Resolved to Read (and POST)

Chapter 6 addresses whether our temporal waiting place is physical. While many of the passages discussed can be argued figurative versus literal, Hebrews helps us direct our thoughts to a physical intermediate Heaven. One of the things that stood out to me was New Jerusalem being brought down to the New Earth. Since we know that the New Jerusalem is physical and we know that it is waiting in the Intermediate Heaven, wouldn't it seem obvious that the Intermediate Heaven is physical?

Another item that stood out to me was the backward thinking that often takes place- I know it does for me. Alcorn encourages us to "reason down", meaning start with Heaven as the source and end with earth as the derivative. I am not sure whether it is pride or "small thoughts" that cause this. Probably a little of both. Pride in the sense that we are so "spiritual" and the world is so awful around us that Heaven can't possibly be physical. "Small thoughts" in the sense that we don't naturally think of Heaven and consequently our thoughts are misguided and we don't think twice.

The whole section on Eden was interesting to me, again because I don't think about it. He reminds us that Eden was not destroyed, but our ability to access it was removed. One day we will be able to eat from the Tree of Life (Rev. 2:7). This reminder gives a new outlook when you read Genesis.

While there is so much in this chapter to discuss, I want to leave plenty for everyone to mention. I am glad that we are doing this. I was reading Tabletalk last night (thank you again Dave and Elisha!) and I came across a C.S. Lewis quote that I thought fit well with the New Year and our goal with this book. I will end with it.

"If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this".

I pray that we may do most in this world!