Every Wednesday afternoon there are twenty to thirty teenagers who have spent a long day in school and are looking for some fun and community. They flood into our church with all their energy and excitement to participate in our Basecamp 406 youth program. Our youth director, Joy, plans a snack for them, a discussion around a Biblical text, an icebreaker and game, and we end with small groups to discuss life and what God has for them. During their snack they get to submit “compass questions” which are questions about God’s direction from the Bible in regards to any subject they wish. I have the privilege of answering these questions. Some of them are silly, “What happened to the dinasours when Adam and Eve were around? Will there be mosquitos in heaven?” Some of them may seem silly by have some weight, “Will I see my dog in heaven?” And many are very serious, “Will people in hell get a second chance? What if you believe in the gospel but don’t obey all of God’s commands?” 

Many of the questions I’ve received are about heaven and hell. Who will be there, what it will be like, how do we know who gets into where? While the students have a ton of energy during the program, the room becomes very still when I approach these questions. People everywhere and for all of time have asked these questions about what will happen after life, what it will be like. My response is to lead them to God’s Word. In reality, the Bible has much more to say about heaven than hell, while also affirming both are very real and present. Many students, and I believe people in general, assume heaven is somewhere other than here. In a sense it is, presently. Heaven is where God dwells and contains the throne room where Jesus resides, and where all those souls who have gone before us, a great cloud of witnesses, cheer the church on until Christ returns. (Rev. 4, Heb. 12)) But one day Jesus will return and establish heaven on earth. (Rev. 21, 22) Until then Jesus’ disciples we are to seek to do His will, “…on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10) But make no mistake, the heavens and the earth will be made anew.

In the ministry of Jesus we see a taste of the enteral kingdom breaking into our world. This Sunday we will see the Kingdom grow by including someone who might be easy to over look…seeking after Jesus. (Luke 19) The Kingdom grows in the most unexpected ways and in unexpected places. But then Jesus tells a parable illustrating what Kingdom people look like, what they value. Come and worship with us as we attune our hearts to value the Kingdom over our own. His Kingdom will fulfill our hearts desires as His will is always better than ours. I see a little piece of the Kingdom being established on Wednesday afternoons with students geared, guided, and growing in God’s Word. Please keep our church in your prayers, as we work out His will in our community.

Rev. Ben Melli