Together # 15
A Together for Church Cohesion
A Together for Church Cohesion
Meet Together Regularly
copyright by Dick Wulf, 2018
Meet together regularly for whatever spiritual work that needs attention. When meeting, pay close attention to your own spiritual needs others can help with as well as the spiritual needs of others in order to help them.
Acts 2:46; Rom 16:5; Heb 10:25
To obey this command, we need to be in touch with its historical context. The environment for Christians was much different when the letters of the New Testament were written. Christians were not so hindered in meeting together then as now.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on
toward love and good deeds,
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,
but encouraging one another. . . .
Hebrews 10:24-25
toward love and good deeds,
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,
but encouraging one another. . . .
Hebrews 10:24-25
Quite likely, this instruction was given in the prophetic light that Jerusalem would be destroyed 23 years later. In the midst of heightening tension between Israel and the Roman Empire, believers were to place courage into one another. They were also to push one another toward love and good deeds which are always needed in difficult times.
In those days, people lived in close proximity, probably all of their lives not much more than a few blocks away from one another. They went to the same well daily to draw water. They hung around during “down time”. Today, Christian relationships are spread out geographically. There is little time for more than just visiting when friends get together. This is a problem – because it is not what is being instructed in Hebrews 10.
Because these verses identify “encouraging one another” as a major purpose for meeting together, we can conclude that the emphasis to get together is spiritual – for living the faith in daily life. A practical way to do this are the 65 Togethers of Scripture that make it easier to recall hundreds of Bible instructions for helping one another along the path of faith, a road that should often be uphill to assure growth of our spirits.
Therefore, we need to intentionally insert into our time with friends the Togethers. In the Hebrews 10 verse, “Spurring One Another on to Love and Good Deeds” and “Encouraging One Another” are mentioned. These are two of the 65 Togethers of Scripture, so it is not a stretch to say that we need to prioritize spiritual duties so that they take up more than minimal time when we get together with our closest Christian friends.
The same priority for some time to be spent in spiritual growth and helping one another apply faith to life should happen in Christian families and Christian marriages. Just as friends arrange to get together at certain times and places, so should husbands and wives, as well as families, set aside time to spend together for the purpose of seeing what Togethers are needed for the situations persons are facing. Weekly sessions at the same time each week make sense for most families and marriages.
Wisdom leads us to be much more spiritually intentional when we get a chance to be with our Christian friends, Christian family members and Christian spouses. We need to “be on our toes” and more attentive to what is going on in their relationships with God and others. We need to be aware of our spiritual responsibilities within the time available. This is especially true when we meet with friends we do not see very often.
We need to avoid being trapped by television, digital entertainments on phones, computers and tablets, and anything else that eats up a lot of our free time from essential responsibilities. These things are dangerous distractions from helping one another become more like Jesus and prepare for heaven.
Normal and fun conversations should become gateways to spiritual discussions that open doors for whatever Together or Togethers are applicable to whatever in life is being talked about.
You might have heard of the concept of listening with the “third ear”, so let’s insert listening with the “spiritual ear”. We see one another visually. Bodies can be seen, but our spirits are invisible – and there lies the problem. We must become more aware that we are all spiritual beings – the deep part of us is our spirits that upon death go to heaven. There they have a spiritual form, or body, just as did Moses and Elijah when they talked with Jesus in what we call “The Transfiguration”.
So, let’s pay more attention to the spirits of those in our Christian Inner Circles. In light of living for Jesus and honoring God now and after death for all eternity, this is very important. If we want to make an investment in our Christian friends, Christian family members, and Christian spouses, helping their spirits grow into Christlikeness is the most valuable contribution to their lives. For now. And, for all eternity in heaven.
This is where that “spiritual ear” comes in play. Of all the Christians with whom we relate, we have the most regular contact with those in our Christian Inner Circles. With them, we listen to a lot of conversation. While our regular ears are hearing what they are saying, our spiritual ears should listen for their faith or lack of faith in what they are saying. When we see remarkable faith, we appreciate and affirm it. But, when we hear wavering faith or lack of faith, we make a mental note to remember, – then pray and receive direction from the Holy Spirit through what is written in the Bible or comes with peace into our minds, – and then patiently carry out a loving plan to help.
Christian friends should make it a point to get together not just occasionally, but intentionally and regularly. This is where encouragement and the other Togethers can be implemented for “where the wheels hit the road”.
As a counselor and psychotherapist, I meet many Christians who have no really close friends with whom they can share their struggles and help each other live for God beyond the easy stuff of going to church and reading the Bible. I am also frustrated that the support they need from others, usually only one to four of the Togethers at the time of their counseling, is not available to them at the friendship level.
Church leaders may believe that coming to church and being in a small group would provide what most people need at the growing point of their faith. But, it is not adequate. I would say to pastors and church leaders that if they have any church members without at least two close friends they can meet with regularly to bare their heart and mind, that it is the job of the church to remedy this predicament. If not the church, who is going to take the responsibility? Ephesians 4:11-13 makes it the church’s responsibility.
Being married or having a family is not enough. Ask any husband or wife, any mom or dad who has close Christian friends if those friends are necessary to their faith, and we should hear an emphatic “yes”.
Most would agree that transparency is usually easier with a friend, usually of the same gender, than with a husband or wife. The marital relationship has aspects where more carefulness must be the rule. For example, a husband is more likely to talk first to his friend about irritation with his wife. In fact, that is often the wise thing to do. A friend won’t immediately get his feelings hurt or be threatened. The friend might even point out that the wife is not doing anything wrong. And then, that friend might help the irritated husband get over his objection, and the issue would never have to be brought up to the wife, thus protecting the marital relationship from an unnecessary strain. Or perhaps the husband is right and needs advice on how to handle the situation lovingly.
To be available for each other’s help, close Christian friends need to be getting together often to be available when help is needed. Doing enjoyable activities together can provide this accessibility, but only if friends will remember that more than fun is needed. As all of the Togethers show, help is needed all along the path of faith, not just for emergency situations.
Even family activities by one of the parents can create a setting for “getting serious” about living for the Lord. Two male friends with children can take their kids to the zoo together and have time to talk about serious issues of the faith while the kids are off watching the monkeys.
