Heaven -what do we know about it?

[StrawberryJam]

If you are asking what the purpose is in loving God. . .

You are asking what is the meaning of life. The meaning of life is to love God. That is the purpose.

How do you love God? By contemplating Him and sharing your knowledge and love of Him with all others and finding Him in all His works and people.

This is the purpose of life. Because God is all goodness without end.

Sorry, this is still not getting through to me somehow.

Let’s say it is the end of time, and all are either in heaven or hell.

All in heaven already chose God. They can not be kicked out of heaven.

What kind of knowledge or sharing about knowledge of him is going to change that?

How is anyone there in need to find him when they are in heaven?

So is heaven simply a place where you end up trying to find out why God did what he did?

And, even an eternity will not reveal this to anyone there?

Maybe I am still not understanding this.

 

[Shin]

Sorry, this is still not getting through to me somehow.

Old chap, do you like good things or do you not? Are you interested in good things or are you not? What else are you supposed to do with your time than experience love and good things? And this the Lord God, perfectly and without sin?

Oh earth, we have to give up many things and conquer sin, and suffer – but in Heaven, it is over, we have passed the test. There we fulfill our purpose by doing the Lord’s will, which is, that of love and sharing of love, and what love’s focus is, is God and all that is good which is within Him – which is infinite, and so can occupy us for all eternity.

We are a gratuitous creation of God, our purpose is to love Him and give Him glory by fulfilling to the utmost our capacity to do so.

 

[StrawberryJam]

Old chap, do you like good things or do you not? Are you interested in good things or are you not? What else are you supposed to do with your time than experience love and good things? And this the Lord God, perfectly and without sin?

Oh earth, we have to give up many things and conquer sin, and suffer – but in Heaven, it is over, we have passed the test. There we fulfill our purpose by doing the Lord’s will, which is, that of love and sharing of love, and what love’s focus is, is God and all that is good which is within Him – which is infinite, and so can occupy us for all eternity.

We are a gratuitous creation of God, our purpose is to love Him and give Him glory by fulfilling to the utmost our capacity to do so.

Good things? Well, then this makes sense. It would take an eternity and still never understand what it means for God to be good.

Now I think I understand this better.

We were only born to suffer, and our reward for doing so is to find out how good God is and still never understand it.

 

[SkinnyJay]

I suppose I have always looked at heaven as a place the same as here but also completely different. Let me explain.

Here on Earth we as flawed beings follow flawed practices. I shouldn’t say flawed practice really but flawed perception. We look for things to accomplish. More often then not tangible things. Becoming skilled in playing basketball. Accomplish skill to accomplish wins to accomplish fame and so on in sometimes a very complex hierarchy or goals, wants, fears. But even growth or maturity in such aspects of our lives as wisdom or knowledge are not in and of themselves the reason why we try to accomplish that aspect but indeed for the physical implications or reactions of that wisdom or knowledge. Even people humbly searching to increase a capacity in themselves that is not merely physical do so to help or cherish something else that is physical.

The reason I say “flawed” perception is because I don’t believe this perception will continue while in Heaven. Our list of goals, wants, needs will be drastically different in a place with no pain, and no time in our perfected bodies. Catholicism believes in a very real Hell. Once people in Heaven get there they will be in communion with Gods loving relationship of Father, Son, Spirit, the Trinity. They will come to understand some very important truths that can really only be made clear in hindsight. How everything fits together. That is why it will be very important for the one in Heaven to try as hard as they can to get people on Earth to understand the dangers of Hell and what it means for them, to believe. Something I am sure God can relate with. But you were interested in what to do after the praying for souls on Earth. I believe one aspect is to learn to see through Gods eyes when in Heaven. It will not be difficult because the information isn’t readily available but because it will be difficult for people to let go of their flawed perception and see in a new light the hows and whys of existence.

We will see a new spiritual connection to everyone around us. I love an analogy I have heard about marriage in Heaven. Marriage is like two pieces of a puzzle coming together. On Earth with flawed bodies it is like two mismatched pieces trying to come together. You can get a piece that will fit really close but not exactly so marriage on Earth is like tying duck tape around the two pieces locking them together. The duck tape is something God created to show us a vision of Heaven. What it means to be joined together as fully as possible while in this world. Over time here on Earth the two pieces can grow closer together but still will not have been able to connect together perfectly with or without the tape, something God intended. In heaven with perfected bodies we will have the capacity to fit together without the tape and the cool part is with everyone. To connect on a level so pure and loving that it doesn’t need the tape. It is kind of like someone taping up the cracks of a banks vault, not necessary. Everyone is sharing in the Love of God.

