My favorite childhood memories are when my family lived in Italy while my father served in the Army. I’ll never forget the vacations we took.
I still have the heirlooms we bought in Italy. Sometimes I’ll lie on my sofa and watch the Italian rain lamp as I listen to my antique grandfather clock chime.
I’m transported back to Italy when I was younger and its good 2 be back, I was happiest in Rome. We visited all of the tourist spots; I’ll never forget walking into the Sistine Chapel for the first time. It was hard not to run into other tourists as I stared at the paintings.
Looking up at the ceiling I wished I could touch heaven like the angels floating on the ceiling. The scaffolding being used to restore some of the paintings was a temptation to climb.
I thought just maybe I could make it to heaven if I climbed high enough. Now, it’s funny to think about how the early church had a misconception of Heaven. The saints simply float around on clouds while God judged people below.
The emphasis was more on the saints and angels than God and His guiding light. It’s a dichotomy in this mythical version of heaven. Michelangelo’s Heaven on the ceiling is a masterpiece, but it’s twisted; much like the beliefs of the early church and unfortunately, the 21st-century church, let’s look at a few before the show’s over.
•Location
•Family
•Work
The idea work is part of the Curse because of the fall of man is ridiculous. God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a perfect garden and told them to work it, all before they sinned (Genesis 2:15.)
Work It?
Work is an activity involving effort done in order to achieve a purpose, mental or physical activity as a means of earning income; employment.
God gives man something to do like a good, good Father gives a child chores to do, to help them grow and give them a purpose, we are born this way, God made man in His image (Genesis 1:27.)
God is still working (John 5:17.) God is working even when we don’t see it: in nature, in heaven and within us. Work isn’t bad; it only became difficult because of the fall, it was never meant to be like that.
When paradise was lost in the garden, work became toilsome; the gift was tainted with sin. In Heaven, Paradise will be redeemed and labor will be restored, we’ll have no limitations.
After my accident, I was in the hospital and taking rehab for almost a year and missing work. During that time I was unable to work and realized what a gift work really is, it’s more than just earning a paycheck, that’s a misconception.
Rick Warren says, “Work is necessary to provide for our needs.” Work gives us purpose. Christians are to work for the Lord. Warren continues, “If you are alive, there’s a purpose for your life.” This life is preparation for eternal life with God. Believers are called to serve God now in many ways.
1.Loving others (Luke 6:32-42.)
2.Caring for widows and orphans (James 1:27.)
3.Welcoming the least of these (Matthew 25:40.)
4.Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God (Colossians 3:17.)
Religious people look down on others who work harder, religious people work hard to serve themselves rather than God. Jesus confronted the Pharisees about being lazy (Matthew 23:4.)
Ironically, Jewish writings are full of teachings about serving God and warnings against being lazy (Proverbs 10:4-11, Ecclesiastes 10:18.) Don’t forget, laziness is considered one of the seven deadly sins (Proverbs 17:24,) time for an S.O.S.
Wicked?
If you’ve read my blog, you’re aware I am a gym rat. The truth is I don’t always want to work out, most days I don’t feel like it. If we only worked out when we felt like it, we would spend most of our time at home doing nothing like the broken vessels we are. Can I get an amen?
The church isn’t called to feelings, but to action. In one of Jesus’ parables, He tells about a servant who buried the Master’s talent, Jesus called the servant a sloth and wicked (Matthew 25:14-30.)
The message to the church is obvious, while we wait for Jesus’ return; we need to get busy with what He created us to do (Ephesians 2:1.) If we are standing on the promises of God, we will prepare for His perfect plan and work for us on the new earth, that’s the bigger picture.
Yes, our family is coming home to where we’ll be together again, but we will be happier because we are reunited with God and together we will work it out (Revelation 20:6.)
I still have the heirlooms we bought in Italy. Sometimes I’ll lie on my sofa and watch the Italian rain lamp as I listen to my antique grandfather clock chime.
I’m transported back to Italy when I was younger and its good 2 be back, I was happiest in Rome. We visited all of the tourist spots; I’ll never forget walking into the Sistine Chapel for the first time. It was hard not to run into other tourists as I stared at the paintings.
Looking up at the ceiling I wished I could touch heaven like the angels floating on the ceiling. The scaffolding being used to restore some of the paintings was a temptation to climb.
I thought just maybe I could make it to heaven if I climbed high enough. Now, it’s funny to think about how the early church had a misconception of Heaven. The saints simply float around on clouds while God judged people below.
The emphasis was more on the saints and angels than God and His guiding light. It’s a dichotomy in this mythical version of heaven. Michelangelo’s Heaven on the ceiling is a masterpiece, but it’s twisted; much like the beliefs of the early church and unfortunately, the 21st-century church, let’s look at a few before the show’s over.
•Location
•Family
•Work
The idea work is part of the Curse because of the fall of man is ridiculous. God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a perfect garden and told them to work it, all before they sinned (Genesis 2:15.)
Work It?
Work is an activity involving effort done in order to achieve a purpose, mental or physical activity as a means of earning income; employment.
God gives man something to do like a good, good Father gives a child chores to do, to help them grow and give them a purpose, we are born this way, God made man in His image (Genesis 1:27.)
God is still working (John 5:17.) God is working even when we don’t see it: in nature, in heaven and within us. Work isn’t bad; it only became difficult because of the fall, it was never meant to be like that.
When paradise was lost in the garden, work became toilsome; the gift was tainted with sin. In Heaven, Paradise will be redeemed and labor will be restored, we’ll have no limitations.
After my accident, I was in the hospital and taking rehab for almost a year and missing work. During that time I was unable to work and realized what a gift work really is, it’s more than just earning a paycheck, that’s a misconception.
Rick Warren says, “Work is necessary to provide for our needs.” Work gives us purpose. Christians are to work for the Lord. Warren continues, “If you are alive, there’s a purpose for your life.” This life is preparation for eternal life with God. Believers are called to serve God now in many ways.
1.Loving others (Luke 6:32-42.)
2.Caring for widows and orphans (James 1:27.)
3.Welcoming the least of these (Matthew 25:40.)
4.Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God (Colossians 3:17.)
Religious people look down on others who work harder, religious people work hard to serve themselves rather than God. Jesus confronted the Pharisees about being lazy (Matthew 23:4.)
Ironically, Jewish writings are full of teachings about serving God and warnings against being lazy (Proverbs 10:4-11, Ecclesiastes 10:18.) Don’t forget, laziness is considered one of the seven deadly sins (Proverbs 17:24,) time for an S.O.S.
Wicked?
If you’ve read my blog, you’re aware I am a gym rat. The truth is I don’t always want to work out, most days I don’t feel like it. If we only worked out when we felt like it, we would spend most of our time at home doing nothing like the broken vessels we are. Can I get an amen?
The church isn’t called to feelings, but to action. In one of Jesus’ parables, He tells about a servant who buried the Master’s talent, Jesus called the servant a sloth and wicked (Matthew 25:14-30.)
The message to the church is obvious, while we wait for Jesus’ return; we need to get busy with what He created us to do (Ephesians 2:1.) If we are standing on the promises of God, we will prepare for His perfect plan and work for us on the new earth, that’s the bigger picture.
Yes, our family is coming home to where we’ll be together again, but we will be happier because we are reunited with God and together we will work it out (Revelation 20:6.)
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