Sometimes necessary chores can be done together and open up more time for help and spiritual discussions. Two Christian women can go grocery shopping and talk about issues of faith and living God’s way. Two men can help with each other’s home repairs and create time to talk.
Some people are “gun shy” of friendships. We Christians need to identify these fellow believers and show that such close relationships can be safe. We must show them accepting, non-condemning interactions where we are easily transparent until they feel free to be so. Sermons can exhort people to have close relationships while convincing others to be available to people who are not outgoing.
Friendships, families and marriages need to assess whether they are having enough quality spiritual time to be on top of relationships, spiritual growth and relationship with the Lord.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
In those days, people lived in close proximity, probably all of their lives not much more than a few blocks away from one another. They went to the same well daily to draw water. They hung around during “down time”. Today, Christian relationships are spread out geographically. There is little time for more than just visiting when friends get together. This is a problem – because it is not what is being instructed in Hebrews 10.
Because these verses identify “encouraging one another” as a major purpose for meeting together, we can conclude that the emphasis to get together is spiritual – for living the faith in daily life. A practical way to do this are the 65 Togethers of Scripture that make it easier to recall hundreds of Bible instructions for helping one another along the path of faith, a road that should often be uphill to assure growth of our spirits.
Therefore, we need to intentionally insert into our time with friends the Togethers. In the Hebrews 10 verse, “Spurring One Another on to Love and Good Deeds” and “Encouraging One Another” are mentioned. These are two of the 65 Togethers of Scripture, so it is not a stretch to say that we need to prioritize spiritual duties so that they take up more than minimal time when we get together with our closest Christian friends.
The same priority for some time to be spent in spiritual growth and helping one another apply faith to life should happen in Christian families and Christian marriages. Just as friends arrange to get together at certain times and places, so should husbands and wives, as well as families, set aside time to spend together for the purpose of seeing what Togethers are needed for the situations persons are facing. Weekly sessions at the same time each week make sense for most families and marriages.
Wisdom leads us to be much more spiritually intentional when we get a chance to be with our Christian friends, Christian family members and Christian spouses. We need to “be on our toes” and more attentive to what is going on in their relationships with God and others. We need to be aware of our spiritual responsibilities within the time available. This is especially true when we meet with friends we do not see very often.
We need to avoid being trapped by television, digital entertainments on phones, computers and tablets, and anything else that eats up a lot of our free time from essential responsibilities. These things are dangerous distractions from helping one another become more like Jesus and prepare for heaven.
Normal and fun conversations should become gateways to spiritual discussions that open doors for whatever Together or Togethers are applicable to whatever in life is being talked about.
You might have heard of the concept of listening with the “third ear”, so let’s insert listening with the “spiritual ear”. We see one another visually. Bodies can be seen, but our spirits are invisible – and there lies the problem. We must become more aware that we are all spiritual beings – the deep part of us is our spirits that upon death go to heaven. There they have a spiritual form, or body, just as did Moses and Elijah when they talked with Jesus in what we call “The Transfiguration”.
So, let’s pay more attention to the spirits of those in our Christian Inner Circles. In light of living for Jesus and honoring God now and after death for all eternity, this is very important. If we want to make an investment in our Christian friends, Christian family members, and Christian spouses, helping their spirits grow into Christlikeness is the most valuable contribution to their lives. For now. And, for all eternity in heaven.
This is where that “spiritual ear” comes in play. Of all the Christians with whom we relate, we have the most regular contact with those in our Christian Inner Circles. With them, we listen to a lot of conversation. While our regular ears are hearing what they are saying, our spiritual ears should listen for their faith or lack of faith in what they are saying. When we see remarkable faith, we appreciate and affirm it. But, when we hear wavering faith or lack of faith, we make a mental note to remember, – then pray and receive direction from the Holy Spirit through what is written in the Bible or comes with peace into our minds, – and then patiently carry out a loving plan to help.
Christian friends should make it a point to get together not just occasionally, but intentionally and regularly. This is where encouragement and the other Togethers can be implemented for “where the wheels hit the road”.
As a counselor and psychotherapist, I meet many Christians who have no really close friends with whom they can share their struggles and help each other live for God beyond the easy stuff of going to church and reading the Bible. I am also frustrated that the support they need from others, usually only one to four of the Togethers at the time of their counseling, is not available to them at the friendship level.
Church leaders may believe that coming to church and being in a small group would provide what most people need at the growing point of their faith. But, it is not adequate. I would say to pastors and church leaders that if they have any church members without at least two close friends they can meet with regularly to bare their heart and mind, that it is the job of the church to remedy this predicament. If not the church, who is going to take the responsibility? Ephesians 4:11-13 makes it the church’s responsibility.
Being married or having a family is not enough. Ask any husband or wife, any mom or dad who has close Christian friends if those friends are necessary to their faith, and we should hear an emphatic “yes”.
Most would agree that transparency is usually easier with a friend, usually of the same gender, than with a husband or wife. The marital relationship has aspects where more carefulness must be the rule. For example, a husband is more likely to talk first to his friend about irritation with his wife. In fact, that is often the wise thing to do. A friend won’t immediately get his feelings hurt or be threatened. The friend might even point out that the wife is not doing anything wrong. And then, that friend might help the irritated husband get over his objection, and the issue would never have to be brought up to the wife, thus protecting the marital relationship from an unnecessary strain. Or perhaps the husband is right and needs advice on how to handle the situation lovingly.
To be available for each other’s help, close Christian friends need to be getting together often to be available when help is needed. Doing enjoyable activities together can provide this accessibility, but only if friends will remember that more than fun is needed. As all of the Togethers show, help is needed all along the path of faith, not just for emergency situations.
Even family activities by one of the parents can create a setting for “getting serious” about living for the Lord. Two male friends with children can take their kids to the zoo together and have time to talk about serious issues of the faith while the kids are off watching the monkeys.
Sometimes necessary chores can be done together and open up more time for help and spiritual discussions. Two Christian women can go grocery shopping and talk about issues of faith and living God’s way. Two men can help with each other’s home repairs and create time to talk.
