Celestial Cliché
Theme of the Week: What Do You Expect?
Brian Stiller
Sunday, April 24, 2005
 1 of 1
Who Said It…Brian Stiller
Brian grew up on the Canadian prairie. He served for 16 years with Youth for Christ—as national president for half that time. Then for 18 years he led the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, launching its national magazine, Faith Today, and mixing it up with a variety of leaders as he hosted the weekly "Cross Currents" TV program. Dr. Stiller now serves as president of Tyndale College and Seminary in Toronto. What He Said…Celestial Cliché
Images of heaven are shaped by childhood stories and pictures of billowy figures resting gently, equipped with bird-like wings and child-like faces, in sweet rapture apparently induced by a heavenly Valium.
As an active boy, I frankly had no interest in that prospect. I couldn't imagine much worse punishment than to be doped into inactivity. Neither did the idea of sitting around a throne worshipping God day and night (I later learned there was to be no night) sound like much fun. I had a hard enough time sitting through a Sunday church service, let alone thinking it would be heaven to do that forever. In our church we sang a hymn that referred to "that city built four–square." For some time I thought we were singing, "in that city built for squares."
We all grow up with images of heaven, what life might be like after death. But most of us simply strike off such thoughts from our daily agenda and focus on "what really matters," like getting the garbage out or returning yesterday's phone calls.
Adapted from What Happens When I Die? (Piñon, 2001) by permission.
Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
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Give me a hint, Lord, of the splendor You've prepared for me when I graduate from this life.
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