This week I began taking the class, Dynamics of Biblical Change at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia. It is taught by David Powlison. I don't plan to blog the whole class but I do hope to share some nuggets as I go through.
Today's nugget comes through a discussion of where we are going in life. He began the class by saying that we need to begin by asking where we are going, and then let that destination shine a light backward on the process of change. Actually, as we discussed this, it turns out he is speaking about what we are going to be like in our glorified state. So, where are we going? The following seven points are the notes I took in class, written in the first person, and after that I will elaborate on them.
1. I will be strong and healthy forever. I will have radiant good health forever. One day there will be no cancer, no nagging fears of Alzheimer's, knees that work, etc..
2. I will be fearless. There will be no reason at all for me to ever be afraid. There will be no situation in which my performance will be evaluated and I will come up short. There will be no situation where someone I love will mess up their life. There will be no reason for social anxiety. I will not be intimidated by anyone or anything.
3. Some day, I will be good. So will everyone else. On the near side of evil is goody-goody, Pollyanna. On the far side of evil is good, a true good that has gone through evil and is truly good. I will be a person with no stain or calculation of self-interest. I will be genuinely living the beatitudes. I will be the person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, who is pure in heart, who is a peacemaker. Having been persecuted, I will be like Christ.
4. I will never be lonely. I will know and be known utterly. I will not be isolated. I will not be bearing anything on my own. I will not be overwhelmed.
5. I will be truly happy.
6. I will be beautiful. I will be radiant.
7. I will see Jesus Christ Himself, face to face. I will see Him, I will talk to Him, I will know Him, I will love Him, I will know Him as I have been known. On the last day there will be a perfection that is not simply about me, but that is a kind of perfection in relation to another person. On the last day, all of those verbs that talk about our relationship to Christ will be there in their fullness. I will fear Him fully and rightly. I will trust Him with all that I am. I will obey Him and will love every word out of His mouth - it will be my food and drink, the finest river of life and hope for me.
The goal is not merely a self-improvement process; it is the goal that I be improved for the sake of others, to build community. We are in the race together and will come to the destination together.
How far are we from this? It seems like a long ways away.
The question of all questions is not how close you are to that destination, but it is which direction we are going? If we get the direction straight, we are living in the light, no matter what degree of suffering and struggle with sin remains.
In the last few years I have studied more and rethought my understanding of what the new heavens and the new earth are going to be like. As I have come to believe that the new heavens and new earth are going to be this earth perfected it has been thrilling to consider that there will be more continuity between this earth and the new earth than I thought before. And this has been exciting to understand because my prior view was akin to the idea that we will be walking around in white robes in an eternal church service. Not a very appealing thing! But to think of the adventures that await us in the new heavens and new earth has become very appealing.
Yet, this class gave me a whole new perspective. Lately I have been enamored with the beauty of the new heavens and the new earth, but during this class I was struck as I began to consider that the most beautiful thing in the new heavens and new earth will be it's occupants.
True, the new heavens and new earth will be more spectacular and beautiful than we can imagine, but we who are in Christ will be new people who will be more spectacular and beautiful than we can imagine.
Even more important than this were the words the instructor shared about our relationship with Jesus. I have felt a bit guilty because at times I have been more excited about the adventures that await in the new heavens and the new earth than I have about being in the presence of Jesus. Yes, I understand and you understand that Jesus is the great attraction of heaven, and that is the correct godly and spiritual answer to give to questions about heaven.
You see, at this time I only know Jesus through a veil. I am very grateful to know Him and claim Him as my Savior and my Lord, but what I am most impressed with is how little I really know of Him. At this time my relationship with Him is full of fits and starts. Some days He is precious to me and some days He is not. There are days when I wonder where He is and what He is doing. And there are days when I wonder that my heart is still so cold toward Him and so prone to doubt His goodness. It is hard for me to imagine the kind and quality of relationship I will have with HIm then.
