In Those Days - Pt. 4

 

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. (Matthew 17:1-8 ESV).

 

One of the most difficult questions to answer about heaven and the New Kingdom is will we know one another in heaven? Some ask the question a bit differently as they ask, “Will I recognize my loved ones in heaven?” While we don’t have a definitive answer to those questions, we do know some things about the appearances of others we know are in heaven. Our reading today is one of those stories that give us some of the answers. Jesus has taken some of the disciples with him to the mountaintop in Galilee. What they see is the transfiguration of Jesus. Along with him are two individuals that are immediately recognized as Moses and Elijah. The disciples know who they are, but they are so perfect that they are dazzling to see.

 

In a book about going to heaven and then returning to life here on earth, the author tells about being transported to and from heaven after having surgery in a hospital. According to the book, during his short stay in heaven he recognized some of the people he had known earlier in life. Books like 90 Minutes in Heaven and others tell similar stories about recognizing people who had died earlier. Are these accounts reliable? Lots of folks disagree. In part we wonder how we could recognize and be recognized with such a disparity of age from the time when others may have known us. And, for those of us who have aged, will we look like we do in our older visage, or will be in a younger, healthier version? Hard questions to which there aren’t easy answers.

 

I believe the Bible is clear that we will know each other. Job says, “In my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes” (Job 19:26-27).  We have every reason to believe that we will know each other. After all, if God is able to raise us from the dead, won’t He be able to make sure we know one another! I do know this… I can’t wait to see those folks someday!