Some people are “gun shy” of friendships. We Christians need to identify these fellow believers and show that such close relationships can be safe. We must show them accepting, non-condemning interactions where we are easily transparent until they feel free to be so. Sermons can exhort people to have close relationships while convincing others to be available to people who are not outgoing.
Friendships, families and marriages need to assess whether they are having enough quality spiritual time to be on top of relationships, spiritual growth and relationship with the Lord.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
|
Norman and Marta joined a bowling league and met another couple, Frank and Claudia, who happened to be Christians. Eventually the friendship grew and they began going out for dessert after bowling. They really had fun together, and they still do.
However, Marta wondered if they could talk about spiritual things when they met to eat goodies after bowling rather than just extending the two fun hours of fun. She said that she had become very interested in Frank and Claudia and wanted all four of them to be more like Jesus was with his friends. Ever since Marta’s proposal the four friends have been obeying the Togethers of Scripture when they meet after bowling. Just last week they talked about how each could do something more loving because Frank had been drawn by the Holy Spirit to Hebrews 10:24 (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on to love and good deeds.”). They even decided as a foursome to deep clean a very frail elderly shut-in’s home. |
We become more like Jesus the more we are available to our closest friends, families, and spouses for growth in our faith, spiritual battles, and service for God.
The impression of Scripture is that Jesus was with his closest friends (his disciples) almost daily. He was available. He was attentive to their lives and needs. Perhaps Jesus and his disciples did roast marshmallows over an open fire. But the reason we don’t know that to be a fact, other than they weren’t invented yet, is that what was recorded as important was their discussions about spiritual things.
Therefore, having fun together does not make us very much like Jesus. But, when we put a little spiritual quality time into our recreational and hospitality endeavors, then we are accelerating our transformation into Christlikeness.
Deeper trust is needed for Christian-to-Christian relationships. It establishes the environment for meetings to be sufficiently spiritual. Such trust in necessary to have any chance of success in helping each other become more like Jesus.
Trust is needed to allow honesty and avoid having to be overly careful not to upset one another. Humility is also necessary, especially recognition that, unlike Jesus who was always right, our opinions might be wrong and are open for examination. Most of us speak as though we are certain, but should know that we are seldom as correct as we think we are. When we agree that what we say might be wrong, we can speak our minds more easily.
We need to give one another permission to be a little nosey to find out areas for spiritual growth of which we are not aware. What is the use of biblical instruction if we cannot use it to help one another. Many of the Togethers will be hampered if we cannot apply them to ourselves and those we care most about. We need to ask and have granted the right to check out our observations about how we each are approaching life.
Let’s grow and let others grow into the image of Christ by finding more time to get together and interact about our faith.
Opportunity to Worship God
The impression of Scripture is that Jesus was with his closest friends (his disciples) almost daily. He was available. He was attentive to their lives and needs. Perhaps Jesus and his disciples did roast marshmallows over an open fire. But the reason we don’t know that to be a fact, other than they weren’t invented yet, is that what was recorded as important was their discussions about spiritual things.
Therefore, having fun together does not make us very much like Jesus. But, when we put a little spiritual quality time into our recreational and hospitality endeavors, then we are accelerating our transformation into Christlikeness.
Deeper trust is needed for Christian-to-Christian relationships. It establishes the environment for meetings to be sufficiently spiritual. Such trust in necessary to have any chance of success in helping each other become more like Jesus.
Trust is needed to allow honesty and avoid having to be overly careful not to upset one another. Humility is also necessary, especially recognition that, unlike Jesus who was always right, our opinions might be wrong and are open for examination. Most of us speak as though we are certain, but should know that we are seldom as correct as we think we are. When we agree that what we say might be wrong, we can speak our minds more easily.
We need to give one another permission to be a little nosey to find out areas for spiritual growth of which we are not aware. What is the use of biblical instruction if we cannot use it to help one another. Many of the Togethers will be hampered if we cannot apply them to ourselves and those we care most about. We need to ask and have granted the right to check out our observations about how we each are approaching life.
Let’s grow and let others grow into the image of Christ by finding more time to get together and interact about our faith.
Opportunity to Worship God
|
It is unclear what motivated Bill and Jeff to take their friendship up a step on the spiritual ladder. Their friendship began in high school and for years they have been having lunch at least once a month. In any case, they came to the conclusion that their hours of meeting together was not worshipful enough in the sense of not really being like God. Even after so many years, they knew each other too superficially. Having enjoyable burgers, joking around and talking about what they were doing was all well and good, but they really were not aware of the difficult things each was going through.
It probably came to Jeff’s mind when he decided to get more serious about praying. He would think to pray, but wasn’t able to be specific in talking with God about Bill. So, Jeff explained the problem to his long-time friend and they outlined the various aspects of their lives, including work, family, relationships, etc. Then they determined to find out how each was relating to faith and life with God in each aspect of their lives whenever they could find time to meet. All of this was engineered by the Holy Spirit and the two friends became more aware of each other in detail, somewhat like God’s three personalities are always in touch. Jeff and Bill were actually quite happy to be reflecting back to God his own nature, knowing that they had increased their worship. |
God has given us the privilege to worship Him by meeting often with our friends, family members and spouses in a specific way. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him two separate aspects of His meetings.
First there is the continual meeting of God with Himself, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the three persons of our one God. God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are always together. They are always conscious of One Another.
Second, God is always meeting with us in being conscious of us and our needs. Jesus says he will never leave us nor forsake us.
We can worship and reflect both of these characteristics of God by being extremely attentive when we meet with our closest Christian friends and relatives. Being conscious of another person and thinking of their needs is meeting together in a Christlike fashion.
Being in the room with one another is not sufficient for a Christlike physical meeting and having a picture of someone on our desk is not enough for a Christlike mental meeting. Neither has the quality of availability for and proper attention to the other people’s needs.
For example, I am aware that my wife is in the house, even when she is on the first floor and I am in the basement of our ranch style home. But, it goes further than that. It means taking her into account. Therefore, I am aware of and treat her needs as important even when we are not near one another. When a friend invites me to do some activity, I consider my wife before making a final decision.
