The Rest of the Story

In the prior two posts, we’ve reflected on The Greatest Story Ever Told – salvation history.  The story of God’s rescue operation for humankind.  But we stopped at the Prologue, i.e., life on this earth and the transition towards an entirely different dimension of living.  As Paul Harvey famously said on his syndicated ABC radio show: “And now, the rest of the story”.

Every time we recite the Apostles Creed, we say that we believe “in life everlasting”.  Well, do you really?  In the Nicene Creed we profess to “look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.”  Are you truly looking forward to that?

What if I told you tomorrow that you have one week to prepare for an all expenses paid trip around the world that will last an entire year?  How would you spend that week?  Touring your favorite restaurants and indulging in gourmet meals and fine wine?  Depleting your bank account on movies, concerts, and entertainment of all sorts?  Renting storage facilities to safeguard all of your possessions?  Would you not rather devote almost all your energies to planning your itinerary, studying potential places to visit, perhaps even taking a crash course online in a foreign language to help navigate your journey?

If we believe that we are going to spend all eternity in a life after this one, how is it that we rarely even think about it, much less anticipate and prepare for it?

One explanation comes to mind immediately: we think it’s boring.  That’s right.  Heaven sounds boring.

Boring?

Peter Kreeft, professor of Philosophy and Theology at Boston College, points to pathetic modern images of “fluffy clouds, sexless cherubs, harps, and metal halos”.  “Our pictures of Heaven are dull, platitudinous and syrupy; therefore, so is our faith, our hope, and our love of Heaven.”¹

“Practically everybody talks about the next life as though it were comical,” observes Frank Sheed, a 20^th century Australian-born street evangelist and Catholic apologist.  Himself amused by pictures of knocking at heaven’s gate, he glibly comments, “Souls don’t have hands,” so how would they knock?  Even the alternative to heaven is depicted as a dungeon ruled by a ridiculous figure with “horns, tail, pitchfork, and blue fire.”²

In plain fact, any attempts on our part to describe existence in heaven are inherently futile.  Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, a Franciscan priest, lecturer and retreat master, bluntly states, “It is more difficult for us to picture eternal life than it is for one born blind to imagine what red or blue or green might mean. ”³ 

To wit, “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love him, “ writes St. Paul, echoing Isaiah 64:3.  

Beyond Imagination

Yet all three of the aforementioned men have written entire books on the subject.  What don’t they get in Paul’s words from 1 Cor. 2:9?  Do they put their thoughts above Paul’s? No, these wise and humble followers of Christ have avoided human speculation in expounding their subject.  They rely almost exclusively on the words of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels.

In Matthew 22: 1-14, we read that “Jesus began to address them, once more using parables. ‘The reign of God may be likened to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.’”  What a wonderful image.  Partaking in the best imaginable gourmet meals, with course after course, day after day, in the company of our loved ones and fascinating new friends.  A celebration unequaled in every way.  But for all eternity?  That’s it?  Just eating, drinking, and celebrating?

In the 14th chapter of John’s Gospel, we hear Jesus’ promise to his disciples before his death: “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places; otherwise, how could I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you?  I am indeed going to prepare a place for you, and then I shall come back to take you with me, that where I am you also may be.”  A magnificent mansion with palatial décor and a personal room for each one of us.  And God himself living there with us.  But what do we do there?  Are there concerts in the piano room?  A pool outside?  A golf course out back?

It seems even the words of Jesus himself don’t paint a picture of a life that we could envision for all eternity.  And when we try, says Fr. Groeschel, “we usually imagine a world somewhat like the one we now inhabit without unhappiness, a world of tranquility – a rather boring world.”

Our Entire Attention

And yet St. Paul told the church in Phillipi that his wholehearted focus on earth was on the goal of heaven, and that every follower of Jesus must do the same.

 “Brothers, I do not think of myself as having reached the finish line.  I give no thought to what lies behind, but push on to what is ahead.  My entire attention is on the finish line as I run toward the prize to which God calls me – life on high in Christ Jesus.  All of us who are spiritually mature must have this attitude.  If you see it another way, God will clarify the difficulty for you.  It is important that we continue on our course, no matter what stage we have reached.” (Phil. 3: 13-16)

Really?  We must have this attitude if we’re spiritually mature?  Our entire attention on heaven?  What are we missing? (to be continued)

¹ Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Heaven – Peter J. Kreeft  © 1982    Harper & Row.

² Death Into Life – F.J. Sheed  © 1977  Arena Lettres

³ After This Life – Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR  © 2009  Our Sunday Visitor