Further up and further in

Today during a prayer, Pastor Brad used the phrase "further up and further in." I love the image I get from that phrase, taken from the last book in The Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis. The picture I see in my mind is of rolling hills of green grass, a British pastoral scene, with the children from the book running up the hills and calling out to each other, "Come, further up and further in!" Aslan is in front of them running on his padded feet, looking behind encouragingly now and then.

This is one image of heaven I've got. Another is from the song about the "far side banks of Jordan,"  with the chorus

I'll be waiting on the far side banks of Jordan
I'll be waiting drawing pictures in the sand
And when I see you coming I will rise up with a shout
And come running through the shallow waters reaching for your hand.

That one evokes my feelings about seeing those who have gone before me.

I know that these images of heaven are not actual, the chorus could even be called sentimental. But they please my heart.