On Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Nightline on ABC ran a story about what Christians believe about heaven."  They interviewed by many accounts a well respected theologian, Tom Wright, about his new book entitled, "Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection and the Mission of the Church."

In summary, Tom Wright, an anglican priest, emphasized what the Bible emphasizes when talking about our death.  The Bible has much more to say about Jesus' return and the resurrection of the dead-- this is where our hope should be directed, than it does on what happens to you the moment you die.

To be sure when you die you are with Jesus in paradise (Lk. 23), you are with the Lord.     But there is more to come, namely Jesus' second return when all the dead are raised and the whole creation is restored and redeemed!

The most telling quote from the interview, I think, was when Rev. Wright noted that how we think of heaven and our final goal will determine how we think of this life and work in it.  If we think of our goal as leaving this earth then it is much harder to work for good here.  However, if our final goal and hope is in Jesus restoring this world, then that gives us reason enough to work for this world that was created for us and will be restored for us.

 I believe this is very much worth your time. 

Click here to view the interview from a posting on youtube.com