Thursday, January 19, 2012

John Piper on Heaven Without Christ

Photo Credit: giopuo
What is your motivation for wanting to go to heaven? John Piper addresses this question in his book, God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself:
"The critical question for our generation—and for every generation— is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there?" 
"...Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ were not there, will not be there. The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God. It's a way of overcoming every obstacle to everlasting joy in God. If we don't want God above all things, we have not been converted by the gospel."
Getting to heaven and finding that Jesus will not be there would be like a groom entering his wedding ceremony and learning his bride will never show up. A man does not go to his wedding primarily to see his friends and family; he goes there to begin the rest of his life with the one he cherishes more than anyone else. There are many reasons that I look forward to eternity but my heart aches for heaven more than anything else because I will get to see Jesus.

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