For some weeks now we have been
talking about the destination of man. The occasion was that some
thirty people at the airport, after they had bought their tickets,
were asked, "Do you know that you will go to heaven?" All thirty
answered, 'No!' This was our motive for stating, in the first place,
you cannot talk about man's destination unless you are sure about
man's origin, how and for what purpose he was created. From there on
we asked, what must be considered 'normal' for man: what else but to
live for his Creator! Not doing that must be called abnormal, even
if no one would serve the Lord anymore. Then we simply had to go on
and state that man, because he is a sinner, will miss the goal,
become a total failure. The only way that God has opened is Jesus
Christ who came, not only to save sinners from their sins, but to
restore, to recreate man so that he, as the 'image of God' is again
able to be a normal human being. If he refuses to let God be the
centre of his life, he will find out that what comes after death, is
a continuation, an extension of this life: forever exist without
God's love; that is hell!
This time we would like to say a
few things about the way to eternal bliss and glory that Jesus
Christ has opened. Yea, He even is that way: "I am the Way and the
Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by Me." [John
14:6]. But first this. If I had been at that airport, I would not
have asked that question in the same words. I would certainly have
asked, as I ask you now, "Do you know your destination?" I would not
have asked, "Are you sure that you are on your way to heaven?" I
have several reasons for not asking it this way. There may be
several misconceptions about hell; but, I fear, there are even more
about heaven. No, that doesn't mean that we know everything about
heaven. Not by far. God has kept some secrets, some surprises. But -
and this may be a surprise for you! - I do not believe that heaven
is the final and ultimate destination for man. Yes, I know, there
are countless Christians who are fully satisfied to know that, when
they die, their soul goes to heaven.
My first question would be: 'what
about your body?' Do we not, with the Church of all ages, believe
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life
everlasting? Sure, there are several believers who are not much
interested in what will happen with their body, once they have
passed away from this scene. Sure, while still alive, they rush to
the doctor as soon as their body bothers them in one way or another.
But after death..? no, then it is only important what happens to
your soul.. We do not belong to such believers. We are very much
interested in what is going to happen with our bodies. Therefore we
confess, Catechism answer 57, "That not only my soul, after this
life, shall immediately be taken up to Christ [did Paul not say, "my
desire is to be with Christ, for that is far better"? Philippians
2:23], but [thus continues the Catechism] also this my body, raised
by the power of Christ, shall again be united with my soul, and made
like unto the glorious body of Christ."
If you know only a bit about the
New Testament, you know that on nearly every page the joy sounds
forth about the resurrection of Christ, and our own resurrection.
"Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who
have fallen asleep... .Each in his own order: Christ the first
fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." [I
Corinthians 15] And what then? Yes, when Christ returns [and He is
making haste!], He will judge the world, and divide mankind in two
groups; the one group to everlasting darkness, the other to
everlasting light. But that light will not only be "heaven for the
soul"! Whatever will happen to those who have found their salvation
in Jesus Christ, they will not become angels. They remain human
beings, just as God has created them. They belong to the earth, and
therefore God will prepare the earth for them. Peter has some
dramatic things to say about that. The world will not be cleansed
again by water, as it was long ago. But most certainly by fire! On
the "day of God" [says Peter] "the heavens will be kindled and
dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire." A universal
nuclear -combustion! But that's not the end. From that fire will
rise a new universe: "But according to His promise [and you may
fully trust that promise; the God of truth has never lied, He
can't], -according to His promise we wait for new heavens and a new
earth in which righteousness dwells." [II Peter 3:12f]. A new earth
too, because man's history started on earth and will remain on
earth. John was allowed to see that in a vision, Revelation 21,
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.. And I saw the holy city,
new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God... and I heard a
great voice saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men! He
will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself
will be with them!"
What else can this mean but this
that heaven comes down upon the earth, the new earth, that is. There
will, just as in the beginning, be the tree of life and the river of
life. We must, therefore, conclude that "going to heaven" is only
meant for the time in-between your or my death and that final day of
glory. Do not get startled, therefore, if I tell you: had I been at
that airport, and been asked, 'are you sure that you are going to
heaven', I might have answered, 'I hope not!' Before you turn off
your radio, hear me out please. If my time is up before Christ has
finished this world-wide work of gathering His Church, sure I know I
go to Christ, just as Paul said. I know that because God is not a
liar; I trust Him. But, if you ask me, yes I do hope that Christ
will come back soon, that I will still be around. Then I will not
have to die. Says Paul [I Corinthians again], "We shall not all
sleep [i.e. die], but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye and then the mortal will put on
immortality.''
Man's final destination is to be
on earth, have dominion over all things, - there is no end to that -
and thus fulfill, but without sin and shortcoming, his original
mandate, "to praise and glorify God!" Is that not something to look
forward to, to long for? As we have already stated, we do not know
everything about it. God is preparing many surprises for His
children. It will be a thousand times more beautiful than we can
ever dream. And He has prepared that for those who love Him. Yes,
for those who love Him. Not for those who hate or neglect Him; who
have no room for Him in their lives; who have no need of mercy and
forgiveness. There is no pardon for stubborn unbelief. Nor may we
replace "those who love Him" for something else, like "those who
mean well" or "those who never harmed a creature" or things like
that. Man doesn't come there by his own good works and noble deeds.
"No one comes to the Father but by Me." said Jesus. Ladies and
gentlemen, let's once more face it. Man's eternal destination is to
lie for God on the new earth, where God will dwell among His people.
And man will start this eternal life here and now - but that is
something for next week, the Lord willing.
Who wants to miss that goal, now
that he knows about it? Can you call that life, where there is no
faith, no outlook, no expectation except the door of death locked
behind you, and behind it everlasting darkness? Sure, one may
ridicule it all, but who wants to be a fool?
Today, again the Good Tiding of
eternal salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ is proclaimed.
It is God's way to lead a sinner to faith. Can you sing Psalm 122:
"I was glad when they said to me, 'let us go to the house of the
LORD!"? May God be too strong for you.
G. VanDooren
October 23, 1977