Love isn’t something that if you add tangible item A with physical item B you get something as pervasively not physical as Love. Even this worlds vision of love is mysterious in its non-physical elements. The emotional connection would be something close to how it is in Heaven. But the point is that the spiritual connections will be made apparent and sharing and experiencing that will be rapturous joy. Something that will take an eternity to explore.

Thanks for the questions SJam. It has really allowed me to take a closer look at what I believe and, sort of, bottle it up here in forum form. Allowed me to pen out my thoughts. Will be interesting looking back on this for myself and my growth in Faith as well as hearing from other Catholics.

 

[SkinnyJay]

We were only born to suffer, and our reward for doing so is to find out how good God is and still never understand it.

I believe we will understand it, and that will be the joy. We were created to share in Gods Love not to suffer. But it was the choice of our forefathers to be independent from God therefore [enter suffering stage right]. Now we, right now, have a choice to be independent or dependent. Who will sit in the judges chair? Who, at our end, will sit there whether we like it or not?

It is tough for people to understand eternity when all we know is completely not eternity. It will be something completely different then a calender with year by year going by. Ah look it is May 3rd 182839503983840509 A.D. I suppose I will mix things up this millennium and have pancakes for breakfast. Describing time in Heaven as an eternity isn’t really there for an actual mathematical infinity but rather as a symbol of infinity. Heaven is outside of time so why would it dutifully follow something in time? Eternity is used to help us understand the timelessness of Heaven.

 

[La-Petite-Fleur]

Living in the presence of God, being completely consumed by Him… being enraptured in His love, worshipping Him, having a deep relationship with Him for all eternity. I also imagine at the same time, being filled with the Holy Spirit with such immensity, and the glory of God just illuminating everything. Seeing Jesus, hearing His voice, worshiping at His feet, hugging Him (if He’ll let me!), falling on my face in worship as I am overcome with the Holy Spirit at seeing numbers upon numbers of angels worship Jesus. To perhaps learn from the Virgin Mary. Oh! To hug a lion, to swim under water and be able to breathe, to talk to animals- and have conversations with them- about Jesus! Lol. To be able to visit with Jesus, and tell Him, “I’m sorry”, “thank you”, and “I love you so much…” I don’t know what Heaven will be like, really. But I often say that Heaven is wherever Jesus is… Heaven is in His arms. This reminds me of a song… Take Me Into The Holy of Holies…

 

[StrawberryJam]

I believe we will understand it, and that will be the joy. We were created to share in Gods Love not to suffer. But it was the choice of our forefathers to be independent from God therefore [enter suffering stage right]. Now we, right now, have a choice to be independent or dependent. Who will sit in the judges chair? Who, at our end, will sit there whether we like it or not?

It is tough for people to understand eternity when all we know is completely not eternity. It will be something completely different then a calender with year by year going by. **Ah look it is May 3rd 182839503983840509 A.D. I suppose I will mix things up this millennium and have pancakes for breakfast. **Describing time in Heaven as an eternity isn’t really there for an actual mathematical infinity but rather as a symbol of infinity. Heaven is outside of time so why would it dutifully follow something in time? Eternity is used to help us understand the timelessness of Heaven.

That is along the lines of what I was imagining. I’m forgetting there is no time there.
I’ll be honest, it sounds like a nirvana to me now.

 

[SkinnyJay]

That is along the lines of what I was imagining. I’m forgetting there is no time there.
I’ll be honest, it sounds like a nirvana to me now.

I think that is a fine way of looking at it. Although I suppose it could be quite dangerous in some cases. It would depend on what brand of nirvana one buys into. Nirvana in Buddhist Hindu or Mahayana, among others, vary. The core thought of nirvana is a state of being that is free from ignorance, pain, emotional impurities, even dualistic perceptions but it is important to realize that while it is something we must try to attain it is not something we can reach on our own. Only in God, our Creator are we at home and given the grace to reach our potential.

Nirvana in philosophical thoughts is a quite enlightening subject of inquiry just be careful. There are many hidden roots that can trip people up. The biggest danger in my opinion is looking towards oneself for perfection instead of God. The idea of perfection being inherently within us and it is just unlocking it that is needed. God Bless in your endeavors.