As Dr. Powlison said, our destination is to know Him as He knows us, to love Him fully - "I will fear Him fully and rightly. I will trust Him with all that I am. I will obey Him and will love every word out of His mouth - it will be my food and drink, the finest river of life and hope for me."
And so for now, the goal is to face His direction and start walking.
>And this has been exciting to understand because my prior view was
>akin to the idea that we will be walking around in white robes in
>an eternal church service. Not a very appealing thing!
The term I used (actually gushed over by several preachers in my college days) was "Never-ending Compulsory Bible Study".
Posted by: Ken | September 13, 2005 at 12:06 PM
Good post, David. C.S. Lewis has helped me imagine the new earth perhaps better than any other Christian writer. Pratt also has a good essay which concludes with an interesting discussion about the new heavens and the new earth.
http://www.gracevalley.org/sermon_trans/Special_Speakers/Mankind_Image_of_God.html
Posted by: Jeff | September 13, 2005 at 12:15 PM
#7 is the most important on the list - perhaps the reason it's listed last. But it seems that all the other points are just added bonuses.
Along the lines of #'s 2 and 3 I would say; I will be confirmed in righteousness and unable to fall into sin. I will be righteous as Christ is righteous and holy as He is holy.
Posted by: Rick Jr. | September 13, 2005 at 01:47 PM
From a Westminster Alum: enjoy!
Listening to David Powlison talk is a privilege not enough have. It's hard to tell where Scripture stops and David starts, or vice-versa. He's so soaked in Scripture, it seems the very air he breathes.
Every off-hand comment seems a profound nugget to be treasured. Interesting how eschatology both forms and informs his discussion of sanctification. That is a breath of fresh air, and thoroughly Pauline.
Posted by: Brian | September 13, 2005 at 03:26 PM
Brian - how true. Thanks for saying what I have been fumbling around trying to say. After my first class with Dr. Powlison I told my wife and a few friends that I think taking this class is going to be one of the most beneficial things I have ever done. One of my friends asked me why and I tried to answer and I couldn't express it well. But it really is the opportunity to sit under Dr. Powlison.
I have listened to a few tapes by him and what you said describes my experience listening to them - his comments are thoroughly soaked in Scripture and even the off-hand comments are profound. I don't want to get into a hero worshipping mode here, but this truly is a godly man offering words to feast upon.
Posted by: David Wayne | September 13, 2005 at 03:34 PM
Somewhere on the Hollywood Jesus site is an essay/review likening the Second Coming to LOTR: The Return of the King. It goes something like this:
"The Ring gone, Barad-dur crumbled, the Dark Lord gone forever, the heart of Mordor growing and green, the orcs and trolls and fell beasts nothing more than fading memories. And from the Great Gate to the Tower of Ecthelion, the cry echoes throughout Minas Tirith -- "THE KING HAS RETURNED!"
That or a Neverending Compulsory Bible Study -- which would you choose?
Posted by: Ken | September 13, 2005 at 08:43 PM
David,
I just enjoyed Powlison's book "Seeing w/New Eyes" (extended 'review' at www.cornerchurch.net under Talking Theology).
I'm sure you suffered through Joel Hunter in Theology of Ministry. I think one of the few profound things he said ties in well with your thoughts. Basically, we are being pulled into the future. The consummation is at work now, drawing us closer.
We shall serve the Mighty King, unfettered by sloth, apathy and evil. In the words of the Macho Man... "Ooooh, yeah!"
Posted by: cavman | September 16, 2005 at 10:29 PM
Steve - I actually kind of liked Joel's class - he had a lot of good practical stuff to say - IMHO
Posted by: David Wayne | September 16, 2005 at 10:43 PM
Excellent post. I wasn't able to trackback with Haloscan, but wanted you to know I linked to this one at my blog.
Posted by: Milton Stanley | September 17, 2005 at 10:01 AM
I just wanted to add a hearty amen, David. The destination makes all the difference, doesn't it? I just want to thank you for helping us focus on the "things from above."
Posted by: Bob Spencer | September 17, 2005 at 10:24 AM