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,

 

Eternal Treasures

My sister’s home was flooded in June, along with thousands of others in the town where she lives. This week we put what remains of her small business back in her basement. We talked about the things we treasure and how easy it is to become caught up with ‘treasure’ that cannot last.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19–21)

Most of us don’t realize what we treasure or how much we value it until moth or rust or thieves or a swollen river comes and grabs it from us. This is definitely a test of the heart. When evacuation became a must in High River, some people lost everything they had except the clothes they were wearing. My sister is doing well, yet I suspect the grief hasn’t even started for many folks in her city.

Today’s devotional bids me to look forward at the treasures of eternity. The greatest will be the Person of Jesus Christ, and I am sure that wherever He is, I would be immensely joyful. However, another treasure is the place He is preparing for me. He calls it His Father’s house, a Greek term meaning God’s eternal dwelling place…

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? (John 14:2)

Some consider it a great honor to be invited to a great home such as the White House to dine with heads of state, or the mansion of a famous entertainer or sports star. I can imagine those, but to walk into the dwelling place of God surpasses my imagination.

The invitation is simple: “Whosoever will may come.” God has no list of elite or influential people and invites everyone. In fact, those who hear and respond are at the other end of the social spectrum…

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:26–29)

Jesus often displayed a special concern for the broken and down-trodden, perhaps to emphasize that those who would dwell with Him forever didn’t need any special qualifications, only that they RSVP with a “Yes” and mean it, following Him with all their heart.

When all who respond arrive at His door, they will find a banquet prepared for them (I can imagine that). As we enter our eternal dwelling place, we will not look back. No matter how good life might be here, all of it will be shabby in comparison.

My sister says that no matter how her town is rebuilt, it will never be the same. Memories and vast changes will put an ache in the heart for a long time. Maybe that is a bit opposite to the change that will happen when my life here is over and I enter God’s eternal home. Instead of lamenting over what I have lost, all sorrow and any tears will be swallowed up by the wonder of seeing Jesus Christ face to face and receiving His heavenly treasures.