This is the way it is with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, our one God in three persons. It would be ridiculous to think that they have even a moment when they are unaware of the Other’s existence or that they would ever make autonomous decisions. So, when we are meeting with those most important to us, especially when we are together with them only in our minds, we are being like God if we are paying attention to them. That is worship.
If we are honest, we will admit that when we are meeting with others, we are far more aware of what we are thinking than what the other is saying. Often, we are considering how we want to respond before even understanding what is being said. It is so much easier to know our own reactions and thoughts than to stay focused on others.
I often tell marriages I am counseling that good communication and understanding is like two talking heads, side by side, on the television. Think of a news talk show where two people in different locales are being interviewed. Expert One is on the left side of the screen and Expert Two on the right. What they are saying is not my point here. We see both facial images clear and in focus, each taking up half the screen. That equal attention is the kind of understanding a husband and a wife need. Both need to be clearly aware of the other’s existence and needs as well as their own.
During an argument, most husbands and wives only have a clear picture of themselves – their views, their way of thinking, their past experiences. In our analogy, the person would have himself or herself taking up the whole picture on the television screen. They don’t even have that small picture-in-picture view of the husband or wife. Remember those little views in the top right-hand corner of the television screen? Often the spouse will speak up enough for that small glimpse to be recognized. But a good marriage must get to the 50% divided screen where both people are attentive to both of their views, ways of thinking and outside influences affecting them. Dialogue is asking “why” questions that can clarify understanding for a clearer picture of the two different viewpoints.
When we meet with a spouse, our kids and the other parent, or friends, to be more like God and offer Him valuable worship, we will do all we can to understand the others a little better than we do ourselves.
First there is the continual meeting of God with Himself, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the three persons of our one God. God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are always together. They are always conscious of One Another.
Second, God is always meeting with us in being conscious of us and our needs. Jesus says he will never leave us nor forsake us.
We can worship and reflect both of these characteristics of God by being extremely attentive when we meet with our closest Christian friends and relatives. Being conscious of another person and thinking of their needs is meeting together in a Christlike fashion.
Being in the room with one another is not sufficient for a Christlike physical meeting and having a picture of someone on our desk is not enough for a Christlike mental meeting. Neither has the quality of availability for and proper attention to the other people’s needs.
For example, I am aware that my wife is in the house, even when she is on the first floor and I am in the basement of our ranch style home. But, it goes further than that. It means taking her into account. Therefore, I am aware of and treat her needs as important even when we are not near one another. When a friend invites me to do some activity, I consider my wife before making a final decision.
This is the way it is with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, our one God in three persons. It would be ridiculous to think that they have even a moment when they are unaware of the Other’s existence or that they would ever make autonomous decisions. So, when we are meeting with those most important to us, especially when we are together with them only in our minds, we are being like God if we are paying attention to them. That is worship.
If we are honest, we will admit that when we are meeting with others, we are far more aware of what we are thinking than what the other is saying. Often, we are considering how we want to respond before even understanding what is being said. It is so much easier to know our own reactions and thoughts than to stay focused on others.
I often tell marriages I am counseling that good communication and understanding is like two talking heads, side by side, on the television. Think of a news talk show where two people in different locales are being interviewed. Expert One is on the left side of the screen and Expert Two on the right. What they are saying is not my point here. We see both facial images clear and in focus, each taking up half the screen. That equal attention is the kind of understanding a husband and a wife need. Both need to be clearly aware of the other’s existence and needs as well as their own.
During an argument, most husbands and wives only have a clear picture of themselves – their views, their way of thinking, their past experiences. In our analogy, the person would have himself or herself taking up the whole picture on the television screen. They don’t even have that small picture-in-picture view of the husband or wife. Remember those little views in the top right-hand corner of the television screen? Often the spouse will speak up enough for that small glimpse to be recognized. But a good marriage must get to the 50% divided screen where both people are attentive to both of their views, ways of thinking and outside influences affecting them. Dialogue is asking “why” questions that can clarify understanding for a clearer picture of the two different viewpoints.
When we meet with a spouse, our kids and the other parent, or friends, to be more like God and offer Him valuable worship, we will do all we can to understand the others a little better than we do ourselves.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,
if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,
if any tenderness and compassion,
then make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests
but each of you to the interests of the others.
Phil 2:1-4
if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,
if any tenderness and compassion,
then make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests
but each of you to the interests of the others.
Phil 2:1-4
This principle of Philippines 2 to think of ourselves a little less is counter to the philosophy of the world. So, let’s joyfully embrace it as wonderful because it is God’s way. Whenever we meet with a friend or member of our family or our spouse, let’s work hard to see his or her point of view. Before making our point of view clearer.
A book could be written about how this is wise, how this is the best way in the long run to get your view understood, etc. But, let’s just do it because it is being like God and is valuable worship.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
A book could be written about how this is wise, how this is the best way in the long run to get your view understood, etc. But, let’s just do it because it is being like God and is valuable worship.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
|
The Thomas family has geared up to defeat the devil. They have added another meeting to their long-standing Family Fun Night on Fridays. They are now taking an hour-and-a-half every Tuesday evening to eat dinner and talk about faith.
They printed out the faith discussion game grids from the ChristiansTogether.org web site which are free for the taking. There were over 800 discussion items available on twelve free grids. Almost everything about the Christian faith and living for God can be covered in a few years time. The family is meeting on these Tuesday nights to help one another gain stronger faith. This will repel the devil. And, it can ground them in righteous thinking and decision-making for the rest of their lives. Satan hates what the Thomas family is doing. And the Thomas’ are happy about that. |
Remember that Satan’s strategy is to divide believers and offer them things God does not want for them. The devil talked only to Eve in the Garden of Eden and made an offer she could have refused but did not because she did not have Adam’s help.
Therefore, the more often we meet with those Christians who have the closest, most trusting relationship with us, the less vulnerable we are to the evil one’s temptations. But, only if our meeting is more than about fun.
While Satan will most likely not tempt us while we are with another Christian or two who are devoted to God, he will when we are alone. This brings up the necessity of talking over choices with Christians, at least the major decisions.
