2012 by Andrew Farley
Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-3582-4
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007
Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.lockman.org
Scripture quotations labeled NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Italics in Scripture are the authors emphasis.
The diagram on page 96 is adapted from a 3-D model by Leslie Farley.
The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.
Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, alivecommunications.com.
If youve ever wondered what Jesus might say specifically to you, this is your book and youre going to love it! Andrew Farley presents the magnificent truth of the gospel in the form of a conversationas though Jesus were talking directly to you, and you to Jesus. Your heart will open wide to your Savior as you marvel at his love for you. And theres nothing more life-changing than that!
Ralph Harris, author of Gods Astounding Opinion of You
What a promise: there is another world, and it can start now, in this one. Read Heaven Is Now to discover hidden everyday reflections that can awaken your five spiritual senses so that you can begin eternity now. This book is heaven-sent.
Leonard Sweet, bestselling author, professor, and chief contributor to Sermons.com
Andrew Farley has a unique and special understanding of grace. In Heaven Is Now , he articulates the depths of Gods grace in a way that every believer can understand. This is the official grace handbook for Christians everywhere!
Darin Hufford, bestselling author of The Misunderstood God
Here is a gentleness that captures not only the content of Jesuss message but his loving heart and warmth as well. Within this invitation to experience heaven in the here and now, Farley offers the encouragement of a Good News thats much better than what Christians are usually taught. Gods tenderness leaps from every page.
David Gregory, bestselling author of Dinner with a Perfect Stranger
To my wife, Katharine
CONTENTS
AWAKEN!
I n 1998, my father was in a bad car accident. As he lay there in a coma in Fairfax County Hospital, a pastor arrived and tried to heal him. The pastor anointed him with oil, prayed for him, and tried to raise him from the dead. But my dad wouldnt have it. His limp body just lay there, lifeless.
Sometimes we want to change our circumstances. We want to manipulate the externals so that we can somehow feel better on the inside. We want to ask, even in Jesuss name, that things be different.
We want control.
But if youve lived more than a day, youve already figured out that its not happening. We are not in control. Things happen, and we have no say in the matter. Clearly, were not going to experience something different by controlling our circumstances. Hope must come from somewhere else. Hope must come from heaven in the midst of what earth presents us.
Any other hope is delusion.
Invited to Heaven
An early church writer spoke of this hope from heaven: We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf (Heb. 6:1920). But Jesus never entered any inner sanctuary in the Jewish temple. He wasnt permitted behind the curtain. Here, the writer means heaven itself , where Jesus entered after his resurrection.
But theres more. Speaking of this heavenly sanctuary, the writer then claims that we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way (Heb. 10:1920). This too means heaven, but this time we are invited.
This invitation is not merely about a future in heaven. Its about awakening to a very present hope. Our God has set it up for today, and he invites us to enter in. Why does he bother with such a spectacular invitation?
Because heaven is now .
The Kingdom Within
Heaven is now ?
Were told that God seated us with him in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6), that our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), and that we are aliens and strangers in this world (1 Pet. 2:11 NASB). We explain these away the best we can. We cant have our faith involving such ridiculous notions. After all, how can any of it really be true here and now in the midst of so much ugliness all around us?
The early church knew this ugliness. They saw it up close and personal as many of them were taken from their families, imprisoned, tortured, even killed. They were no strangers to trouble. Still, they insistedheaven is now .
No, we cant know all of heaven here and now. It will take a lifetime and more to gather it in. But even if we only partially realize heavens splendor on this side, it is still the sweetest form of life to embrace in the midst of all that earth throws our way.
Im not making any promises that your circumstances will get better. Our circumstances are externals. This book is about what goes on inside of us in the midst of our circumstances, not outside or all around us. As Jesus put it, The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21 NKJV).
Toward the Sky
We hear that heaven is now, and we wish to feel it. But our feelings come and go, as we travel from the heights of happiness to the depths of despair in seconds. We ride the roller coaster of the soul every day. So what if the real hope we have is not found in our feelings? Would that kind of hope be worth pursuing?
The way called faith brings this hope from heaven. We have the faith. We need only point it toward the sky. Let me tell you about someone who did.
Horatio Spafford was a wealthy lawyer in Chicago. You could look down a Chicago street and it was nearly all his. Horatio had millions. He also had a lovely wife and four beautiful daughters.
One day, a fire swept through Chicago, destroying nearly all Horatio owned. Two years later he sent his family on vacation across the ocean to England. But their ship went down, and only Horatios wife survived. He received a telegram from her that read Saved alone.
