Heaven (Part Four)

I'm thankful that in heaven we will be protected from suicide bombers like the ones in Moscow yesterday. We will be protected from random transients who accidentally drive off with our children while simply attempting to steal our car at a Circle K, like the one that took place in Phoenix today.

Heaven is primarily about getting together with God for the sheer enjoyment of Him, but part of it is about our desire which has been dragging on for years which is our cry out to God, "When will you protect us from these things?" Part of it is about His protection which has always answered, "Yes, I'm doing away with all of this and I will protect you from all of this forever. I will keep them from you forever. All evil will be stripped away. I will never let it touch you again."

One interesting point in Heaven is that we will even be protected from ourselves and others will be protected from us. It will be the ultimate form of protection. God says, "Will you let me strip all of your sin?" This has actually been His question to us all along. It is the question that speaks without words from the cross. Our cry is, "God, when will you protect us?" He says, "Yes, I will." He also says, "Will you let me protect you from yourself? Will you let me protect the others from you? I can't let you hurt them anymore."

There will be some surprises when we get there. Repentant terrorists who grieve over what they have done will welcome us in with grace-filled smiles. Unrepentant kindergarden teachers who do not want God's protection and argue over the terrorists' presence will be absent. It will be for our protection and to God's credit who has heard our cry. No evil, no matter how small will ever start a slow, trickle down process that has lead to the destruction and folly we experience in this present reality. It is God's answer to the Problem of Evil. It is the way He has chosen to solve it. He simply said, "Yes. I will defend you. I will answer your cry. No more suicide bombers. No more kindergarden teachers who make you feel ashamed of coloring outside the lines."

We might be tempted to say, "What about now? Why so long before it happens?" Have you ever dealt with a child in the back seat on a drive home who says, "Are we there yet?" Five minutes later, "Are we there yet?" Five seconds later, "Are we there yet?" Or, how about the child who is dying for Christmas to come so that he or she can get presents. "I wish Christmas were tomorrow," she says with a little pout and stomps her foot. As adults, we smile a little and get a little frustrated because the child doesn't see time as we do. We know we'll get home in just a little bit. We know Christmas is just around the corner. Academia is filled with lots of psychologically hurting and harmed adult philosophers who argue the Problem of Evil based on their childhood belief that Christmas should start tomorrow.

Now I'm not saying we shouln't belt out our frustrations at God for all the evil in the world. I'm right in the middle of it. I'm not saying we shouldn't say, "God, why not now? Why not eliminate it now? When is Christmas coming?" This is grace. This is a God who wants our anger, our frustration, and our pleas. We just have to remember that He has said yes to our cries. He has said, "I will protect you." From God's perspective, heaven is just around the corner. For us, it feels so long away from now.