Mark 10:17-31, Colossians 3:1-10
Introduction
An old fable tells about a crane who was wading in a stream looking for snails when a beautiful swan landed nearby. The crane had never seen a swan before, so he asked, “What are you?” “I’m a swan,” came the reply. “And where did you come from?” the crane inquired. “Heaven,” the swan answered. “What is that?” asked the crane. the swan eagerly began to explain its beauty and glory. He spoke of the new Jerusalem, the city of pure gold with a jasper wall and pearly gates. He described its “pure river of water of life, clear as crystal.” At that point the crane interrupted, “Tell me, are there any snails in heaven?” “No, I’m afraid not,” the swan said. “Then I don’t want to go there,” the crane stated decisively. “I like snails!”
Looking for snails?
The Apostle Paul writes:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1-3 )
Now, “snails” in the story could represent the sinful things of this life – lusts, anger, selfish ambition, pride. But they could just as easily represent the good things of this life – things that are not sinful in themselves, but can become a distraction from spiritual things.
You see, the Crane in the story had no interest in the heavenly things the Swan was describing. He just wanted his snails! And many people are like that. It’s not that they are opposed to religion, it’s just that they are not that interested. They are far more concerned about making more money, or attaining that perfect toned body, or finding the right life-partner.
There are many good things in life: good food, the world of nature, music, hobbies, sport, art, fine clothes, sexual love within marriage. All these things are good, as long as they don’t become idols.
Are you looking for snails and ignoring the eternal things? God has created you to love him and to worship him forever. Are you fulfilling the purpose of your creation?
In our reading from Mark’s Gospel a rich young man come to Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life (that is: how to go to heaven). Jesus challenged that young man about his love of wealth. For that man, his possessions were a god. And he was not willing to give them up, even if it would bring him treasure in heaven. Jesus didn’t tell every one of his followers to sell all they had and give it to the poor, but he did tell that young man, because for him money was his god.
Only passing through
All the wealth of this world is a tawdry bauble compared to the riches of heaven. And we were created for heaven. So we really don’t want to accumulate too much wealth, it will only tie us down.
An American tourist visited the 19th century Polish rabbi, Hofetz Chaim:
Astonished to see that the rabbi’s home was only a simple room filled with books, plus a table and a bench, the tourist asked, “Rabbi, where is your furniture?”
“Where is yours?” replied the rabbi.
“Mine?” asked the puzzled American. “But I’m a visitor here. I’m only passing through.” “So am I,” said the rabbi.
The life of the world to come
We know very little about heaven, but it has been aptly described as “an unknown region with a well-known inhabitant.”
A dying man asked his Christian doctor to tell him something about the place to which he was going. As the doctor fumbled for a reply, he heard a scratching at the door, and then he had his answer. “Do you hear that?” he asked his patient. “It’s my dog. I left him downstairs, but he has grown impatient, and has come up and hears my voice. He has no notion what is inside this door, but he knows that I am here. Isn’t it the same with you? You don’t know what lies beyond the door, but you know that your Master is there.”
Jesus is there: that is the most important thing!
Materialistic ideas of the afterlife
In ancient times people often took a very material view of heaven. For the ancient Celts it was a place of abundance and feasting. And the Norse warriors hoped to be able to fight all day and feast all night, for all eternity in Valhalla.
In the Koran also, Paradise is described in physical terms:
Therein they shall recline upon couches, therein they shall see neither sun nor bitter cold. Near them shall be its shades, and its clusters hung meekly down, and there shall be passed around them vessels of silver, and goblets of crystal, crystal of silver that they have measured very exactly. And therein they shall be given to drink a cup whose mixture is ginger, therein a fountain whose name is called Salsabil. ….
…. and such fruits as they shall choose, and such flesh of fowl as they desire, and wide-eyed houris as the likeness of hidden pearls, a recompense for that they laboured. Therein they shall hear no idle talk, no cause of sin, only the saying, “Peace, Peace!”
This is very different from the Christian view of the afterlife. It is true that the book of Revelation does describe a world in which there is no sorrow or pain or suffering. But it is not expressed in such physical terms as in the Koran. And it is understood that the imagery is metaphorical and symbolic.
“I don’t want to go to heaven!”
But many people today also seem to have a very physical view of paradise – and not just Muslims. “I don’t want to go to heaven”, they say. “Imagine standing around for all eternity strumming a harp in a long white robe. I’m not even musical – I don’t want to play a harp!”
But the harp is an instrument of praise. In the book of Revelation it symbolizes the fact that we shall praise God for ever. We shall be taken up with him, in the words of Charles Wesley: “lost in wonder love and praise” .
As for the white robes: they represent the righteousness of the saints. There will be no sin or evil-doing in that heavenly kingdom.
Again someone might point to these verses:
Outside are the dogs, those who practise magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practises falsehood.
(Revelation 22:15)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
(Revelation 21:1)
No dogs! No sea! As one who loves both dogs and the seaside I sincerely hope this is not literally true! But of course, the life of eternity is not just going to be a glorified version of this one. I don’t know whether dogs will be there, or the sea, but I do know that all the joy I have experienced in these things will be there in heaven.
Moreover when he says “dogs” the writer is not using the word literally. The apostle John uses the word as a term of abuse – as a synonym for evil-doers.
And likewise when he uses the word “sea”. To the Hebrew way of thinking, the sea was a place of turmoil and chaos. It was also a cause of separation. If someone went across the sea they were far away. You might never see them again. So “there was no longer any sea,” could mean “there will be no more separation” or “there will be no more turmoil or chaos in that heavenly realm”.
Jesus is there
But let’s go back to the quote earlier: Heaven: an unknown region with a well-known inhabitant. i.e Jesus
Or in the words of the children’s chorus:
Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace,
I’ m going to see my Saviour’s face. O heaven is a wonderful place.
The Lord Jesus is there in his risen, glorified body. We also shall be glorified and the circumstances we shall enjoy in that heavenly realm are beyond imagining.
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him. ( 1 Corinthians 2:9)
God made us for himself, and we find no full satisfaction in this life. C S Lewis, in his autobiography “Surprised by joy”, tells how, as a child, he would at times experience a sense of joy. Just a glimpse, it seemed, of some greater world. As he went on in life he sought to fulfill these yearnings for joy – through learning and, study, though relationships, though pleasures. None of these things fully satisfied. He found no fulfillment in the things of this world. Eventually he found the answer in Jesus Christ. Then he realized that these episodes of joy had been yearnings for the heavenly kingdom.
It’s not “pie in the sky when you die”, no, rather, it is as we say in the Confession of Faith: “The chief end of Man is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever”.
Conclusion
When we get to that glorious kingdom there shall be no barriers then. We shall be sinless, we shall not be distracted by worldly charms. We shall be taken up with glorifying and enjoying our God and Creator. And we shall be united with all those who have ever lived and who love God.
All there shall be like the Swan in the story. But what of the Cranes who prefer to search for snails among the slimy pondweed? There will be no place for them in heaven because they have no desire to be there. They do not love God nor do they want to be with him forever.