What about privacy? Well, it does not seem to be a biblical concept except when related to nudity (Gen 9:20-27). Achan’s secret sin was attributed to the whole nation of Israel (Joshua 7). Innocent people died because Achan was able to do something private.
How do we let go of privacy, so ingrained in America? We might not be too thrilled that the government knows so much about us, even if we have nothing to hide. But, that is a whole different story than privacy from other Christians. We should even want them to know what we would like to hide. For God’s sake. To protect His glory.
Personally, I would prefer to say that we can keep things private from our closest Christian friends and relatives. But, the situation with Achan challenges my preference. The soldiers who died needlessly did not even know Achan. So, if the same rules apply today because God is the same yesterday, today and forever, then a Christian who privately has an extra-marital affair can bring disaster on the church and innocent members. Hopefully, whatever harmful results would not be so severe because Achan did not just steal – he stole from God. Offenses against God seem to bring the worst consequences. Remember Ananias and Sapphira? (Acts 5) However, we shouldn’t want any harm to come to others for our sinfulness.
Therefore, I am all for advocating that every believer have an open, transparent life with at least two other Christians. And, this goes further than running decisions past one another. It means that when close Christian friends and relatives get together, they should be able to, and must, ask about the other person’s life and receive more than superficial answers.
This takes radical commitment to God and his kingdom. Certainly, if we recognize that we are on slippery ground and about to commit a major sin, we should be afraid that we will bring disaster to someone we care about or even a stranger in our church. We have the duty to protect God’s honor as well as the well-being of others.
If, when we get together with close Christian friends, family members (even children), or spouse, and we are aware that we are meeting in Jesus’ name, He will be with us because of His promise to 2 or 3 of us. Then, together we need to listen for Jesus to speak silently to us. He can reveal to us that something is going wrong and we can reach out in love to our friend, family member or spouse, identify the potential or actual sin, and head disaster off. Jesus will also be there to help us do this without judgment and with compassion.
This Together of meeting regularly is absolutely necessary to fight evil and defeat the devil. Let’s be careful. Let’s be transparent in our trusted relationships. Let’s ask for help and avoid unfortunate consequences. Let’s be ready to help each other live for God. Let’s meet together often enough to make this happen.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Therefore, the more often we meet with those Christians who have the closest, most trusting relationship with us, the less vulnerable we are to the evil one’s temptations. But, only if our meeting is more than about fun.
While Satan will most likely not tempt us while we are with another Christian or two who are devoted to God, he will when we are alone. This brings up the necessity of talking over choices with Christians, at least the major decisions.
What about privacy? Well, it does not seem to be a biblical concept except when related to nudity (Gen 9:20-27). Achan’s secret sin was attributed to the whole nation of Israel (Joshua 7). Innocent people died because Achan was able to do something private.
How do we let go of privacy, so ingrained in America? We might not be too thrilled that the government knows so much about us, even if we have nothing to hide. But, that is a whole different story than privacy from other Christians. We should even want them to know what we would like to hide. For God’s sake. To protect His glory.
Personally, I would prefer to say that we can keep things private from our closest Christian friends and relatives. But, the situation with Achan challenges my preference. The soldiers who died needlessly did not even know Achan. So, if the same rules apply today because God is the same yesterday, today and forever, then a Christian who privately has an extra-marital affair can bring disaster on the church and innocent members. Hopefully, whatever harmful results would not be so severe because Achan did not just steal – he stole from God. Offenses against God seem to bring the worst consequences. Remember Ananias and Sapphira? (Acts 5) However, we shouldn’t want any harm to come to others for our sinfulness.
Therefore, I am all for advocating that every believer have an open, transparent life with at least two other Christians. And, this goes further than running decisions past one another. It means that when close Christian friends and relatives get together, they should be able to, and must, ask about the other person’s life and receive more than superficial answers.
This takes radical commitment to God and his kingdom. Certainly, if we recognize that we are on slippery ground and about to commit a major sin, we should be afraid that we will bring disaster to someone we care about or even a stranger in our church. We have the duty to protect God’s honor as well as the well-being of others.
If, when we get together with close Christian friends, family members (even children), or spouse, and we are aware that we are meeting in Jesus’ name, He will be with us because of His promise to 2 or 3 of us. Then, together we need to listen for Jesus to speak silently to us. He can reveal to us that something is going wrong and we can reach out in love to our friend, family member or spouse, identify the potential or actual sin, and head disaster off. Jesus will also be there to help us do this without judgment and with compassion.
This Together of meeting regularly is absolutely necessary to fight evil and defeat the devil. Let’s be careful. Let’s be transparent in our trusted relationships. Let’s ask for help and avoid unfortunate consequences. Let’s be ready to help each other live for God. Let’s meet together often enough to make this happen.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
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Millie and Eugene have been married a long time and have studied the Bible in depth for years. Their last child left home five years ago and they have become restless in their faith. To tell the truth, they are tired of the routine of their lives and have occasionally mentioned to each other that they are looking forward to heaven. Both have been in their jobs for years and boredom has also led them to dream of what heaven might be like.
In one of their recent discussions, Eugene and Millie came to realize that in heaven they would have the chance to meet and get to know people who trusted in Christ at widely different times in history from all over the world. Now this was something that would be incredibly interesting. So, they wondered how they could prepare to maximize this heavenly fellowship. Unfortunately, there was not much diversity in their church. Almost everyone was African American. So, to get in the habit of finding out more about people very different than themselves, they began to search out extra-church opportunities like Bible conferences, volunteer jobs in local parachurch ministries, etc. It hasn’t been easy to meet white, Hispanic and Asian Christians, but doors are opening. Millie is great at approaching people and Eugene’s sincere interest in what people are involved in has been opening up story after story of God’s presence in lives and circumstances. |
The benefits of meeting together regularly now continue in heaven. There we want to be more than ready to meet other redeemed people with spirits strong in social interaction, especially for loving interaction and growing spiritually.
