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10 TRUTHS YOU CAN KNOW ABOUT HEAVEN Page 18 Think February 2013-Covers_Covers 1/17/13 2:16 PM Page 1 FEBRUARY 2013 10 TRUTHS YOU CAN KNOW ABOUT HEAVEN Page 18 CURRENT ISSUES FROM A DISTINCTLY CHRISTIAN VIEW IS HEAVEN REAL? $3.95 Think February 2013-Covers_Covers 1/17/13 2:16 PM Page 2 “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” Think February 2013-Interior_Interior 1/17/13 2:03 PM Page 3 DAILY WALK 12 FEBRUARY 2013 F eatures _______10 The Apologetics of Desire: How Humanity’s Universal Longing For God Suggests His Existence JOE PUCKETT, JR. _______12 Eli’s Story KRISTIE WILLIAMS _______16 Into the Light TREVOR MAJOR _______18 10 Truths You Can Know About Heaven WESLEY WALKER 20 _______20 What the Old Testament Says About the Afterlife DEWAYNE BRYANT _______22 Grief and Hope ASHLEY SMITH 22 I n this issue 14 Proof of Heaven 27 The Rest of the Story: Connections D epartments 4 FROM THE EDITORS 6 MAILBAG 7 SOLID GROUND 8 HEART OF THE MATTER 9 FAMILIES OF FAITH 24 SMART FAITH 26 DISSECTING DELUSIONS 28 DIGGING DEEPER 29 A WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE 31 FAITH MATTERS THINK | FEBRUARY 2013 3 Think February 2013-Interior_Interior 1/17/13 2:03 PM Page 4 EDITORS’ NOTE Brad Harrub, Keith Parker, Steve Higginbotham, Jay Lockhart, Willie Franklin, Jack Wilkie, and Steve Akin WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HEAVEN? People desperately want to believe in an afterlife. Even many atheists legedly been instructed to come back to earth and tell others about what struggle with the notion that this life is all there is. There is something they witnessed. But hasn’t the time of prophets ended? One must wonder, so wonderfully reassuring about the prospect of Heaven, that even at a if Jesus wanted man to know more about Heaven, why didn’t He reveal time when our society appears to be embracing all forms of immorality, it to us? Popular religious authors from Billy Graham to Rob Bell have jumped people still seek hope. into the discussion on Heaven—offering their thoughts about what it will Publishing companies are cashing in on books that promise Heaven— be like or teaching that everyone is going to Heaven. The interest in Heav- or better yet, try to give a firsthand description. A quick scan of religious en is palpable in our culture. titles over the last decade will reveal numerous books on the subject of But someone needs to ask the question: Are these publishers and near-death experiences—many of which have become best sellers. Two authors selling more than just books? Consider how many books have been years ago it was Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of published about someone who “didn’t make it to Heaven,” but rather His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo. More recently, neurosurgeon ended up tasting hell briefly, before coming back to earth. Simply put, hell Eben Alexander has hit the best-seller shelf with Proof of Heaven. Back doesn’t sell. If one were to blindly accept what most of these books are in 2004, there was a book titled 90 Minutes in Heaven that featured a Bap- selling, then everyone is going to make it to Heaven (e.g., Eben Alexander described himself as “a Christmas and Easter only Christian who attend- ed a denomination but held to a naturalistic worldview.”) If one were to believe what these best-sellers are promoting, then everyone is going Heaven is to Heaven. In addition, many of the people who recount their near death experi- ences describe God and Heaven in a way that harmonizes with much of something we the New Age religion. The religion they describe is one of love and emo- tion—not spirit and truth. should all Consider for a moment what we do know. We know several people in the Bible who tasted death and came back: Lazarus (John 11), the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11-16), Eutychus after falling out of the window (Acts look forward to 20:9), and the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:21-43). The Apostle Paul wrote, “And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inex- and crave. pressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:3-4). But the Bible does not record these individuals giving vast descriptions tist preacher who was involved in a life-threatening car wreck and was of their experiences. declared dead at the scene. Three years ago there was another popular This month we want to look at what we do know about Heaven. book The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven, that