This past
weekend we celebrated the wedding of our youngest daughter to our new
son-in-law. It was a wonderful few days of events, family being together and
sending off the bride and groom to their new life together. Because each day
had a predefined agenda, before we knew it, the time had flown by, and it was
time to each go our separate ways. There were several people I wanted to sit
down with and just talk, and spend time with some family members that we live
quite a ways away from. Unfortunately, it didn't all happen because of the
event we were attending and the short amount of days that each of us could be
away from our jobs and homes.
All this got me thinking about
Heaven and the gathering of families there. First, the description makes Heaven
huge. 1,400 miles wide, deep and high. A metropolis of this size in the middle
of the United States would stretch from Canada to Mexico and from the
Appalachian Mountains to the California border. If each level were a
mile apart, can you imagine 1,400 stories of area 1,400 miles square? There
would be plenty of room for large, multi-generational families to gather and
live together. As for families being together, Genesis 25:11 says Abraham breathed his last and died
in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to
his people. The Bible uses
that phrase "gathered to his people" more than once. In Luke 22, Christ said, "Take this
[cup] and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the
fruit of the vine until the kingdom
of God comes" (emphasis mine) In other words, people who related
together in this world, would be united again in Heaven.
I think we will have plenty of time
to share with each other, and live together. The question is, how far back will
each family go. For instance, I never knew any of my great grandparents. I only
heard stories about them. How about great-great-grandparents? I think it would
be wonderful to be able to interact with many generations, both from
the past and into the future. If God grants us even a little bit of
His omniscience, (infinite knowledge), we would be able to remember names,
places, and events and build on each relationship throughout eternity. Perhaps
when the Bible talks about mansions being built, it might mean huge gathering
communities where generations of a family would live together. It also would
have to be able to account for all the families that are related by marriage.
The organizational matrix would be incredible. But God just happens to be that
way, incredible. Just the glimpse He gives us in His creation of our world, and
the wonders of its intricacies, tell me He would have no problem with family
organization in Heaven. So, for all those conversations I wanted to have ---
they'll have to wait, but I really think they'll take place one day.
1 comment:
Read these lyrics (don't sing them). I believe the words mean more when they are read for this particular piece.
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
There are loved ones in the glory, whose dear forms you often miss;
When you close your earthly story, will you join them in their bliss?
In the joyous days of childhood, oft they told of wondrous love;
Pointed to the dying Savior, now they dwell with Him above.
You remember songs of Heaven, which you sang with a childish voice;
Do you love the hymns they taught you, or the songs of earth your choice?
You can picture happy gatherings, ‘round the fireside long ago,
And you think of tearful partings, when they left you here below.
One by one their seats were emptied. One by one they went away.
Now the family is parted. Will it be complete one day?
Will the circle be unbroken, by and by, by and by?
In a better home awaiting, in the sky, in the sky?
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