Concepts of Heaven

Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!” (Mark 12:18-27)

I’ve read that people have lost the battle in their fight with cancer. I do not agree with this statement at all for it gives all the power to cancer, while we imagine God with his hands in his pockets not knowing what to do. We know that is not true. God has all the power, and while we don’t understand why someone dies from a disease, illness, accident or other, we can still know that God is in control. There is always a purpose and the purpose is God. Spiritual healing is a lot more important than physical healing. God wants his people to be healed.

What happens when we die? It is a question we all ponder because it is something we will all experience. We try to imagine it through our human minds and experiences in life, when in reality it will be something ultra experiential. Jesus is clear in saying that dying is not the end, but a new beginning that will go for eternity. “You are badly mistaken!” if you think that dying is the end.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the power you have over death. The gift of eternal life is ours as we follow you. It will be better than we can imagine. I pray that I can be used to share this good news with others. You are the God of the living. Hallelujah! Amen!

Faith Tip: Consider those you love who have gone before you to the Lord, and imagine the wonder of it all and how it will be when you see them again.

Written by Kathy Bruins