featured a six year-old Heaven is something we should all look forward to and crave. We also want boy who went into coma and two months later told his parents that he had to warn our readers of placing false hope in the descriptions given by been to Heaven and talked with Jesus. And this is just the tip of the ice- people recounting near-death experiences. Instead, we encourage all berg. But what are these publishers really selling? people—Christians and non-Christians to place their hope in Jesus Some individuals who describe near death experiences have described Christ, the true Author of eternal salvation. As always, we hope you will moving toward a light or being told it was not their time. Others have al- Think on these things. ▲ BRAD HARRUB KEITH PARKER STEVE HIGGINBOTHAM JAY LOCKHART WILLIE FRANKLIN JACK WILKIE STEVE AKIN 4 FEBRUARY 2013 | THINK Think February 2013-Interior_Interior 1/17/13 2:03 PM Page 5 FOCUS PRESS Because Our World Needs Some Light Focus Press is a non-profit work dedicated to teaching God’s Truths. Please consider donating today. No gift is too small. You can donate online at http://www.focuspress.org/Donations.html or you can mail your support to: 1600 Westgate Circle, Ste. 125 Brentwood, TN 37027 Help us brighten up the world. Think February 2013-Interior_Interior 1/17/13 2:03 PM Page 6 MAILBAG Charles and Anne W. Just when we thought Think couldn’t get any better … you all added weeThink. Such a creative Volume 8, Issue 2 • February 2013 idea. We shared it with our grandchildren. Thanks for giving us one more reason to love © Focus Press, Inc. 2013 Think magazine. published monthly by Focus Press, Inc. Executive Editor Lisa B. Brad Harrub, Ph.D. The Lord blessed us with a great corn crop even though we had very little rain and record high Editors temps. We are thankful for all the blessings and wanted to share. Hope things are going well there. Keith Parker Steve Higginbotham Michael C. Jay Lockhart Our family loves weeThink. My kids were so excited to see it! We are planning on using the Willie Franklin devotional in our home study. Thanks for what you do. Associate Editor Jack Wilkie Jimmy D. Student Editor We appreciate the work you are doing. We had some end of the year funds and felt your work Steve Akin was very worthy of a one time contribution from these funds. Keep up the good work. Advisory Council Tom Holland Linda W. Gene West Brad's seminar on God’s Plan for Marriage at Martin was excellent and his delivery was exemplary. Office Manager/Controller Your YouTube response to Bill Nye's recent comment was powerful. I pray for your work. Saundra Thornton Production Manager/Director of IT Doreen T. Michael Thornton I have been given just a few more months to live and I wanted to write. If God permits, I hope Director of Marriage and Parenting my loved ones will continue supporting your work … I love your magazine. I will continue as long Steven D. Minor as I can. Editorial Assistants Tonja McRady, Julie Forthun Ann B. Creative Director God bless you and all of the Focus Press team. Terry and I believe so many souls will be reached Nick Long through your work. ▲ Annual Subscription Rate: $30 individual or gift $27 group rate—5 or more to multiple addresses $24 bulk rate—5 or more to one address $45 Overseas & Canada Airmail FROM THE ROAD Articles in Think magazine may be copied and distributed for Bible study and other small group use, provided that any and all material is used exactly as it appears in the publication (i.e., no changes and/or edits). Additionally, por- Evangelism has been occurring worldwide since the Apostles tions of articles may be used in church bulletins/publications provided that complete sentences and/or paragraphs are used and titled with the same title walked the earth. But as I travel across the country I’ve noticed used in the magazine, and no changes or edits are made. In all instances, copyright credit must be given to Think magazine: Focus Press, Inc. Brent- that while almost all congregations see the need and value of it, wood, TN with month and year of publication included. Focus Press, Inc. few are willing to roll up their sleeves and actually do it. Our mod- 1600 Westgate Circle, Suite 125 Brentwood, TN 37027 ern-day approach is to build a nice building and offer a few cool (615) 324-5870 • (866) 313-6474 focuspress.org • email: [email protected] community oriented programs—and maybe VBS in the summer- Focus Press is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
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