It is easy in today’s Christian culture to have only rudimentary skills in relating to other Christians about our faith. Church services are God-focused, as they should be, and opportunities for more significant love and transparency are rare. The structure of small group Bible studies allows little chance for conversation off topic from what is being studied. And the present struggles of life that need spiritual help are rarely the focus of study on a particular evening.
I have close friends who know much about this HeavenBeckons.com work to glorify God, help Christians become more like Jesus and enhance their lives in heaven, as well as open heaven’s doors to some through the gospel. A few recognize and make comments that I am spending time on this. Others ask how everything is going. No one has yet asked what difficulties I face and if there are any spiritual struggles associated with the tasks. The latter is what I really need, but I know that such direct, spiritual conversation goes against contemporary Christian culture. And can even see my own deficiency in going far enough in my conversations with those in my Christian Inner Circle.
There are also Christians without confidence or desire to reach out to other people. Their spiritual activity is almost exclusively alone. Therefore, they reap too little spiritual growth from conversations with other Christians. When they get to heaven, what will they miss? How will they catch up?
There will be a lot of people in heaven with whom to talk and enjoy and grow spiritually. To prepare for that, we need to develop our spiritual social skills. We can meet with those in our Christian Inner Circles now and learn to face life together spiritually, allowing our faith to lead us. If we do, we will really enjoy fellowship in heaven.
Developing spiritual social skills should be done in our Christian friendships, Christian families, and Christian marriages. Heaven’s relationships, without sin negatively infecting them, will be more like these relationships than the more superficial ones we have with more distant contacts. We should assess how transparent we are within these closer relationships. How open are we about our lives? Can we naturally bring up spiritual victories as well as spiritual struggles?
The foremost two major considerations about preparing for heaven by developing spiritual social skills is to first want to please God in every interaction, and second to be loving and consider the other person’s needs. Next, learn to ask questions and be asked questions. We do this more naturally when we go to a museum. In our minds we ask what there is to see and learn. With other Christians, this is exactly what to mentally ask ourselves. “What there is to see and learn?”
Especially with those in our Christian Inner Circles we want to ask many questions out of curiosity to show that the other person is important and interesting to us. Since they are usually the ones who influence us the most, we cannot let ourselves be fearful of asking about their lives, what is happening and how they are handling things.
However, if applicable, it is important to first overcome any tendency to gossip and share with others private information we gather. For example, it might be okay to mention that Close Friend #1 told you she likes the beautician at Flora’s Salon but not that she doesn’t like her new dog. “When in doubt, don’t pass it on” is a good rule of thumb. People cannot be transparent, even with a great friend, if there is fear of gossip or indiscretion.
The underlying goal of these Christian Inner Circle relationships is a treasure hunt. The treasure we are looking for takes a few forms. One is identifying Togethers to implement in the relationship, which is to say ways to love one another that fit the present situations of life. Another is related to a number of the Togethers, and that is to discover something to use in growing our spirits to be more like Jesus Christ.
The spiritual victories of those in our Christian Inner Circles can often show us our own deficiencies in our faith and provide opportunities to grow. The struggles of those in our Christian Inner Circles can often show us ways to help others attain a strength in the faith God has already given us or identify some area in which we also need to progress toward Christlikeness.
The key to all of this is asking questions, what I call dialogue. I have written extensively and even designed over 30 conversation games about dialogue and how it is the way to build relationships, solve interpersonal problems, and give kids social and thinking skills for lifetime success. For our discussion here, just realize that asking one curious, non-threatening question after another is the way to find the great stuff in other people as well as the areas where help might be welcome. This asking one question and then another clarifying question really is like mining for gold. Just a different way of digging.
Now think of heaven and eternity and all the time that we will have to ask questions and excavate great stuff out of the trillion residents of heaven. To prepare to meet with all the believers in heaven from across the globe and throughout at least 6,000 years of time, we need to know how to show interest in others beyond just “being nice”. Asking questions is the key. It will show interest in them and in the stories of their lives before death wherein God rescued them over and over again and taught them things about the faith. It will also open up stories from their history in heaven for however long they have been there. There will be treasures in these stories that will open up for us continual spiritual growth.
Since in heaven we will want to learn how God showered his grace upon people in the sinful environment before death, we want to hear people’s stories now and see God’s gracious hand in their activities as well as survival under attack. While listening, we want to say out loud or under our breath, “Praise God” because we will be doing that continually in heaven. It does not hurt to hit the streets of heaven running with the ability to discover God’s wonderful nature and merciful grace in the stories of heaven’s citizens and continue to grow our spirits in godliness.
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
It is easy in today’s Christian culture to have only rudimentary skills in relating to other Christians about our faith. Church services are God-focused, as they should be, and opportunities for more significant love and transparency are rare. The structure of small group Bible studies allows little chance for conversation off topic from what is being studied. And the present struggles of life that need spiritual help are rarely the focus of study on a particular evening.
I have close friends who know much about this HeavenBeckons.com work to glorify God, help Christians become more like Jesus and enhance their lives in heaven, as well as open heaven’s doors to some through the gospel. A few recognize and make comments that I am spending time on this. Others ask how everything is going. No one has yet asked what difficulties I face and if there are any spiritual struggles associated with the tasks. The latter is what I really need, but I know that such direct, spiritual conversation goes against contemporary Christian culture. And can even see my own deficiency in going far enough in my conversations with those in my Christian Inner Circle.
There are also Christians without confidence or desire to reach out to other people. Their spiritual activity is almost exclusively alone. Therefore, they reap too little spiritual growth from conversations with other Christians. When they get to heaven, what will they miss? How will they catch up?
There will be a lot of people in heaven with whom to talk and enjoy and grow spiritually. To prepare for that, we need to develop our spiritual social skills. We can meet with those in our Christian Inner Circles now and learn to face life together spiritually, allowing our faith to lead us. If we do, we will really enjoy fellowship in heaven.
Developing spiritual social skills should be done in our Christian friendships, Christian families, and Christian marriages. Heaven’s relationships, without sin negatively infecting them, will be more like these relationships than the more superficial ones we have with more distant contacts. We should assess how transparent we are within these closer relationships. How open are we about our lives? Can we naturally bring up spiritual victories as well as spiritual struggles?
