hard or frustrating, why do it? Similar to what you've said, I think our struggles and frustrations will be reframed in the afterlife, and not disappear. They'll be challenges instead of struggles because we'll have joy and hope (or will there be no more need for hope?) I think of them being more like big adventures than struggles, like the feeling I had when I first started learning to play the guitar, or animate motion graphics.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14466492754617271831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14475017.post-86907805586640273962010-12-14T01:51:12.746-05:002010-12-14T01:51:12.746-05:00Joe,
Didn't Agent Smith explain this to Morph...Joe,<br /><br />Didn't Agent Smith explain this to Morpheus? How we couldn't handle perfection? :)<br /><br />I think of heaven not as a place where I will instantly be a perfect virtuoso at anything I attempt, but more as a place where I will have an infinite amount of time to practice. And perfect memory will help, too. So I could become very good at anything I wish, by just taking the time, which I will have in unlimited supply. I like some of John Eldredge's similar ideas on heaven from his book The Journey of Desire.Joshuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02760139019848486271noreply@blogger.com