Signposts to Heaven

Signposts to Heaven

Often when I am sad, discouraged, or life seems full of trials, I think about the joys of heaven in an attempt to adjust my mindset. This is a good practice. James 1 tells us that trials lead to steadfastness, and that perseverance through the trials leads to a crown of life. Paul encouraged the Corinthians with the truths that—despite heavy persecution—he had far greater realities in heaven:

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal (1 Corinthians 4:16-18).¹

But perhaps a danger to avoid is looking upward to that eternal weight of glory only when we are down, discouraged, and depressed. Perhaps our eyes are usually so focused typically on what we see around us in both the humdrum and really enjoyable days, that when we do get super down and need to look up to the unseen, it takes a bit more effort than it should.

This could be solved by setting our eyes above on a regular, daily basis:

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (Colossians 3:1-2).

My husband mentioned in a recent sermon how he was enjoying the beauty of my parents’ yard and our relaxed time together. This beauty caused him to think of heaven and how much more glorious it would be. I began to think of all the things that I cherish—and perhaps at times am tempted to idolize. All of these things are visible, good gifts of God, but what greater gifts they could be if I recognized them all as pointing to a greater joy and beauty that I will experience in heaven with God for eternity.

Wayne Martindale, mirroring C.S. Lewis’ views of earthly joys in light of heaven, wrote:

“Any earthly good may enrich and give a momentary sense of satisfaction, but we always want something more. At their core, Joy and all other desires are for Heaven, signposts along the way to guide the pilgrim home.”²

Lewis himself said that the problem is not that we have too strong desires for joys on earth, but too weak. He calls us “half-hearted creatures” who are happy enough with basic human pleasures:

“When infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.”³

I decided that I would list many of the things I really love and enjoy, followed by what the Bible has to say about some greater, now-unseen, eternal aspect of that same pleasure. Perhaps my making a practice of regularly looking heavenward in times of joy will make it a bit more natural to continue to look heavenward in times of difficulty.

Marriage

Marriage is a gift. I recognize that not everyone has experienced a great or even good marriage, but many Christians do. So, I couldn’t help but think of the marriage supper of the Lamb. As I enjoy my relationship with my husband (and we hope to share fruit from the tree of life together in heaven!), I remember that he pictures Christ and I—his wife—the church (cf. Ephesians 5:22-33). And one day, though he and I won’t be married in heaven (like the angels; cf. Matthew 22:30), we will experience together the wedding feast of the Lamb:

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:6-9)

Family

Besides my relationship with my husband, I cherish most on earth our family time. My family has moved from one state to another within the last year which also meant changing from homeschooling full time to traditional school. I’ve missed that huge amount of family time we’ve had, so I’ve absolutely loved our summer break so far with all the time we’ve been able to spend together. How can I turn this joy to point to eternal joy?

First and foremost, I want to spend eternity with my family. As my husband and I have told them multiple times, we know we will be there, and we want them to be there, too. So we have eternity-focused conversations with our children all the time. Like John writing to his “beloved children,” we communicate to ours:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. (1 John 1:1-4)

God is our Father, as well. God being the Father of Christians means that we are all fellow children of God. We will all enjoy together each other’s company, along with that of the Father’s forever in heaven:

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. (1 John 3:1)

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (1 John 5:1)

And, as an additional “family” joy, we have a unique relationship with our Savior Jesus, the Son of God. As fellow children of God, Jesus is our Brother:

For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he [Jesus] is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” (Hebrews 2:11-13)

Beauty of Nature and Good Food

I love a beautiful yard. As I type in my sunroom, the sun is shining in a blue sky with beautiful white clouds, a gentle breeze is fluttering the leaves of our maple tree, and birds are happily chirping. These sights and sounds make my heart happy.  I also love good food. The scent and taste of freshly baked bread or a fresh, crispy apple (especially baked in a pie with homemade crust!) give great joy. I can praise the Creator of all these things, which is a wonderful start to thinking heavenward. Beyond this, I can look forward to eating from “the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” along with all those who persevere (Revelation 2:7). When this earth—including my beautiful maple and the flowers I recently planted—is destroyed, I can look forward to what John saw of the future:

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5)

Rest

Rest is a good and necessary thing. God—who does not slumber or sleep (Psalm 121:3-4)—exampled rest in his creation week, resting on the 7^th day. When I don’t get as much rest as I feel I need, or—in keeping with the thought of this post—on the days when I’ve had a particular restful, enjoyable day, I can look forward to my eternal rest. Found in the context of a warning to persevere, Hebrews 3-4 devotes many verses to this concept. The author warns his readers not to ignore God’s voice or they will not have eternal rest. He told them that any rest that anyone experienced on earth was not eternal; there is an eternal rest coming:

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:9-11).

Health

After many bouts of illness in our family over the past year, I have greatly enjoyed a couple of months with almost no illness. Times of health can cause us to think of a time when there will be absolutely no more sickness or death.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. (Revelation 21:3-6)

Peace

I love it when everyone is happy. My husband and I are good. My kids are getting along. My extended family are at peace. Things at church are relatively peaceful. My little peaceful world (though in the midst of greater world that is not at peace) can remind me that the Prince of Peace will one day fully rule and bring final peace.

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:11-16).

As I practice turning these soul-lifting joys—marriage, family, nature, rest, health, peace, and others—into signposts that point to heaven, I will train my mind to think heavenward. Then, perhaps, it will not be such a strain to lift my soul up to heaven in the moments when my soul is cast down. I can thus maintain a deliberate hope in God in both difficulty and joy.

—

Holly Huffstutler serves with her husband David, the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Troy in Troy, MI. She has a master’s degree in Biblical Ministries and blogs with him here where this post first appeared. Holly is a homemaker, raising and putting her four children through school.

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1. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes are ESV. [↩]
2. Wayne Martindale, Beyond the Shadowland: C.S. Lewis on Heaven & Hell. (Crossway, 2005), 123. [↩]
3. C.S. Lewis, “The Weight of Glory” in Transpositions and Other Addresses. (London: Butler & Janner Ltd, 1949), 21. [↩]