The foremost two major considerations about preparing for heaven by developing spiritual social skills is to first want to please God in every interaction, and second to be loving and consider the other person’s needs. Next, learn to ask questions and be asked questions. We do this more naturally when we go to a museum. In our minds we ask what there is to see and learn. With other Christians, this is exactly what to mentally ask ourselves. “What there is to see and learn?”
Especially with those in our Christian Inner Circles we want to ask many questions out of curiosity to show that the other person is important and interesting to us. Since they are usually the ones who influence us the most, we cannot let ourselves be fearful of asking about their lives, what is happening and how they are handling things.
However, if applicable, it is important to first overcome any tendency to gossip and share with others private information we gather. For example, it might be okay to mention that Close Friend #1 told you she likes the beautician at Flora’s Salon but not that she doesn’t like her new dog. “When in doubt, don’t pass it on” is a good rule of thumb. People cannot be transparent, even with a great friend, if there is fear of gossip or indiscretion.
The underlying goal of these Christian Inner Circle relationships is a treasure hunt. The treasure we are looking for takes a few forms. One is identifying Togethers to implement in the relationship, which is to say ways to love one another that fit the present situations of life. Another is related to a number of the Togethers, and that is to discover something to use in growing our spirits to be more like Jesus Christ.
The spiritual victories of those in our Christian Inner Circles can often show us our own deficiencies in our faith and provide opportunities to grow. The struggles of those in our Christian Inner Circles can often show us ways to help others attain a strength in the faith God has already given us or identify some area in which we also need to progress toward Christlikeness.
The key to all of this is asking questions, what I call dialogue. I have written extensively and even designed over 30 conversation games about dialogue and how it is the way to build relationships, solve interpersonal problems, and give kids social and thinking skills for lifetime success. For our discussion here, just realize that asking one curious, non-threatening question after another is the way to find the great stuff in other people as well as the areas where help might be welcome. This asking one question and then another clarifying question really is like mining for gold. Just a different way of digging.
Now think of heaven and eternity and all the time that we will have to ask questions and excavate great stuff out of the trillion residents of heaven. To prepare to meet with all the believers in heaven from across the globe and throughout at least 6,000 years of time, we need to know how to show interest in others beyond just “being nice”. Asking questions is the key. It will show interest in them and in the stories of their lives before death wherein God rescued them over and over again and taught them things about the faith. It will also open up stories from their history in heaven for however long they have been there. There will be treasures in these stories that will open up for us continual spiritual growth.
Since in heaven we will want to learn how God showered his grace upon people in the sinful environment before death, we want to hear people’s stories now and see God’s gracious hand in their activities as well as survival under attack. While listening, we want to say out loud or under our breath, “Praise God” because we will be doing that continually in heaven. It does not hurt to hit the streets of heaven running with the ability to discover God’s wonderful nature and merciful grace in the stories of heaven’s citizens and continue to grow our spirits in godliness.
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
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Margarite has settled into the comfortable home Jesus prepared for her. She has been in heaven for what she guesses is about a week. Before death, she lived in various apartment buildings. Even though it was difficult to meet people, she always spoke to neighbors when she ran into them, each time showing interest in whatever they might be doing. She was so friendly and not too pushy that many people became comfortable getting to know her. She hung out purposefully in common areas, quietly reading a book and waiting for an opportunity to greet someone.
So, when Margarite got to heaven and saw all the different people of all nationalities, all centuries, all cultures and dressed so differently from one another, she was extremely excited. Not only that, but because she had worked out not being too self-conscious or reserved in her pre-life (as she calls life before death), nothing delays her meeting and getting to know all of these fascinating people in heaven. |
Nothing is quite as absurd as picturing life in heaven as a cherub floating on a cloud. Heaven will have alone time, but there will be constant meetings of citizens. Maybe even with angels.
And, we won’t even want to spend most of our time in heaven alone. There will too many stories to hear!
In heaven people will still want to be treated as important and interesting. We can ask them a lot of questions about the new job they have taken in heaven’s society. But, far more interesting is going to be stories about their life before death back when sin reigned. Those stories will be filled with accounts of God’s mercy and grace. It is those conversations that will produce constant praise of God and continual spirit growth.
Perhaps now, this side of the pearly gates, we enjoy reading the stories of faith of others through autobiographies and biographies. But, reading someone’s writing or reading about them does not give them the sense of value that a real live person face-to-face conversation produces.
In heaven we will enjoy stories “straight from the horses mouth” far more than reading them. Although the ability to draw out a story, listen attentively to it, and then remember it for your next meeting can grow in heaven, why not get there with a head start on these skills?
Those of us who were not paid much attention to as children might be so starved for others to be interested in us that we are not good at showing deeper interest in others. Surprisingly, that can also come from receiving too much attention as kids. If we can see, or others reveal to us, that we are telling our stories far more than drawing out the stories of others, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us overcome this disability.
Let’s look forward most to being in heaven in God’s presence. But, let’s also get excited about meeting such a variety of people who have received so much goodness from God that we can grow spiritually from listening. Looking forward to those conversations can be worth going through whatever we have to go through before we get there. Let’s dream often about what awaits us for all eternity.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Eternity
And, we won’t even want to spend most of our time in heaven alone. There will too many stories to hear!
In heaven people will still want to be treated as important and interesting. We can ask them a lot of questions about the new job they have taken in heaven’s society. But, far more interesting is going to be stories about their life before death back when sin reigned. Those stories will be filled with accounts of God’s mercy and grace. It is those conversations that will produce constant praise of God and continual spirit growth.
Perhaps now, this side of the pearly gates, we enjoy reading the stories of faith of others through autobiographies and biographies. But, reading someone’s writing or reading about them does not give them the sense of value that a real live person face-to-face conversation produces.
In heaven we will enjoy stories “straight from the horses mouth” far more than reading them. Although the ability to draw out a story, listen attentively to it, and then remember it for your next meeting can grow in heaven, why not get there with a head start on these skills?
