This post is by Becca Wellan, a volunteer at Redeemer who firmly believes there will be coffee and hammocks and bonfires in heaven.

“You know when the sun is about to set, at the beginning of summer? Everything smells like fresh cut grass,” she says, looking out at the road, barely lit by dim headlights. “That’s how I imagine it. There will be fields of soft grass and we’ll just lay there, watching the stars come out. Feeling nothing but peace.”

My dear friend and I pulled up to my dumpy, old house and sat there talking for another hour. Already, we spent several hours working through our struggles together. I had a desperate, heavy heart that night and I craved the salve of gospel-conversation. Soon, talk turned into daydreaming about heaven. 

This past year did not go as planned. But really, does anything? I’ve been blindsided by heartache and desperation, drowning in an endless sea of questions I can’t answer.

I am no Job or King David. I won’t pretend to be well acquainted with the suffering of this world and really, I’m not prepared to write about my own. But I will say this. In the questions and confusion, in the hurt and fear, I’ve clung to this hope: one day, one glorious day, it will all be over. 

Finding healing in this world is not our only hope. 

And after you have suffered a little while, 
the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, 
will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. // 1 Peter 5:10. 

If you believe that Jesus has saved you from the power and punishment of your sin, the process of being restored, confirmed, strengthened and established has already begun. But while we’re on earth, we will suffer in one way or another. A guarantee, like death and taxes and coffee shops on every corner in the PNW. 

By no means to make light of the horrendous state of our world, but in comparison with forever, it will last no longer than the morning mist. Or my morning cup of jo, let’s be real.

In sharing each other’s suffering, my friends and I have been deeply comforted as we dreamed together of what forever and finally free will be like. What it will be like to be fully restored and at rest in the arms of Christ. 

In other words, we can’t shut up about heaven. We’re stoked to go home. 

Think heaven will be boring? I used to. Puffy clouds, cherubs, harps and all that. Harps are pretty rad, but I had no glimmer of joy in my expectation of heaven. On top of that, no one really talked about it. I only started caring when I realized my heart could break and I’m not who I thought I was and life just stinks, some days. 

But think about it: the creator of joy and laughter and shimmering oceans and, well, pepto-bismol pink flamingos, also created heaven. We have a lot to look forward to. And, we have a lot we could talk about. 

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and death shall be no more, 
neither shall there be mourning, 
nor crying, 
nor pain anymore, 
for the former things have passed away. // Revelation 21:3-4

Just think about it: There will be no more pain. No. More. Pain! This means … 

No more grief, no loss, no hunger. 
No more shootings. No racism, sexism, homophobia. 
No more struggles with singleness, marriage, friendships, sexuality.  
No more addictions. 
No more mental illness. 
No more cancer, or other illnesses. 
No more papercuts, stubbed toes, acne, bad breath. Etc. 

What are your biggest pain points right now? Perhaps your own sin, or the sin you see around you? Let your heart be encouraged - these things will pass away, because on the cross Jesus purchased our freedom, our hope for heaven. One day, He’ll give us a warm welcome, with arms open wide. We’ll be with Him in paradise, like the criminal on the cross - unworthy to be called His, but loved, forgiven and heaven-bound in spite of ourselves (Luke 23:43). 

Some questions about heaven we’ll never find answers to in the bible. Like, will there be ice-cream, or laser tag? But, it’d do our souls some good to look upward, with our hearts set towards eternity. Jesus prepared a place for us (John 14:2), and our hearts cannot possibly imagine all He has in store for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). But, we’re free to imagine nonetheless!

Now, here’s what I want you to do: Go, geek out about heaven. Look up verses about it. Ask your friends what they imagine heaven will be like. Ask a lot of questions. Remind each other that in dark seasons, when hope seems hard to find, belief in Jesus means we can breathe:

One day, one glorious day, it will all be over. We will be home.

A Good [Wo]man Is Easy To Find: So often when we seek a mentor what we have in mind is a unicorn. We want them to be tender and firm, gentle and wise, learned and simple—we want a man or woman who fully embodies the Christian ideal. The problem is: that man or woman doesn’t exist. That person is Jesus, our only Savior.

