The work of the living
In Sydney, last week, not only did we experience the rare
event of the transit of Venus, but there was also a partial eclipse of the
moon. These events caused me to reflect on the significance of what Wolfe is
encouraging us to do in thinking about Heaven.
We cannot see the earth in its fullness
ourselves (unless we are one of the lucky few who have travelled into space),
or its interaction with the universe, but we know that we are part of it – the
sun, moon and stars all tell me that. However, until the middle of the last
century we didn’t even have photographs of the earth as seen from space.
Watching the partial eclipse last Monday night, watching the shadow of the
earth pass across the moon gave a glimpse into the size and scope of our
planet, its substance experienced in
its shadow.
The third and fourth chapters of Setting our Sights on Heaven draw to a close the biblical teaching
on heaven contained in part one. Wolfe focuses here on the apostolic message
that calls Christians to “set their minds” on heaven, looking closely at three
key passages to do this: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Colossians 3:1-4 and 1 Peter
1:13.
Wolfe concludes from these (and “other Scripture texts”)
that heavenly-mindedness consists of: meditation, orientation and anticipation,
bearing the fruits of consecration and supplication (p. 48).
Given that meditation is a bit of a lost art (and Wolfe
means turning one’s mind to a subject and deliberately thinking about it, as
opposed to emptying one’s mind altogether) and as previously mentioned I have
been leafing through Baxter’s The Saints’
Everlasting Rest and he focuses deliberately on this, I thought it would be
useful to look closely at this idea of meditation.
One of the key things that we need to do is to have some
substance to meditate on. Meditation is not just reading the Bible. Baxter and
Wolfe make this clear. But we need to have something to turn our minds to.
Wolfe does this in a practical way in the fourth chapter giving a
heavenly-mindedness to topics of marriage (and parenting), money and
possessions, mistreatments and misery. Here he is looking not only on our
contemplation, but also on how our meditation impacts our behaviour.
Wolfe uses the Bible to inform his meditation on these
topics. We are to be like the righteous man who delights in meditating on God’s
word day and night (Psalm 1:2). According to Baxter, “meditation turns the
truths received and remembered into warm affection, firm resolution, and holy
conversation.” (Ch. XII Section 3). How often do we sit and reflect on God’s
word when it is not physically in front of our eyes?
Baxter devotes whole chapters to outlining this process and
its importance for the Christian. He outlines the use of our memory, judgement
and our faith in our meditation. We are to be grounded in the Bible, and Baxter
epitomises this as he encourages his readers’ meditations. He encourages us to
approach our meditations properly, preparing ourselves in a manner worthy of
what we are about to contemplate. Furthermore, he encourages comparison with
the world around us, with intellectual pursuits, with our senses, with the
“glorious works of creation”, with what God has already given to the Christian,
with the Church as it is now, all compared to heaven.
When I look and see the shadow of the earth pass over the
moon in a lunar eclipse, I am reminded of the shadow that is our current
existence and the life that is to come. The shadow indicates substance; it does
not replace it. The world I live in, the things I enjoy can all be in service
of my constant delighting in God’s word and setting my sights on heaven: what
is there and what is to come.
Having set thy heart
in tune, we now come to the music itself. Having got an appetite, now approach
to the feast, and delight thy soul as with marrow and fatness. Come, for all
things are now ready. Heaven and Christ, and the exceeding weight of glory are
before you. Do not make light of this invitation, nor begin to make excuses;
whatever thou art, rich or poor, though in alms-houses or hospitals, though in
highways and hedges, my commission is, if possible, to compel you to come in;
and blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God! The manna lieth
about your tents; walk out, gather it up, take it home, and feed upon it. (Baxter, The Saints' Everlasting Rest, Ch.
XIV, Section 1)