Colossians has several references to heaven, one of which we need to pause with today:
Col. 1:5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true word of the gospelCol. 1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Col. 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Col. 1:23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Col. 4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
The first one interests us the most: "the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true word of the gospel" (Col 1:5).
Hope is stored up in heaven; it is stored in heaven "for you." The Christians at Colosse have faith and love because of their hope. They have this hope because of the gospel. [By the way, our next series will be on the meaning of the word "gospel."]
Here again heaven is a "place" where things are stored. Jimmy Dunn's commentary on Colossians says this about the idea here: "held in reserve for someone or some occasion as a destiny ... and in Jewish and Christian thought of something retained by God for the appropriate time in God's foreordained plan" (59). But Dunn thinks this hope might be for "being taken up to heaven and transformed into heavenly/spiritual form [and he cites Rom 8:17-25; 1 Cor 15:44-49; 2 Cor 5:1-5; 1 Thess 4:14-17]."
To me the issue here is whether the "place" of that glorious transformation is "heaven" or the "new heavens and the new earth," and whether or not the latter is an earthly/transformed earthly place.
Colossians doesn't really help us.
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1:20 What "things in heaven" did God have to reconcile to himself through Jesus' blood? (I don't think I buy that this is referring to "the heavens" - like the stars or something.) Could it be that the real "place" of heaven was marred by sin - left over from Satan's fall, and that the "new heaven" will be a restored place, somehow reconciled to God through the cross?
The series on the kingdom of Heaven has found me asking myself what I realy believe about Heaven and this I shall do until, and if, the Holy Spirit causes me to do otherwise.
The Kingdom of Heaven is the bosom of the Father, the very central point of the ongoing, restful and loving relationship in the oness of the Triune Godhead which Jesus Christ brought this undeserving but justified being into relationship with, by identifying with me so that I may identify with Him. Therefore I plead no longer for the cross since He is my reality of it.
Heaven is the mustard seed and the tree. Heaven is the outliving that God is and that He cares more than a little. This outliving is the Life of God Himself, not a reasoning but an obedience for Love is a unpreceeded debtor, hence His judgement.
Heaven is here and now for God is here and now and where God is, Heaven is for that is what makes Him earthly good.
Since God's being is Love, than Love heralds God's being and we hear His voice in the being that He is and by the same voice, believe.
More than a consciousnes, a completeness. God and His creation... One in relationship, walking on streets of Gold by His provision and making. All Hail the Mightly Effective Blood of Jesus and His Faithfulness.
Heaven (whatever level) is our need met to meet other's needs in being one with the other. Heaven is eternal being.
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