Parenting Well In A Digital World: Even at the best of times there is nothing simple about raising children. But throw in a million new technologies—new devices and social networks and apps—and things get far more complicated still. This is every parent’s challenge today.

Looking Forward To A Heaven We Can Imagine: I have every reason to believe that in heaven, I will be closer to my wife and kids and grandkids than ever. It won’t be the end of our relationships, but they’ll be taken to a new level. Our source of comfort isn’t only that we’ll be with the Lord in heaven but also that we’ll be with each other.

The Gospel According To Pinterest: Pinterest has given me some wonderful recipes and household tips that have blessed my family. Yet I must remember that my salvation is in Christ, and in Him alone. My salvation is not the result of my own efforts; it is because I was chosen in Him (v. 4) and accepted in Him (v. 6), because I have been redeemed in Him (v. 7) and have obtained an inheritance in Him (v. 11), because I have trusted in Him, and have been sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of that inheritance (vv.13-14).

One Bible, Many Interpretations: When I teach theology courses, I always make a point of telling my students that a number of the things I’ll teach them will be untrue. I never intend to teach wrongly, of course, and I work hard to ensure my teaching is as accurate and helpful as possible, but the reality is that I will teach some things that are incorrect. When that happens, though, I don’t want anyone to think it’s because the Bible isn’t clear where it intends to be. It may be that the Bible wasn’t intended to address the particular question I’m asking, or it may be that I’ve been waylaid by some combination of ignorance, carelessness, and sin. It certainly won’t be because the Scriptures are an incoherent mess.

Living Well In A Digital World: I am thrilled to live in this time, and eager to use all of these new technologies for good. But I know, and you know, that we need to use them well, and to use them for God’s glory.

SAE And The Lynching Tree: The solution to racial tension is still, and always will be, the gospel of a bloody, crucified, resurrected, and glorified Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, a Jewish Messiah, died and resurrected from the dead to unify all things and all people to God and to one another.

photo credit: Prairie Grass Trail (4) via photopin (license)

Look! A Distraction: We are distracted. We are so distracted, and so accustomed to it, that after a while we almost become distraction. We lose the ability to be still. We fear the quiet. We are intimidated by the moments where there is nothing to look at, nothing to do...We are learning. We are learning the costs so that we might also learn the solutions. Here are three of the costs of all of this distraction.

She's Not Perfect, But She's Perfect For Me: The doctrine of providence helps me even in the suffering that inevitably comes in marriage. If my wife is quarrelsome or difficult, then I can embrace this suffering as from God. If my husband is overbearing or passive, then I embrace this circumstance as part of God’s plan to shape me. Ultimately, marriage is about our sanctification. He’s not perfect, but he’s perfect for me. She’s not perfect, but she’s perfect for me. Do you believe it?

Stumbling Into The Future: So consider the next century, if the Lord tarries his return. James reminds us, “You do know not what tomorrow will bring” (James 4:14). All we can be sure of is that we can’t be sure of what will be tomorrow. Whether for an individual or for a nation, we just don’t know what the world of 2114 will look like. What wars, what murderers, what marvelous human achievements are pocketed in the decades ahead? How much will any of us actually see of it on this side of the thin line of life? So we know what we don’t know, but what, as Christians, do we know? Here are four certainties with which to face the uncertainties of the next year — and the next 100 years.

In Heaven, Can There Be Thrills Without Risk?: Because God’s design wasn’t an accident—because he doesn’t make mistakes—we can be sure that excitement and exhilaration will be more, not less, a part of our experience in Heaven than it is now.

10 Myths About Lust: If you embrace these 10 myths about lust, then you will find no remedy for your lust. Instead, you will dive into a “black hole” of sin. Embrace Truth; reject these 10 myths.

Your Work + My Life = Balance: It is hard to see how we could turn back the clock to the time of restricted shopping hours. But it is important to note how weaker members of our society once more have to pay for the pleasure and convenience of others. The poor, the ‘battlers’, the migrants like this Russian shop keeper—have to pay for the leisurely pleasure of others. It is the strugglers who often have to work on weekends, late at night or in the early hours of the morning if they want a job at all.

Should I Tell My Spouse About Struggles With Sexual Purity?: Help each other to heaven. Talk about these things. Cultivate intimate trust. Make a plan. Make love. Cast yourselves upon the grace of God. And do this all with your hope fixed on the glory that is to be revealed. We will be home with Jesus soon, so help each other toward that Day.

