I am now in a retreat house in Tagaytay. From my window I can see Taal lake and volcano. I can also see verdant mountains, sinuous clouds, and other things that make me think of heaven.
But what is heaven? Is it a place? An experience? A relationship? A mystery? A state of being? There had been numerous attempts to explain what heaven is but none of them seems to be simple, clear, and adequate enough. Jesus himself never defined heaven, but only described it vaguely through parables. He said heaven is like a man who discovers a treasure in a field or a woman who finds her lost coin. Christ also said that heaven is like a banquet, a wedding feast, or some other everyday experience that make you think of heaven as one endless celebration of life, happiness and love.
The only reason I can think of why heaven is so difficult to grasp is that the words needed to define it have not been invented yet. Jesus had to employ parables because that would be the best way to explain something that is absolutely beyond our finite human experience and the limits of our collective vocabulary. Defining heaven is like explaining HyperText Markup Language (HTML) to a cat. It’s simply impossible to do so.
Right now I don’t see the need to find an encyclopedic elucidation of heaven. I am content to know that the God who dwells in the highest heavens humbled himself and came down to be with us. I may never be able to fully understand and experience heaven until I get there (presuming I’ll end up there), but for now it is enough for me to know that God is preparing for me a place so beautiful and perfect that he is keeping it as a surprise. And how much I love surprises!
I’m now in a retreat house in Tagaytay. From my window I can see Taal lake and volcano. I can also see verdant mountains, sinuous clouds, and other things that make me say – if these things around me are this beautiful I can only try to imagine the ultimate perfection and absolute beauty that is heaven.
i love surprises too pads but i like making em than getting one.
i think heaven is a state of mind. its more of a feeling than a “happy place”. Like an epiphany that people should experience everyday. It is heaven for me to wake up every morning and look forward to the surprises HE would want me to experience…
Heaven for me is a state of mind. Whether one lives another day to discover heaven, or is reborn to another place in a heavenly state of manner.
Last night was also a beautiful evening. After a diner with my sister in her house, while walking to the tram station looking up to a very clear skies decorated with a
beautiful full moon. It remind me thinking my Sweet Dearest Special and make me feels little bit I’m in heaven. Thanks for sharing this one GOD’S creation/wonder
I appreciate this very much paradise begin here on earth .
I have seen the place and hope you get your spiritual rest.
If we would be able to explain heaven right now, how would that look after 100 years (VORTAC vs. HTML)
Heaven will mean something different each century
For me, heaven is where my heart is. And heaven right now… is just too far away.
Thanks for this uplifting post! I believe that God is also preparing a beautiful, perfect place for me. His big surprise is yet to unfold. I just love surprises!
Hello Athens, Gilbs, Roses, Wim, and Katia. Thanks for your comments. I hope you are enjoying heaven wherever you are now.