Submitted questions answered by our Pastors.

Sin is devastating, not only to the human condition, but also to creation itself. Our world is broken. We can see it in sickness, natural disasters, the breakdown of our environment, and what seems to be an overall deterioration of the universe. But God has a plan to bring a new creation into being. There will be a new heaven and new earth along with a physical resurrection and perfection of our bodies. God will make all things new, and God will make all things good. Every good and lovely thing that was intended in the beginning of creation will be fulfilled completely in the new creation.

Most of us don’t think about heaven much and, when we do, we are confused about what heaven is really like. The Bible describes much of what we can expect in heaven. We will not be floating on clouds as spirits without bodies. Rather, heaven will be a redeemed and perfected creation. We will enjoy nature and the world, we will enjoy and create art and music, we will enjoy great food, and so much more.

This is one of the biggest questions that we will ever face in life. We don’t have to worry or wonder what will happen if we trust and surrender to Jesus Christ. We know from the Bible and history that Jesus rose again, and He made a promise to bring us to Him. The Bible teaches us that, after death, we will be with Jesus in the intermediate heaven, awaiting the new heaven and new earth, and the saints are already there cheering us on.

Heaven and Hell are real. For some reason, the church does not talk much about this in recent years, and it shows in the way that we approach both life and faith. With little focus on Heaven and Hell, we are much more likely to think about immediate temporary circumstances rather than eternal realities. But compared to eternity, temporary circumstances are not of the highest importance. Because of sin, every person is destined for hell, which has been created for Satan and his demons. But because of Jesus, every person can be destined for heaven, the place of perfect happiness with God for eternity.

Once we realize that our hearts can be convinced to worship something besides God, we must figure out a way to keep our heart focused on Him. Essentially, how hearts must awaken to the beauty of Jesus. We must walk in the truth that Jesus is more sufficient, more loving, and more beautiful than anything else our hearts may deceptively desire.

Have you ever heard the saying, "You are what you eat"? Strangely enough, these wise words from your grandmother can apply to what we worship as well. "We become what we worship." As we discover hidden desires in our hearts, we have to be fully aware of the dangers those desires bring. We must fully believe and trust that nothing will satisfy us outside of Jesus.

Humanity has a deep longing for significance. Once we find something that we feel gives us significance, we will build our lives around it. Scriptures would call this "building of our lives," worship. Unfortunately, this misplaced worship can lead us to make good things, ultimate things. Before we know it, we are building our lives on something that is a gift from God, instead on God. We want to discover these things and put them back in their right place within our hearts.

We all get excited about receiving an invitation. In John 7, Jesus extends a life-changing invitation to each of us. No longer do we have to drink from the dirty wells of this world, but we can from the living water Jesus gives us in the Holy Spirit, and life will never be the same.

Simplify Life’s Hard Choices

Life is full of choices and decisions. We decide on activities that we will engage in, relationships that we will commit to, and opportunities that we will seize. Every day is an ongoing tally of moments that require a yes or no. How can we decide? How much can we fit in? What deserves a “yes” and what deserves a “no?” Our go-to measurement is most often the idea of balance, and we just try to keep the scales of commitments, energy, and resources all from tipping to one side. This leaves us often feeling at our limit. Perhaps the answer is something different. Together we will explore that aiming for the target of purpose can give us the clarity to make daily and lasting decisions that lead us forward with hope and passion.