What is heaven like?

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places . . .  (Ephesians 1:3)

Heaven is hard to imagine. Once I realized eternity is without time and is all ‘now’ rather than past, present, and future, imagining it became even more difficult. The OT says it is unknown, and the NT says we cannot imagine it, and yet God does reveal many things to us by His Spirit:

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit . . . (1 Corinthians 2:9–10)

Jesus said it is a “kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Paul wrote about it in connection to our bodies. The physical will perish, but we are only living in that body like a person would live in a tent. He said:

For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 5:2–5)

That and other passages tell me that I will have a new body. One compares it to a seed that dies but a plant grows from it, and that plant is not like the seed. This new body is imperishable, meaning no more sickness or aging. It does not say if that means new like an infant though, nor tell what the bodies of babies who died will be like, nor say anything about pets or animals in heaven, only that we will be changed and be like Jesus.

The NT also describes heaven as a city with jewels in the walls and gates and streets of gold, even calling this city “the Bride” as the “wife of the Lamb” further mystifying heaven.

Jesus told His disciples that it was a definite place and that He would be there:

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:2–3)

For me, that is enough. I can speculate what I might be doing, but know that worship and praise will be a huge part of it. Will I paint sunsets and have long visits with loved ones? Will I dance with Jesus? Lots of ideas but the only certainty is that life after death will be incredible and awesome.

Today’s devotional says that most Christians are more occupied with this life than the next, forgetting or ignoring that this is not our home; we are just passing through. MacArthur says “Christians hold a dual citizenship. We are citizens of earth, but, more importantly, we are also citizens of Heaven.” He quotes passages that tell me to think that way:

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20–21)

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1–4)

While age tends to bring on thoughts of heaven, God wants all His children to have an eternal perspective. If I put my life on a continuum line representing eternity, it is a mere dot, or perhaps like a tiny molecule in a sea of forever. Living His way is about seeking first His kingdom and righteousness, about not letting the cares of this world overtake His promises about the next, and about putting to death all that is sinful and worldly. It is also about telling others of Jesus, who is my everything — both in this life and the next. I know enough about heaven to want everyone to be there!

RESOURCES: Matthew 25:34, 1 Corinthians 15:35-56, 1 John 2:17; 3:1-3, Hebrews 11:16, Revelation 21:2-27,

 

The answer is in the bigger picture . . .

 

 

READ Psalm 81–85

On my walk through the nearby wildlife sanctuary, I noticed buds on trees, little birds singing, the details of new life along the path. Only once did I stop and survey the bigger picture of a large valley, the sky and the vista before me.

I’m like that reading the Bible, seeing the details, trying to figure out the big picture by the small verses. However, the Lord gave me an eternal perspective as I wondered what news I’d hear today about the war in Europe. His Spirit spoke quietly to my spirit: “Those who belong to me and die are now with me; those who rejected me are now facing justice for their unbelief.”

This thought settled my anxiety. In the big picture, all will die. Some by ill health, accidents, some by the sword or bombs or bullets. No one escapes death — but it is possible to escape eternal judgment. This is the good news of the Gospel of faith in Jesus Christ. Right now, the division is being made on a battlefield, but it is also made in every hospital, every workplace, every city, every home, even every heart and every day. Today’s reading gives short descriptions of it, just as will every newspaper, newscast, and obituary column.

But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. (Psalm 81:11–14)

Is not the above being played out in the world even today? Those who say “NO” to God are left to their own devices and the result is power struggles, greed, confusion, and unkindness to one another. Some aspire to good deeds that eventually give in to the human sinfulness hiding in their ambitions and those who know the Lord wonder when all this nonsense will end:

“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. (Psalm 82:2–5)

In my distress over the evil in the world and the sin that sometimes grabs hold of my own heart, I’ve prayed something like the psalmist prayed:

“O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. They say, ‘Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel (or any other nation) be remembered no more!’” . . .  “O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane! Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O Lord. Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:1–4; 13–18)

I know that “The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” and that He, the Lord of hosts, blesses those who trust in Him, (Psalm 84:11–12) but I also know that this is more about an eternal blessing because this life does not always serve us the perfection that we crave. The saints who are slaughtered by illness, accidents and war nevertheless are blessed by God’s favor in eternity, a forever ‘good thing’ that others will never know, no matter how ‘successful’ they might be in this short life. For this, I can trust God, even when this life is messy, not what anyone wants, and at times seems anything but a blessing.

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way. (Psalm 85:8–13)

Jesus, I trust in your promises. They may or may not show up for Your people in this life, but this life is not all there is — as You proved by defeating death and rising to live forever as my Sun and Shield, the Most High God over all the earth!