HMM? MAYOR OVER

LONDON, THEN TOKYO,

THEN HONG KONG…

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #9

The Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27) primarily relates to how believers should maximize and optimize resources and opportunities the Lord has given us; to serve God and advance His Kingdom, even as we await His return.  This parable is quite similar to the Parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14-30).

What fires my imagination and excitement is the reward that “the man of noble birth” in the parable gave to the faithful servants: “Well done, my good servant!  Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.”  “You take charge of five cities.”

If we could take these rewards above literally, it could mean that “taking charge of cities” may be one way where the faithful would reign with Jesus Christ after the Parousia!

When would and how could the above take place?  One possibility would be during the 1000 years of the Millennium (Rev 20).  Wow!!!  If this hypothesis comes to pass, then maybe I will make a humble request to the Almighty God to allow me to serve as Mayor over London for 150 years… then move over to Tokyo for 180 years… and then Hong Kong for 100 years… and then… and then…

Hahaha!  I am well aware of the many contradicting theories and views regarding the Millennium.  If the hypothesis above is all but a fantasy, no problem at all!  I will still get to reign with Christ in whatever ways He decides.  I just need to remain faithful to Him right now, right here on Planet Earth; and wait eagerly to see Him face to face one day!  Amen!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

WATCH A MOVIE?!

ORGANIZE A CONCERT?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #8

When we talk about TV and movie, we are actually talking about entertainment.  We have to admit that entertainment has become an indispensible and integrated part of life here on Earth.  We feel bored so easily, don’t we?  Then we reach out for the TV remote control…  Then we start surfing the various channels…  Or, we dip into our pocket to look for our smart phone…  Or, we look around the house to see who has taken the iPad…  Music, youtube, movie, games, FB…

But this posting about TV and movie is more than mere entertainment.  It is about The ARTS…  Will the arts continue to exist, even flourish in Heaven and Eternity?!

Will we still have guitars and pianos?  Will there be concerts?

Will we still have ballet?  Will there be dance performances?

Will we still have brushes and canvases?  Will there be art exhibitions?

           

Will people still compose songs, cut CDs, write dramas, make movies, and broadcast programs?!

Heaven and Eternity will be a long, long, long time to hang out with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit?  I do not think we should become bored so easily.  But still, it would be nice to be able to dance with the angels, to compose a new song with David, to work out a pantomime with Jeremiah, to discuss architecture with Nehemiah, and to study literature with Solomon.

And of course, some of us would really like to JAM with the LAMB, literally!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

DOG?  CAT?  GOLD FISH?

OR SOMETHING EXOTIC?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #7

Some dog-lovers would swear that there will be a “DOG HEAVEN”.  Others pet-lovers would argue till the cow comes home that their beloved four-legged creative will somehow make it to heaven…

Me?  Hehehe!  My favourite animal is the chicken.  I love to eat them!!!  Deep-fried, stir-fried, steamed, stewed… all are welcomed.  Yum!  Yum!  Yum!

I think we can be quite sure that there will be animals in Heaven and Eternity.  Isa 11:6-9 paint a beautiful picture of a future harmony; where the wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat…  Calves and lions will eat together, and be cared by little children…  I think having pets would surely be a possibility, since the texts also mentioned little children caring for these animals.  (This thought will certainly make my two daughters very very happy!)

Oh… the texts also say that the cow will feed with the bear… and the lion will eat straw like the ox…  Hmmm, if the animals would eat in Heaven and Eternity, then this will also strengthen the case of us eating as well.  YES!!!  AMEN!!!

Errr but, I hope we would not become vegetarians; or worse still, be converted to eating grass like the ox.  Hahaha!  Anyway, just trust God lah.  He knows best.

Ok finally… please remember that if you want to keep any pets in the hereafter, you would also have to feed them, bathe them, and take care of their poop!!!  Enjoy!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

AIYOO!!!  NO iPAD?!

STEVE JOB...
WHERE ARE YOU?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #6

Some time ago, I overhead this remark: “沒有iPad, 如何過日子?!”  Translated into English, this simply meant: “No iPad?! How am I going to pass my time?!”

The person who made this remark was not an obnoxious teenager, nor a swanky young adult.  It was a medieval lady in her late 50s!!!  Hahaha!

So… Heaven and Eternity got iPod, iPad, iPhone and internet or not?!  Frankly, I don’t know loh.  And even if Steve Job is in Heaven, I do not think he will be the person calling the shot on this one.

The real issue behind this posting is the question of technology in the hereafter.  Since the days of Adam and Eve; humankind has not ceased discovering, researching and inventing.  As a whole, we have come up with many innovations and technologies that are certainly wholesome and wonderful!  Rather than learning to live with them, it is more like we now find that we really cannot live without them!!!

Probably it will be such a waste if all the technologies we have developed thus far would just disappear like that.  When I ponder about this right here right now, I do feel the lost.  But maybe when I step into Eternity, I might just think and feel differently…

Or perhaps, the Technologies of Eternity will just blow our mind.  Consider Rev 22:5 : “Never again will night appear, and no one who lives there will ever need a lamp or the sun. The Lord God will be their light...”

