What of That Country?

“I think earth, if chosen instead of Heaven, will turn out to have been , all along, only a region of Hell: and earth if put second to Heaven, to have been from the beginning a part of Heaven itself” – C.S Lewis

Discussions about what lies beyond this life seem to have shifted from serious contemplation to fanciful speculation. Yet, most of us—Christian or not—agree that something awaits us on the other side of the veil. Whether it’s Heaven, Hell, or a return to the ever-flowing river of energy, there’s a shared belief that something is there.

Of course, there are those who conclude that nothing lies beyond—that our consciousness fades into oblivion, and our lives are swallowed by the sands of time. What a sad and self-centered outlook on what’s to come.

I would argue that Heaven is real—more real than anything we’ve experienced here. And yes, Hell is real too. But its torment isn’t found in flames or mutilation. The true agony of Hell lies in eternal separation from the Father and the land He inhabits.

For Now

Here and now, we are given glimpses of what is to come. We see glimmers of Heaven in the joy of a bride on her wedding day, in the embrace of a father welcoming his son home, and in the awe-filled silence of a hospital room where new life has entered the world.

These moments of profound love are imitations of the joy awaiting us in that far Kingdom. Even though they are fleeting, they stir a deep, consuming joy within us—a joy so rich it leaves us longing for more. Once we’ve tasted that kind of joy, it’s hard to maintain it in this world.

But earthly joy, as beautiful as it is, can be tainted. When we chase joy for its own sake, it slips through our fingers. The same is true for all heavenly emotions we experience here. When the gifts of the Father become more enticing than the Father Himself, we lose ourselves.

• If we seek peace without Him, it turns into isolation.
• If we seek love without Him, it leads to lust.
• If we seek joy without Him, it becomes a fleeting high.

Just a Taste

All that is good and righteous on earth is fleeting. It crumbles like the land beneath it. But these blessings are not meaningless—they are tastes of what is to come.

For those who believe, earthly joy, love, and peace are ingredients of a greater feast awaiting us. These ingredients, delightful as they are, will pale in comparison to the full banquet the Father is preparing. When we finally taste the complete dish, we’ll realize just how incomplete the ingredients were on their own.

But for those satisfied with the ingredients alone, that will be all they ever have—nothing more.

Two Kingdoms: The Kingdom of Earth

There are two kingdoms, and we must choose which one to call home.

The first is the kingdom of earth. It’s a young kingdom, ruled by its people. It claims to know freedom and encourages its citizens to pursue it at all costs. Its motto is simple: Do what you want, with whomever you want, for as long as you want.

But this so-called freedom is an illusion. Historically, it leads not to liberation, but to captivity—to addiction, infidelity, isolation, and poverty. This kingdom, ruled by individualism, becomes a prison of its own desires.

Yet there is hope.

Two Kingdoms: The Kingdom of Heaven

The second kingdom is Heaven. Its King offers true freedom—freely and fully. In this kingdom, each citizen is given a name and a home within the King’s house. Here, the love, joy, and peace that earth only imitates are found in their completion.

Individualism is unnecessary because citizenship in Heaven already sets you apart. The citizens are united as family through our Brother, who is closer than any brother before Him. They are seen, known, and loved by their King and Father.

This love is unlike anything in the earthly kingdom. It is so pure, so real, that it has taken form as the Spirit of Love incarnate. This Spirit surrounds and fills the citizens of Heaven, making their joy complete.

The good news? Our Brother has extended an invitation to all citizens of the earthly kingdom to join the Heavenly one. Those who accept are granted full rights and passage into the Kingdom of Heaven. There, they become sons and daughters, united by the Spirit in the Father’s house.

In this kingdom, there is no striving or quarreling because nothing is lacking. Everyone who comes to the table is satisfied to the fullness of their soul.

The Choice

I won’t try to convince you which kingdom to choose. Those satisfied with the kingdom of earth likely won’t consider another. Why hope for something better when you believe you already have enough?

But for those who have tasted the things of this world and found them lacking, there is a far greater place waiting. To you, I say: seek and you will find.

Seek the Giver, not just the gift. When you seek the Giver, the gifts will come—but perhaps not in the way you expect. Once you reach that far country beyond the threshold, the glimmers you saw on earth will be made whole.

Until then, seek the Father. All will be revealed in due time.

-The Contemplator