What Happens to God…
ON A SUNDAY morning following Worship, in conversation over a cup of coffee, I was asked “What happens to God when the world comes to an end?” When planet Earth was created, our logic suggests it would have been an integrated component part of God’s Infinite Creation. We may think of this planet as our physical home but, if the God of this planet and the Creator of all things, are one and the same, planet Earth can be nothing more than a ‘staging post’ on our spiritual journey towards God’s realm, where the true Kingdom of Heaven may be found.
In Jesus’ farewell discourse (John’s gospel Chapter 14 verse 2) we, His disciples, are encouraged to believe in God, to believe in him who assures us of a place ‘in his Father’s house’ and furthermore, nowhere on earth offers the peace He offers. Jesus goes on to reinforce the message by saying He is preparing that place for us, and having done so will return to take us there.
When we read or speak about Jesus and His teaching, one must understand that Jesus, being both fully human and fully God, is communicating through the body to reach the spirit, using imagery and language his audience could relate to, in their lifetimes. They held the belief that the earth was flat, with a dome above which contained stars, and a watery dome below. The Sun was the centre of the universe, which orbits around it.
Two thousand earth years after Jesus walked on the surface of this planet, mankind has walked on the surface of the Moon and, through telescopes in space, can view images on the horizon of the visible Creation, while acknowledging that that may not even be the extent of Creation or what lies beyond.
Where then might the Father’s house be, that Jesus refers to in John’s gospel Chapter 14, verse 2? Is it not in Eternity with God who is eternal, and in whose presence there is everlasting Joy and Peace?
Revd John Dudley
Formerly of Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham Ministry
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