Guy Crockroft (Courtesy Photo)

Guy Crockroft (Courtesy Photo)

Living & Growing: The hope of heaven

Mary asked “Where’s daddy?” Mom said “He’s in heaven.”

  • Guy Crockroft
  • Friday, February 25, 2022 2:30am
  • Neighbors

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” — John 14:1-3

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples shortly before he was crucified, and they apply to His later followers also. I first thought about heaven as a small child when my adoptive father Gailard died from heart disease. My sister Mary and I waited outside the hospital room while Mom went in to see Dad. Finally, she came out, looking stunned, and silently drove us home. Once there Mary asked “Where’s daddy?” Mom said “He’s in heaven.”

As we cried, I desperately wanted to go to heaven and see Dad again. Later Mom told us that when the doctors knew Dad had only a few moments remaining, they left the room so she could be alone with Dad for the last time. As they tearfully said goodbye and talked about their love for one another, Dad suddenly asked “who are those two men behind you?” Mom said ‘There’s no one else here.” Dad said “No, there’s two men behind you.” Then he spoke his final words “This is it!” as he squeezed mom’s hand and died.

For years I wondered if the two men Dad saw were angels. Now I’m convinced they were. In Luke 16 Jesus told a story about a poor beggar and a rich man. Luke 16:22 says the poor man died and was carried away by angels to “Abraham’s Bosom”, i.e., Heaven. Angels carried the poor man away to heaven — angels like the ones that carried my dad away.

And what is heaven like, anyway? Many readers will think of I Corinthians 2:9, which says “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” While our understanding about this precious promise is limited by our finite minds, Revelation 21:3-4 gives us a glimpse: ”Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation calls heaven “the paradise of God” and adds that there is no night because the glory of God illuminates it; that it has a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God, and that the tree of life is there.

In John 14, Jesus referred to Heaven as “My Father’s house.” We sing “Everything’s allright, in my Father’s house” and “Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace. I want to see my Savior’s face because heaven is a wonderful place. I want to go there!” Many followers of Jesus joyfully anticipate the place where God is, where there is peace, love, harmony, and indescribable beauty.

Has anyone ever seen heaven and returned to talk about it? In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 Paul says ”I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.”

“Imagine Heaven” by John Burke is a great book that compares people’s near-death experiences with what the Bible says about heaven.

As I was writing this column, I learned that my dear friend Andy King went to heaven. He was a great mentor and best friend for many years. I will miss him but look joyfully forward to seeing him again- only this time in heaven, the paradise of God.

• Guy Crockroft is Executive Director of Love INC. “Living & Growing” is a weekly column written by different authors and submitted by local clergy and spiritual leaders. It appears every Friday on the Juneau Empire’s Faith page.

More in Neighbors

Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)
Living and Growing: The healing power of art

I found this awesome quote about art from Googling: “Art has the… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Living and Growing: A list of do’s to reclaim Shabbat

To be silent the whole day, see no newspaper, hear no radio,… Continue reading

“Princess Sophia” stranded on Vanderbilt Reef, Oct. 24, 1918. (Alaska State Library Historical Collection, ASL-P87-1700)
Living and Growing: The storms of the Fall

Psalm 19 1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the… Continue reading

(Image by the New Jersey Division of Elections)
Gimme A Smile: Halloween/Election Day merger

We’ve got a couple of important holidays coming up: Halloween and Election… Continue reading

Sheet pan tomato soup garnished and served. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Cooking For Pleasure: Sheet pan tomato soup

Whenever I get my hair done at Salon Cedar, owner Brendan Sullivan… Continue reading

Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Juneau. (Courtesy photo)
Living and Growing: The eye of the needle

One day, a rich young man approached Jesus, asking him what he… Continue reading

Jennifer Moses is a student rabbi at Congregation Sukkat Shalom. (Photo provided by Jennifer Moses)
Living and Growing: Joy after sorrow during celebration of Sukkot

As you read this column Jews around the world are preparing to… Continue reading

Cookie jars in the shape of a house and a mouse are among the more than 100 vintage jars being being sold as a benefit on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. (Photos by Bill Andrews)
Neighbors events, announcements and awards for the week of Oct. 20

More than 100 vintage cookie jars on sale during Oct. 26 benefit… Continue reading

Nine-hour pork roast ready for serving. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Cooking for Pleasure: Nine-hour pork roast with crackling

For a few months now I have been craving an old-fashioned pork… Continue reading

Laura Rorem. (Courtesy photo)
Living and Growing: The power of real hope

Highly compatible, Larry and my strength was in our ability to merge… Continue reading