I think no scientist or theologian will be able to adequately comprehend or explain how Rev 22:5 can be.  But it will be super super awesome!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

READY, GET SET, GO!!!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #5

I guess INCORRUPTIBLE and IMMORTAL Bodies will probably not grow fat and flabby, even if we do not get to exercise and work out.  But I think playing sports is more than just burning calories.  There is the simple fun and joy of just kicking a ball around with the gang…  There is the satisfaction of teamwork and achievement… There is the adrenalin rush of extreme sports…

I have no Scriptures to support sports in Heaven and Eternity.  I do not think there is any.  But the Bible does have a good number of sport imageries when talking about spiritual stuff.  We are to run the race (of faith) set before us patiently (Heb 12:1-2).  We are not to run without a goal, or box by beating our fists in the air (1 Cor 9:24-27).  And finally, we will all stand before the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ to receive incorruptible crowns or medals (2 Cor 5:10).

So, I am 50-50 about whether we will do sports or not in Heaven and Eternity; but I am sure some of my friends may be storming the Gates of Heaven about this.  Hmm… if we are really going to kick the ball around up there, I do have some questions for us to ponder:  Who is going to make sure the field is nice and green and grassy?!  And when our incorruptible and immortal bodies waste the balls in no time at all, who will make new ones for us?!

Finally, I am actually not qualified to talk about sports at all; because I am a confirmed and certified kaki bangku who is not really bothered with the Reds or the Blues, the NBA or the World Cup.  And at the end of the day, if there are no sports for all eternity; it will be no sweat at all for me.  Hehehe!  Let’s wait and see!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

EVERYBODY…

EAT! CHIAK!! MAKAN!!!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #4

Hahaha… will INCORRUPTIBLE and IMMORTAL Bodies need food and drink?  Going by the Chinese saying: 吃為天… food is actually a heavenly enjoyment right now right here on earth; and I (together with many others, I am quite certain) will surely and sorely miss eating, if we cannot jalan jalan cari makan in Heaven!

So, will we eat and drink or not?!  I think we will… and my conviction at the moment is that I am quite sure we will.  At the last supper, Jesus implied that He will only drink the fruit of the vine again when the Kingdom finally comes (Luke 22:18)…  The resurrected Christ ate fish (Luke 24:42-43)…  The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9) is the imagery of a grand wedding feast (I would like to know the menu, haha!) when Christ receives His Bride…  The New Jerusalem will have special trees of life which will bear different fruits each month (Rev 22:1-2)…

For me, the question of eating is quite settled.  I am actually concerned with other more “sticky” questions…  If we do eat, who will be preparing, cooking and washing?!  Where will the food come from?!  (Only two main ways to get food actually: catch them or plant them…)  And, if we do eat, will we need to go to the toilet and pang sai?!  Eh… got input must also got output what?!

Some people think that angels will be doing all the work and we can just concentrate on eating…  Others think that our incorruptible and immortal bodies can handle input without any output…  Hmmm… nice thoughts, but I do not think so…

YES!  Heaven and Eternity will be awesome!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

SPECIAL BODIES?!

SUPER POWERS?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #3

“Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed.  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump… For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality…”

Oh how I love the KJV rendition of 1 Cor 15:51-53 above!  It is exciting to think about the resurrected bodies that we will have! 

What will this body be like?  I think we could be quite sure that incorruptibility and immortality would likely mean that we will not age… we will not fall sick… we will not degenerate…  What can this body do?  Well, Jesus in His resurrected body was able to walk through shut doors (John 20:19), and vanish just like that (Luke 24:31)… assuming our resurrected bodies would be patterned after Jesus’.

But there are more questions… If I die at 78, will I look 78 for the rest of Eternity?  What about a 17 year old?  Will this guy or girl continue to grow in Heaven, or remain 17 forever?  And, what about people with physical defects…?

Well, well, well… I am not sure at all…  Paul did say that it will be a MYSTERY!!!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

WORSHIP & WORSHIP

24/7 WORSHIP?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #2

Worship will surely be an important component of Heaven and Eternity.  But will the afterlife consist purely of songs and music and dances… 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?!  Like a never-ending worship service?!

The above is a sentimental thought, especially for those of us who love music and who really enjoy Praise & Worship.  But I think Heaven and Eternity will most certainly not be a 24/7 Praise & Worship Service.  According to the Scriptures, it seems that one of the believers’ main pre-occupation in the afterlife will be to reign with Christ and to serve Him (Rev 22:3-5).  And, I am quite sure that reigning with Christ and serving Him would entail a whole lot of things to do…

In addition, I think perhaps we could project what Heaven & Eternity could be like but thinking about how Adam and Eve (Gen 1:28) would probably live today, should they have not fallen into sin then…

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.

WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE?!

HEAVEN & ETERNITY #1

In the 1970s and 1980s, there used to be a saying that went something like this: Some people are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly use…

We do not hear this anymore because the saying is probably not applicable today.  Perhaps the fact is that most of us are so earthly minded that Heaven & Eternity hardly cross our minds.  It is both sad and dangerous that many Christians today are just so caught up in our earthly day to day pursuits that we have forgotten that this world is not our real home.

Heaven, Eternity and the Blessed Hope ought to be one of the prime motivations in our Christian Faith.  Let us take a bit of time to ponder, imagine and anticipate…

IMPORTANT NOTES:

I started thinking quite a lot about heaven a few years ago.  I read some books and listened to some messages.  There are really not too much materials on this subject.  And because of this, perhaps many Christians may have got seriously wrong ideas about Heaven.  I think Churches should be preaching and teaching more about Heaven.

This HEAVEN & ETERNITY Series is not meant to be a theological discourse.  My hope is to provoke us to be a little bit more heavenly minded.  Indeed there are many uncertainties and controversies… which should not lead to dismay but rather excitement.  It’s like the excitement of anticipating a vacation to an exotic country we have never been before.

Please note that the photographs used in series are mostly not mine.  Some are downloaded from the internet, while others are from my friends.