I Can Only Imagine

I Can Only Imagine-The title of another song. Imagining is a big part of my
life right now. I have so much time to do nothing but think that it is easy
to slip into imagining. I don't necessarily think imagining is a bad thing
but, like with any of my other thoughts, I have to make sure that my
imaginings remain focused on the right things.

The song is about going to Heaven and seeing Jesus in person. The singer can
only imagine what that will be like. I too imagine what Heaven will like,
though not too frequently. The Bible does give tidbits about what Heaven will be
like but not enough that anybody really knows what to expect. And I have
heard enough stories about people who have died, gone to Heaven, and then come
back to life. What I find, though, that most of them differ enough that I
really don't know who is right. What also is possible is that they were each
shown a different aspect of Heaven. I have had my own little "Heaven
experience" but that was not enough to form an opinion about what Heaven is
really like. I figure the best thing is to just wait and see when the time
comes.

By far, most of imaginings have centered around my healing. I don't think
that imagining about healing from God is a bad thing as it keeps my thoughts
focused on that promise. When I imagine about my healing, I take into
consideration several questions.

The first question is "when". I was still in my 30s when I got saved and received the promise of healing so  I had no trouble
imagining myself healed before the age of 40. Afterall, when one is 35, even
40 sounds kind of old! However, now that I am in my 60s, I am not so
confident that my healing will show up even before I turn 70. The one thing
I do know is that, no matter the date, my healing will arrive in the "now".
Whether now is tomorrow or tens years from today.

The second question in my imaginings is "where". When I was first saved, I
didn't go to church but I still believed  that my healing could happen at
any moment. So, my imaginings must have been about my healing taking place
in a hospital. Once I started to attend church, it was easy to imagine my
healing taking place at church. I still, though, imagine my healing taking
place in different places. Maybe here at the hospital, either in my room or
the dining room, or maybe one of the other places I go. Friends' house, out
to eat, etc.

Then, I imagine who will be involved in my healing. Quite often, I imagine there is no one else around when my healing takes place. I sometimes imagine coming out of my room pushing my wheelchair. Or a nurse coming into my room to find me healed. Other times, I imagine my pastor or some other Christian laying hands on me and bringing about my healing. When I go to other places, I often imagine my healing just taking place, witnessed by a lot of other people. Not often, but once in awhile I imagine a new medical procedure. Of course, that would involve medical persons.

The biggest question for me, though, is how my healing takes place. The most logical method would be for a Christian, either at church or elsewhere, to lay hands on me and I would be healed. But I also know that Gone doesn't limit Himself to one method of healing. At times, He uses doctors. So I simply don't know. But, any way is fine with me. It will be wonderful.

However, being diagnosed with cancer has sent my imaginings in a different direction. I sometimes imagine that, out of the blue, the doctor orders another scan and this time there is no cancer. Or maybe I imagine my total healing, including of the cancer. However, because cancer is such a deadly disease, I have to be careful not to slip in negative imaginings.  Things like being on my death bed or, maybe, my funeral.

My conclusion is this. Imaginings can be a boost to my faith IF I focus them on what God has promised. But they can also be detrimental to my faith if I allow myself to dwell on things that God has not promised.