Since God works, we will work too!

 

Will we have work to do in heaven?

 

These simple, ordinary relationships are sacred

 

What about relationships in heaven? -- Full message

 

Let's think about the stark difference between the two

 

Will it be possible to sin in heaven? -- Full message

 

Heaven will be better than anything we can imagine

 

Why does heaven matter?

 

Rachel and Dan discuss some realities of heaven

 

It will be better on the other side

 

Audio Podcast - Common Misconception: People in heaven provide help to people on earth

                          Click here to listen to podcast!

There's a God here...and it ain't me!

Is Belief in Heaven Illogical?

A FRIEND RECENTLY TOLD ME that her belief in heaven was described as illogical. I provided her with a response to this matter which may be of interest or benefit to others. My response to my friend (with some edits) is what follows…

The reasoning for believing in heaven would actually have to begin, for me, with arguments for the existence of God.

I can put it this way: the question of heaven is very much secondary for me. The primary question would be: Does God exist? If God exists then it seems entirely plausible that an afterlife which would be described as heaven can exist.

There are a number of logically consistent arguments for the existence of God. One example would be the Kalam Cosmological Argument. It goes like this…

1. Everything that BEGAN to existence must have a cause.

2. Our universe BEGAN to exist. (It is not eternal. We know this from the Big Bang Theory.)

3. Therefore, our universe has a cause of its beginning.

This is a logically consistent argument. It has been studied and analyzed by philosophers who know much more about logic than I do and it holds up as a logically consistent argument. Each of the premises are true and therefore the conclusion is logically valid.

If we continue with this argument for God, it is reasonable to posit that whatever it is that “caused” the universe must be…

1. Timeless (because time came into existence with the Big Bang).

2. Eternal (because this Cause exists outside of time).

3. Immaterial (matter came into existence with the Big Bang).

4. Incredibly, immeasurably, powerful

The 4 qualities mentioned above would be describing some type of Cause that sounds a lot like God.

Sorry, I know this is an incredibly lengthy answer, but it is a very deep question…

There are other arguments for the existence of God, but I won’t go into more of them, I’m just trying to give an example of what I mean by arguments for God’s existence. Obviously, I am biased (but so is everyone else) however, I find the arguments for the existence of God to be stronger and more compelling than any arguments I have encountered against the existence of God.

I’m trying to shorten this already too long answer and I know the primary question has to do with the existence of heaven, so, I’ll put it like this:

If an All-powerful, eternal God exists (and there are compelling arguments for that truth) then it is not logically inconsistent to believe that He is capable of providing life after this earthly existence in a place we know of as heaven.

I understand that a person might say, “Well I don’t believe in God.”

I get it. And obviously, a person is allowed to hold that belief, but that is not a logical argument against the existence of God or heaven. It is a belief.

By the way, I have provided an argument for the existence of God, can the person who is arguing against heaven (and I’m guessing against God) provide a reasonable, intelligent defeater to this argument?

Like I mentioned earlier, in a way, the point I’m making is that the real question is not about the existence of heaven. It is about the existence of God. If there is no God then I would agree that there is nothing after our existence here on earth and there certainly is no heaven. But no one has ever proven that God does not exist. (And, as I mentioned earlier, there are compelling arguments for the truth that He DOES exist.)

On the other hand, if an eternal, all-powerful God exists then the existence of an after-life and heaven really is not an unreasonable or illogical belief.

Dan Marler

Oak Lawn, IL

Knowing that we have ETERNAL life

E-Flash From Dan - March 20, 2015

Dear E-Flash Friends;

The Restoration Ministries worship team is going to be joining with some of the singers from our worship team to lead our music this week. I’ve just come from listening in on the rehearsal and I can tell you it is going to be fantastic!

I’m so excited about what I’ve just heard that I can’t hardly wait till Sunday.  

Hmm, let me think about it… it will be about 35 more hours!

And I have the privilege of delivering the fourth message in our series on Heaven. The message is titled: What Will We Do In Heaven?