Those of us who were not paid much attention to as children might be so starved for others to be interested in us that we are not good at showing deeper interest in others. Surprisingly, that can also come from receiving too much attention as kids. If we can see, or others reveal to us, that we are telling our stories far more than drawing out the stories of others, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us overcome this disability.
Let’s look forward most to being in heaven in God’s presence. But, let’s also get excited about meeting such a variety of people who have received so much goodness from God that we can grow spiritually from listening. Looking forward to those conversations can be worth going through whatever we have to go through before we get there. Let’s dream often about what awaits us for all eternity.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Eternity
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In heaven our Lord approaches Andy while he is washing dishes. No one else is around. Andy senses a warmth that he will cherish forever. Eventually, Jesus says that He has had a special connection to Andy because before Andy came to heaven he made himself so available to others, especially those in his inner circle of Christians. Andy replies that it was no huge thing to do so. Jesus responds, “It was a choice, and for that I feel a bond with you. I too made the choice to constantly be available to all those people who were mine. And, I made the choice to be absolutely always available to my own inner circle of the Father and the Holy Spirit. Please don’t downgrade the bond that we share over being willing to meet with others.”
Andy thinks that Jesus is through speaking, but the Lord continues, “And, let me also say that I feel close to you because you usually took meetings with other Christians to spiritual things, just as I did in my 3-year ministry before I was crucified.” And, with that, the Lord is gone. |
We will have a closer relationship with God if we meet regularly with those in our Christian Inner Circles in order that everyone grow spiritually more into the likeness of His Son.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son, . . .
Rom 8:29a
to be conformed to the image of his Son, . . .
Rom 8:29a
God will definitely appreciate us if we get on board for His primary purpose for believers. Why in heaven would God pay as much fond attention to those who turned their back of His instruction to meet together regularly in order to be further transformed into the image of His Son?
God, who is available to us 24/7 will connect with those who before heaven were available to meet with other believers often when they needed relationship. Empathy will have developed with God if, like God, we made ourselves available in meetings with those in our Christian Inner Circles in case anyone needed us.
And, if we went to church services and activities that we were not too thrilled about just in case someone needed us, then we will know a little how God feels to be “on call” for us. He is there – just in case we feel we need Him. Being available similarly will enhance our relationship with God.
Praise & Prayer Regarding this Together
Lord, I praise You for being so available to meet with me any time I have wanted to spend time with You. I have enjoyed talking with You in prayer, both when I was talking and when I was listening. It has been thrilling to hear You telling me eternal truth when I have read and meditated on the Scriptures. And, sometimes, it has been wonderful to just be with You and aware of Your presence when there is no conversation in prayer or through Bible study.
I also want to thank You for making other Christians available to meet with, especially for the encouragement we have shared together. Help me to be available to other believers, especially those in my inner circle of Christian friends and family. When I am with others, help me to be attentive to their words and needs, not just be in the room with them.
I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to make time available to meet with one another for spiritual reasons. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You glory in the way we are more than just friendly with our Christian friends and family members. Help us to remember that Christians meeting together have a critical agenda that unbelievers do not.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus and pay more attention to the spirits of those in our Christian Inner Circles, and not just their physical and emotional lives. Lord, You had much more daily time with Your disciples, so help us to make the most of our opportunities to meet together since they are few and far between.
May our lives worship You more because we are often conscious of the needs of those Christians in our paths of life. Especially help us to be attentive to the needs of those in our Christian Inner Circles, keeping in mind that You, Jesus, are there with us and most likely want us to minister to one another’s spiritual growth.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by meeting together often with those Christians we are close with and mutually impact. Empower us to defeat Satan who from the very first had the powerful strategy to divide believers so that he could take them off course of their relationship with You. May our meetings be spiritual glue that makes us strong against the devil rather than superficial meetings with little spiritual impact.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by developing our spiritual social skills. There will be so many citizens of heaven who have received so much goodness from You that we can grow spiritually just from listening to them. In heaven we want to be prepared to meet around spiritual opportunities, especially since they will not be held back by sin.
God, who is available to us 24/7 will connect with those who before heaven were available to meet with other believers often when they needed relationship. Empathy will have developed with God if, like God, we made ourselves available in meetings with those in our Christian Inner Circles in case anyone needed us.
And, if we went to church services and activities that we were not too thrilled about just in case someone needed us, then we will know a little how God feels to be “on call” for us. He is there – just in case we feel we need Him. Being available similarly will enhance our relationship with God.
Praise & Prayer Regarding this Together
Lord, I praise You for being so available to meet with me any time I have wanted to spend time with You. I have enjoyed talking with You in prayer, both when I was talking and when I was listening. It has been thrilling to hear You telling me eternal truth when I have read and meditated on the Scriptures. And, sometimes, it has been wonderful to just be with You and aware of Your presence when there is no conversation in prayer or through Bible study.
I also want to thank You for making other Christians available to meet with, especially for the encouragement we have shared together. Help me to be available to other believers, especially those in my inner circle of Christian friends and family. When I am with others, help me to be attentive to their words and needs, not just be in the room with them.
I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to make time available to meet with one another for spiritual reasons. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You glory in the way we are more than just friendly with our Christian friends and family members. Help us to remember that Christians meeting together have a critical agenda that unbelievers do not.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus and pay more attention to the spirits of those in our Christian Inner Circles, and not just their physical and emotional lives. Lord, You had much more daily time with Your disciples, so help us to make the most of our opportunities to meet together since they are few and far between.
May our lives worship You more because we are often conscious of the needs of those Christians in our paths of life. Especially help us to be attentive to the needs of those in our Christian Inner Circles, keeping in mind that You, Jesus, are there with us and most likely want us to minister to one another’s spiritual growth.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by meeting together often with those Christians we are close with and mutually impact. Empower us to defeat Satan who from the very first had the powerful strategy to divide believers so that he could take them off course of their relationship with You. May our meetings be spiritual glue that makes us strong against the devil rather than superficial meetings with little spiritual impact.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by developing our spiritual social skills. There will be so many citizens of heaven who have received so much goodness from You that we can grow spiritually just from listening to them. In heaven we want to be prepared to meet around spiritual opportunities, especially since they will not be held back by sin.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.