PHILIPPIANS 4:7-9
A–And the peace of God (he eirene tou Theou), which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
B–Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever t, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent and if anything is praiseworthy–think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
B–Whatever you have learned and received and heard from me and seen in me, put these things into practice. (Philippians 4:9a)
A–And the God of peace (ho Theos tes eirenes) will be with you. (Philippians 4:9b)
Several years ago, I read a book, Touching Heaven, by Dr. Chauncey Crandall. It documents a physician’s journey toward realizing the reality of a world outside of this one, a world beyond this one, to answer the question: “Is this (world) all there is?” There are many who have testified to “out of body experiences” or to “transiting to heaven and back.” Dr. Crandall’s testimony, as a practicing cardiologist who has presided over the deaths of many people, is that the eternal, what in Hebrew is known as the olam haba–the world to come–and in Greek as zoe aionios, eternal life, has already entered this world. Here’s a short quote from the book’s prologue: “That injection of eternity into the here-and-now can produce life-altering hope despite sometimes-agonizing circumstances. It’s what the Bible calls ‘the peace. . .that transcends all understanding.’ (Phil. 4:7) This is another evidence of heaven that I can’t ignore.” (Touching Heaven, Prologue, page 5)
