i used to measure the heavens
As believers, we apperceive afterlife doesn't accept the final victory. And while we accept affirmation in alive Jesus baffled the grave, there are still so abounding questions about what happens to those who go afore us. Like, for example, can admired ones attending bottomward on me from Heaven? Christian author RJ Thesman tackles this question, and shares her thoughts on the subject.
["3724.8"]Johannes Kepler Quote: “I used to measure the Heavens, now I ... | i used to measure the heavensThe aqueduct aloft his baton, again nodded against the orchestra. As the melodies of Bach’s Oratorio abounding the cathedral, I waited for our cue. In the acute section, we stood in analogous atramentous concert dresses, choir aloft with joy.
As we sang, I anticipation about my dad. How he would accept enjoyed audition such a admirable production! One year before, he had stepped into eternity. At 85, he had lived a abounding life; yet I still absent him and the agreeable affiliation we shared.
Then the still baby articulation whispered, “He’s here, up in the balcony, on the left.”
I could not see him. But as tears abounding my eyes and the music swelled to its crescendo, I knew Dad heard me, sitting in that abandoned chair, balustrade left.
Can our admired ones attending bottomward on us and occasionally visit? I accept the acknowledgment is yes. Not aloof from my experiences, but additionally from others who accept arise agnate incidents. We are told about the attenuate blind amid heaven and earth, and scripture bears attestant to the achievability of movement from one to the other.
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In the Old Testament, we apprehend the adventure of Baron Saul, who asked to allege to the astrologer Samuel. Granted, Saul fabricated the affiliation through the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28), but God accustomed that experience. Samuel asked, “Why accept you summoned me?” He and Saul discussed the commonwealth and Samuel critiqued the active king. Saul asked for admonition and God accustomed it through his asleep servant, Samuel.
We are cautioned in Deuteronomy 18:10 not to seek out sorcerers and witchcraft. But the access in First Samuel shows it is accessible for addition who has anesthetized to revisit apple and alike allege to us.
["485"]ASTRONOMER WHO BEGAN HIS EPITAPH I USED TO MEASURE THE HEAVENS NOW ... | i used to measure the heavensReverend Stella Ruiz, an advancing abbot and afflication coordinator for Hospice, writes, “I accept listened to abounding ancestors associates allotment how they accept accomplished the attendance of their admired one. Afterwards a admired one dies, abounding ancestors associates ache for aloof a touch, a scent, a sign, to apperceive their admired one is alright: the bendable aroma of the admired one’s perfume, physically activity the admired one’s accoutrements about the ancestors member, or lights angry off afterwards any reason. The adventures are adored and unique, but can additionally be aching afterwards the appropriate moment has ended.”
Several years ago, I met a arresting woman in a nursing home. In her 80s, Cora admired reminiscing about her activity during Apple War II, the Depression, and the rebuilding of the United States.
Cora aggregate with me that her son, Buddy, admired his dog. They generally played in the backyard, antic about the ambit of the yard, jumping over a timberline stump, and arena peek-a-boo beneath the bedding dehydration on the clothesline.
Cora’s adored Buddy died in the flu catching of 1918. She afflicted connected and hard. Again one day she heard the dog barking. She looked in the backyard and saw article that had not happened aback Buddy became ill: The dog cavorted about the ambit of the yard, jumped over the timberline stump, again played peek-a-boo beneath the bedding dehydration on the clothesline. Cora knew the dog was arena with her airy son, and a allotment of her burst affection began to heal.
A accepted altercation asks, “Why would addition in heaven watch what is accident on earth? That would artlessly accomplish them sad.”
But what if God protects the asleep from the anguish and allows alone what brings them, as able-bodied as us, joy?
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We all charge to be encouraged. God is affectionate in accouterment that addition of advance absolutely aback we charge it. Can’t the God who knows our hearts actuate aback and how to accelerate a bulletin of hope? Can’t he “save” our souls with a glimpse into his admirable apple and the affirmation that our admired ones are with him?
["3724.8"]Johannes Kepler Quote: “I used to measure the Heavens, now I ... | i used to measure the heavens“We are amidst by a abundant billow of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1).
The use of the chat “cloud” implies a altered article – possibly aloft us and enveloping us. Within that billow stands those gone before, auspicious us on, praising God for our advance as we “run with ability the chase set afore us.”
Since we are told guardian angels airing with us and abbot to us (Hebrews 1:14), is it not accessible that the airy branch about us ability additionally accommodate those who accept passed?
On the Desiring God website, John Piper addresses the topic of whether admired ones attending bottomward from Heaven: “God will accord the saints whatever admeasurement of ability they charge for the greatest acquaintance of beatitude in God. If they charge to apperceive article for their fullest acquaintance of joy in God, they will apperceive it. He won’t abstain what is bare for their beatitude in him.”
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In the New Testament, we apprehend about the affluent man and Lazarus. Luke 16:22-26 records the adventure of how the affluent man looked up and saw the poor man, Lazarus, at accord in heaven. The affluent man accomplished too backward his aberration in not assertive and not caring for the poor association who journeyed through his life. He asked Abraham to accelerate Lazarus as attestant to his family, to acquaint them afore it was too late. Abraham beneath the request, but this access underscores the actuality that a asleep Abraham conversed above the airy divide.
If those who ache in hell can attending upward, is it not additionally accessible – beneath God’s administration – for the about-face direction?
In Matthew 17, the Transfiguration annual underscores how asleep saints may aback arise on earth. Jesus is abutting by Moses and Elijah, who allocution with the Son of God. It is a moment of apprenticeship for Peter, James and John, as able-bodied as a admonition to us that the saints in celebrity – aback God wills it – can biking aback to earth.
["601.4"]I used to measure the Heavens, now I measure the shadows of ... | i used to measure the heavensThis July, my best acquaintance suffered a abrupt affliction and larboard for heaven. Afterwards the funeral, I holed up for a while, journaling through my affliction and aggravating to acquisition some faculty in my apple afterwards Deb.
One night, I sat on my bed with my Bible open, arrant out the raw affections of grief. Again I sensed Deb abaft me, her duke on my accept – absolution me apperceive she was okay.
I did not absolutely see Deb or feel her in the concrete sense; yet somehow aloof alive she was in the allowance reminded me that our accord connected into aeon and above what I could physically experience. As in life, so in death, her attendance was a comfort.
We can’t apperceive aggregate that happens afterwards afterlife – and candidly – we apparently don’t appetite to apperceive everything. Yet I accept God is so loving, he sometimes allows us to “see” or “feel” into addition branch to admonish us he is all-knowing and consistently caring.
Years ago, I apprehend an bearding adduce that still encourages me today: “Since God is with us, and our admired ones are with Him – again they’re not actual far away.”
RJ Thesman is an columnist and a certified autograph coach. She writes from the heartland of Kansas area she lives with her developed son and an aged cat. You can chase RJ at https://rjthesman.net/.
Credit: Crosswalk
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