The hope of heaven - by Lindy

We so hope you all enjoyed the special day that is Christmas day. We
hope that any wrinkles and glitches that often occur between family
members were amazingly absent. 'Christmas is about family' is a pretty
common belief amongst so many cultures and people in the world. Even
disparate or hostile families try and unite on Christmas day. With
varying degrees of success I imagine!

This year for us then has a very strong and painful sense of 'someone
missing'. Ben seems to be just out of sight. As the days go by he
moves further out of sight. New things are happening that he doesn't
know about and will never be part of. Strange things trigger the
feelings of losing him to the past. Things like new petrol stations on
the Hume Freeway as we drive to Rutherglen or Wodonga. They are part
of the future that he has left. Tim has glasses. Ben never knew him
with glasses.

But Christmas isn't only about families. For Christians, it's about
the most important birth ever. It is about celebrating that life (and
death) that gives us eternal hope. During times of sorrow and sadness
it is about being reminded that life isn't just about this stuff of
today which is sometimes hard and sometimes cruel.

The hope of heaven as we experienced in Argentina, is much more common
amongst people who have not been overly materially, emotionally or
physically blessed in this life. In affluent countries we often treat
it too lightly; we have everything we need here. Heaven can seem
irrelevant. 'Pie in the sky when you die' is a derogatory phrase. Heaven
is not seen as a legitimate part of our faith. It seems to be evidence
that the truth of our faith is invalid. People seem to think that if
Christianity is really true then it shouldn't need the hope of heaven
to convince people.

It was the belief in heaven and an unbelievably wonderful eternity
with no more death - and the Lord wiping away every tear from our eyes -
that was Ben's sure and firm foundation. Thank God for that. If the
whole thing sounds a bit lame at an intellectual level - frankly
ridiculous even - and the Christians you know are quite mad and turn you
off, then please have another try. Have another look. Ben was no fool
and no nerd. For the sake of his memory if nothing else, at least have
one more look.

May God bless you all.

With our love.