by Tom Wacaster
This week’s “pen” has
been some time in developing, as you might conclude from the title and gist of
the article. It has been more than a year since the famous
"Crocodile Hunter," Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray during a
diving expedition off the coast of Australia. Though I was no big fan of
Mr. Irwin, I did have an occasion to watch his program from time to time, or to
catch an interview by some well known celebrity. With his trademark khaki
shorts, chirpy manner and an obvious love of wildlife, Steve Irwin was known to
television viewers around the world simply as "the crocodile
hunter." As with the death of any well known celebrity, the world
mourned the loss and sought to speak well of the deceased. Mr. Irwin has
been called "a genuine conservationist," "a lover of
animals," and the "champion of animal rights" in Australia, and
around the world. One news commentator made the remark that the
"Crocodile Hunter" has gone to that great "Crocodile reserve in
the sky." Of course we are all aware that there is no such place as
some "Crocodile reserve in the sky," or "happy hunting
land" where "seldom is heard a discouraging word and the skies are
not cloudy all day."
But the Bible does speak
of a place called "heaven," "Abraham's bossom," and the
"New Jerusalem." It is a place of "no death,"
"no tears," and "no sorrow." Absent will be “the
fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murders, and fornicators, and
sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars.” That wonderful home of the soul
will never be tainted by the temptations from the evil one, nor will it be
invaded by death’s dark shadow. It is a prepared place for a
prepared people, whose priorities were focused upon the eternal rather than the
temporal. It is a city four-square, whose walls are made of jasper,
and the city itself like unto pure glass. Twelve gates will usher the
saints of every generation into that celestial city, accompanied by angels, and
welcomed by the Father. In the midst of the city we will find the tree of
life, bearing twelve manner of fruits – adequate provisions for those who have
hungered after righteousness. A river will flow from the throne of God,
quenching our spiritual thirst. That river will not be muddy, nor will it
be polluted by the ravages of time and the filth of sin. Instead it will
be bright as crystal, with a purity beyond our wildest imagination.
In the midst of the city we will find our Father, sitting upon the
throne. At His side will be the Lord, in all His glory and majesty – and
we will be permitted to look upon the face of the Lamb who redeemed us, and the
Father who loves us.
John’s description of that heavenly Jerusalem
tickles our imagination and stirs our hearts. Oh, how beautiful
heaven must be! No wonder Paul encouraged us to endure the
trials and tribulations that might come our way: “For I reckon that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed to us-ward…Wherefore we faint not; but though our
outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For
our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more
exceedingly an eternal weight of glory” (Rom. 8:18, 2 Cor. 4:16-17). I do not know who wrote this poem, but it expresses the same sentiment as
the inspired apostle:
The
Tapestry of Life
Tis said that old Time
is a shuttle,
Swift weaving the web of
our days;
In and out fly the fast
speeding moments
Thro' the warp and the
wool of earth's maze.
At times all the colors
seem sombre,
Again there are dashes
of bright;
Anon all life's threads
knot and tangle,
And only defects meet
our sight.
Full often we stand and
in wonder
We gaze at the unresting
loom,
Which hides the design
of the fabric
Until we have reached
the dark tomb.
Only this do we know
that the groundwork,
Thro' which the bright
colors are twined,
Is woven of charity's
fibers,
Which serve the threads
closely to bind.
And when the last thread
has been broken,
And the loom is forever
at rest,
We shall see that our
life's great Designer
Knew what for His
children was best.
--author unknown
If all a person can
envision in that final abode of the soul is some “Crocodile reserve in the
sky,” his concept of heaven is warped, to say the least. Whether it
be the Muslim who envisions some harem with sensual pleasures for all eternity,
or the Mormons with their eternal celestial marriages, the simple truth is,
there will be none of that in heaven. And no Virginia - there are
no Crocodiles in Heaven!