Heaven on Earth.

In a recent Bible study, I was presented with an interesting question. "Can one know heaven while still here on earth?" Typical to my type of answer, I had to say, "Yes. And no." As far as a certian and full understanding, I would give an emphatic "no", for heaven is something too far from the realm of human comprehension for us to get a clear view of it in our present state. However, as far as viewing small glimpes, brief flickers of Light amist the Darkness, then I would say "yes".

But let us begin by first getting an idea of what heaven will be like, and what makes it such a worthwhile goal to strive for, not taking the alternative into account, of course. There are many cliche desriptions of heaven, ranging from pearly gates, to golden streets to an oasis and every other kind of earthly delight imaginable. I don't necessarly agree or disagree with any of these interpretations; however, I do believe that whether such plesantries will or won't be there is irrelevant. Personally, I could not care less if the streets are made of prescious metals or of dirt, or even if there will be streets at all. There is one thing alone that makes heaven the ultimate goal -- to be in the presence of God. Within His glory, everything else that one ever held dear will fade to nothing in an instant, like stars eclipsed by the light of the sun. It is He who makes heaven what it is, for all the comforts that eternity has to offer would be but vanity without His presence. The Saints already in heaven are not joyful because of they have attained some beautiful retirement. Rather, they have true joy because for time and all eternity they are able to look upon the very face of God. The same God they served on earth with utmost love and devotion, they can now interact with on a personal lever never before experienced.

Now, understanding that to view heaven is to see the face of God, we can better determine whether or not it is possible to experience heaven here on earth. Again, I say we can in part. While I fully believe that we shall never be able to imagine the full glory that is heaven, I do believe that we can view ocassional beams of the Light. After all, we acknowledge that all good is of God. And in creating the earth, God often proclaimed it as good. Also, humans are created in the very image of God, and therefore in some way reflect His goodness. While the world is undeniably full of evil, one doesn't have to look far to see good as well. When I hear my nieces laugh, or see my mother smile, or sit and listen to my Abbot play the piano, I see some very good and beautiful things -- things that fill me with comfort and hope. These things, be they talent, personality or spirit, are very clear reflections of God, mirrored in his creation. While they cannot replace the longing I naturally feel for closness with God, I dare not take the gifts for granted, for I well know that such gifts are granted me out of God's goodness, and any gift he sees fit to bestow upon me is one worth taking the time to appreciate.

So while one certianly does not want to become distracted with worldly things, one must also remember that simply because something exists in this world, does not make it of this world. We are but pilgrims in this life, striving for the homeland that is heaven, yet being ever mindful that the journey, with all it's tragic beauty, is as much a gift as the prize that awaits us hereafter. Amen.

Vincent Christian