You will not want to miss the service this Sunday!

Love and blessings,

Dan

First Church of God

4600 W. 111th Street

Oak Lawn, IL

Service times:  9am or 11am

What's Coming 3/1/15 with Dan, Lisa and Steph? -- Audio Podcast

We talk about focus and have some discussion regarding the new upcoming series on heaven.

Click on the link to listen!
                                                   Listen!

I've Been Thinking About Heaven

A day is coming for all of us when we will make an extraordinary transition.  Our life will end here in this earthly realm, however, I am totally convinced our existence will not cease.  In the book of 2^nd Corinthians this is written about as being absent from the body and present with the Lord.  (See 2 Corinthians 5:8)

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was writing about the concept that we have a non-material soul and put it this way, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”  That is a simple but profound statement which deserves our thought.

I’m writing these things because heaven has been brought to my attention, lately, through some of the interactions I have had.  (I’ve noticed that as I get older I think about heaven more frequently, as well, for somewhat obvious reasons.) I am grateful for this earthly life, it is a wonderful gift and I love it (especially the parts involving chocolate), but I am also grateful that I have assurance in my heart about what comes next.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2

Let Me Tell You About Lyle Nielsen

Lyle Nielsen is my sister-in-law Candi’s father.

Lyle is a wonderful Christian man.  If you knew him you would have liked him.  Really.  I’m not just saying that.

Lyle has a family who are some of the most terrific, loving, fun, thoughtful, outstanding people I’ve ever known.  This is due to many factors, no doubt, but it’s primarily due to the work of God in their lives.

One of the main reasons that they know God is because of Lyle’s love of God and his life of faithful, committed service to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Lyle’s life has been a steady, consistent and beautiful example of the abundant life of which Jesus spoke.

Lyle has been a paraplegic—as the result of an automobile accident—for the last 32 years of his life.  I find it to be an interesting and inspiring testimony to the character of this man to know that Lyle did not whine, complain or shake the fist of an angry victim at God because of this life-altering disability.

Lyle did this instead:  He lived.

He laughed.

He told stories.

He loved his wife.

He sang.

He danced at his grandchildren’s weddings.  (He did.  I saw it.)

He spoke words of love, hope and encouragement to his children.

He served God.

He served others.

He gave loving, Godly, wise advice to fortunate people like me.

He worshiped God with his heart, soul, mind and strength.

Today Lyle died.

But he didn’t really die in the most ultimate sense of that word because those who die knowing Jesus have this promise from Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…” John 11:25

That is an incredibly important promise.  Wouldn’t you agree?

Lyle’s family loves him very much.  He will be dearly missed.  They will grieve his passing.

But because of Jesus, those of us who love Lyle will also rejoice.  Yes, there will be tears on our cheeks but we rejoice to know that Lyle has not ceased to exist.  In fact, he is singing and dancing and praising Jesus with an all new power, vitality and excitement.

The wheelchair is gone.  The earthly limitations are gone.  The struggles of this life are gone.  And in place of those things is life eternal.  Life in its most vibrant, thrilling, fulfilling, and meaningful sense.  Life in the awesome, unspeakable light and presence of the Lord Jesus.

My sincerest prayers go out to the entire Nielsen family (and extended family) during this time of grief.  You are dear to me and I love you all more than I could ever express with words.  God surely blessed you all—and others of us, as well—with the life of Lyle.

Be assured that God’s love and blessings endure forever!

Dan Marler

Sin Will Be Unthinkable?

“None of us will sin in heaven, not because it will be impossible.  Sin will rather be unthinkable.  Why?  We will experience the passions of Christ fully and directly…The life of Christ will pour into us every moment…We will be in His literal, seeable presence.” –Larry Crabb. This is an interesting thought from Larry Crabb.  Is it likely that the full, direct, literal presence of Jesus will make the notion of sinning absurd?  That seems feasible to me. Cool, huh?