Often, even mature Christians let their hope of Heaven get sidelined into talks about pets or big family reunions. Sure, we love these things that make our lives here more joyful. So if Heaven is about joy, then we assume that these kinds of things must be what that place is about. I don’t know if Sam (my beloved Irish Setter) will join me at the Throne of God, but I do know that heaven is real, full of wonder, and best of all - where we will know our Abba completely and intimately.
The Bible only sketches the outlines of what Heaven. Even if the Lord tried to explain it all to us, we just wouldn't get it. The writers of Scripture use the language available to them to describe what God showed them about things that defy description. Isaiah, Zechariah, and John tell us about amazing creatures that circle a Throne, about smoke, and seas of glass. We must not doubt their word, but we are wise to understand that they are using earthly language to tell us about a completely unearthly place! Thus, we must not force the metaphors too literally. If we do, we may miss the true wonder of what God has planned for our eternal home.
What do we know about Heaven that brings us hope and keeps us on track while we wait to go there?
God is there!
"Uh, Jerry, how
about something I don't know." I mean it! The God we've loved from a distance, our
Father whose purposes and plans sometimes confuse us, will be our Friend. He will be accessible. In Heaven we will
worship Him face to face. "Look,
God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be
his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their
eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these
things are gone forever." (Revelation 21:3-4, NLT)
The beauty of it is beyond imagination.
John talks about dazzling splendor, streets of gold, and pearly gates! He's using the he knew to try to tell us about things for which there are no earthly equals. God is the Builder, the Architect, of the place where I will spend eternity. When I see what He's created here, a place that is just a temporary home - I can only try imagine what He's done with the forever home He's prepared for His people.
All things are made new- no rust, no death, no sin!
"And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" (Revelation 21:5, NLT) I like automobiles. Mine always shines and I take pleasure (too much perhaps) when I get a new one. But, in just a few months, the new shows signs of use. A chunk of ice hit dents the hood. Stones in the road ding the paint. The carpet gets dirty in spite of my efforts to keep it clean. That's just life! Everything we know is subject to decay and all living things ultimately die. But, in Heaven, it's different. God promises no rust, no thieves, no moths! Jesus urges us to "Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy..." (Matthew 6:20, NLT)
Joy will be complete!
The beauty of it is beyond imagination.
John talks about dazzling splendor, streets of gold, and pearly gates! He's using the he knew to try to tell us about things for which there are no earthly equals. God is the Builder, the Architect, of the place where I will spend eternity. When I see what He's created here, a place that is just a temporary home - I can only try imagine what He's done with the forever home He's prepared for His people.
All things are made new- no rust, no death, no sin!
"And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" (Revelation 21:5, NLT) I like automobiles. Mine always shines and I take pleasure (too much perhaps) when I get a new one. But, in just a few months, the new shows signs of use. A chunk of ice hit dents the hood. Stones in the road ding the paint. The carpet gets dirty in spite of my efforts to keep it clean. That's just life! Everything we know is subject to decay and all living things ultimately die. But, in Heaven, it's different. God promises no rust, no thieves, no moths! Jesus urges us to "Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy..." (Matthew 6:20, NLT)
Joy will be complete!
Life's happiest moments are always limited. Vacations are too short. Joyful occasions, so
much anticipated, come and go too quickly. Before we know it, we have grown old. But in
Heaven, time stands still and joys never end.
So, what about that opening line about dogs in Heaven? It was just there to get your attention! I don't know -- and in light of the glories I do know about -- I'm quite content to wait and see what God has planned about that little detail.
The BIG question is this- are you prepared for Heaven? The only way to know, for sure, is to receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior today! If He is that to you, then this is your promise: "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world." (Matthew 25:34, NLT) Believer, do not lose sight of Heaven. The promise keeps us on track when the Enemy tempts us with sin. Heaven's promise gives us hope when life's challenges rise up and seem ready to crush us. And, Heaven is our inheritance.
_______________________________
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed,
He'll prepare for us a place.
When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory.
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we'll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open,
We shall tread the streets of gold.
When We All Get to Heaven© Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055
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