Personal Organization For The Sake of Fruitful Ministry: So, even if you don’t consider yourself an organized person, I encourage you to consider the ways your ministry to others and your capacity to do good would be enhanced by a little more attention to where you keep your pens and how you track your budget.

A Weak Mother Is A Good Mother: The most important thing I can do for my children each day is to trust God and acknowledge my weakness, not rely on myself. He will take my meager offering and turn it into a miracle.

Unrealistic Expectations (And Where They Come From): So while I have a list of burdensome expectations for myself, God holds out a whole different perspective. A life-giving perspective. The question is: will I listen to accusation and go again to my list of expectations to prove I'm not a disappointment? Or will I believe first that I'm not a disappointment (because of Christ) and let that freedom inform how I love and serve?

photo credit: JD Hancock via photopin cc

The Assumption We Can't Afford: I've been in church for years, but no one has taught me to study my Bible until now.

Is God Allowed To Do Stuff We Can't?: These reflections are far from exhaustive or adequate to the subject matter. Much more could be and has been said on the subjects of forgiveness, substitution, justice, and the cross. In this piece I simply wanted to make one small point: sometimes it’s okay for God to tell us not to do something that he himself does. Executing judgment is one of those things.

David Platt on Why You Shouldn't believe "Heaven Is For Real": God’s beef with necromancy is that it belittles the sufficiency of his communication. Why would you inquire of the dead to find out what you want to know instead of inquiring of me? And if they say: Well, I have inquired of you and you didn’t tell me what I want to know. He would say: Well, that is your problem. I have told you what you need to know. You don’t need to know about such and such if I haven’t told you. And, in fact, if you go trying to inquire about such and such that I haven’t told you, you are dishonoring me. So that is the nature of the argument. And, therefore, I think the prohibition of séances and necromancy applies to this kind of thing and people ought to stop writing those books.

Raising Arrow Children: Don’t reduce your children to being “adorable,” writes Doug Wilson, and miss out on the promise of formidable children, arrows in the hand of a warrior.

How Can A Mature Christian Be Fed In A Missional Community?: The scriptures end with knowing God relationally and being like Him. Maturity in Christianity is being “conformed to the image of Christ” not merely knowing a lot about Him. This involves the mind, heart, hands, and actions of Christ. Missional Communities invite mature Christians to learn to enjoy the food that Christ did, to do the will of their Father.

4 Reasons To Doubt the Resurrection: To the modern mind, the resurrection is utterly implausible.

You Can't Do Everything: here are 4 simple ways you can start empowering and enabling others to do the great work of ministry

The Resurrection Of Jesus: A Jewish Perspective: Historically, Jesus’ resurrection (along with his claims to be the Son of God and the Son of Man) has always been the point of contention that separates Christians and Jews. However, the Orthodox Jewish theologian Pinchas Lapide (1922–1997), in his book The Resurrection of Jesus: A Jewish Perspective, turns that expectation on its head. Though he does not believe Jesus is the Messiah, Lapide does believe that the resurrection of Jesus was a historical event. Recognizing that Jesus and his disciples were faithful Jews, he seeks to understand it from a Jewish perspective.

Missional Moms Who Never Make Sacrifices: So when we consider the calling, the work, and the sacrifices of motherhood in this light, with a thrill in our heart we can say that we have never made a sacrifice.

Help! My Kids Are Looking At Porn!: For today, here are some suggestions for how to respond when you learn that your children have been looking at or looking for pornography.

Please Don't Make My Funeral About Me: You can cry at my funeral if you want to. But don't think for a minute that my death is tragic. No matter how it happens, no matter when; it simply can't be a tragedy. Leaving this world with all of its sin-sickness to enter into the beauty and perfection and peace of the presence of Christ is something to anticipate, not avoid. Death, for me, will not be the second-best option to a longer life here. To be with Christ will not be a minor improvement on this life, but "far better" (Phil. 1:23). You can cry, but I hope your tears are, at least in part, tears of joy that I have entered into the joy of my Master.

photo credit: Sprengben [why not get a friend] via photopin cc