The words to a newer song, Hymn of Heaven, keep echoing in my mind. “How I long to breathe the air of Heaven, Where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets.” Before you jump to any conclusions, let me say – I am not sick nor depressed! I am just thinking about “home.” So much of what we commonly think of Heaven really misses the true wonder of the place God has prepared for us. We tend to make Heaven into a world just like the present subtracting things like having to go to work, get sick, or deal with mean people!
Often, even mature Christians
let their hope of Heaven form around their imaginary ‘best day on earth
forever.’ If Heaven is about joy, then we assume that these kinds of
things must be what that place is about. There is much we cannot know while we
are here, we do know that heaven is full of wonder, and best of all, where
we will know our Abba completely and intimately.
Christ gives us the key to a new home that is ‘immeasurably more than all we could ask or think.’ Heaven is not earth minus sorrow and sickness. Heaven is a whole new, wonderful existence in the Presence of God.
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 used the language available to them to try describe what God showed them, visions for which there were no earthly words. Isaiah, Zechariah, and John tell us about amazing creatures that circle a Throne, about smoke, and seas of glass. We must not doubt the vision, but we are wise to understand that they are attempting 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) When I was a kid one of the blessings of my life was a strong family. All was right with my world when Dad sat down with us and made me feel secure. We will be with the Father and all will be well!
The beauty of it is beyond imagination.
John talks about dazzling splendor, streets of gold, and
pearly gates – metaphorical descriptions of God’s own home, which we will
share. 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’m a ‘car guy.’ I like mine to shine and I have enjoyed buying new ones throughout my life. However, it does not take very long before the 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.
I hope you know this well, but let me remind you of it anyway. You cannot earn your home in God’s heaven. No amount of religion, goodness, generosity, or discipline buys your ‘mansion.’ Actually, to attempt that is an insult to God who has provided us the gift at great expense to Himself. "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms—all because we are one with Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-6, NLT)
Is your destination the same as mine?
Let’s walk together,
finding joy in the journey, until we hear our welcome home.
Here is a word from Word. I pray it inspires faith, hope, and love in you for this day. "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world." (Matthew 25:34, NLT)
(Video of this blog at this link)
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How I long to breathe the air of Heaven
Where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets
To look upon the one who bled to save me
And walk with Him for all eternity
There will be a day
When all will bow before Him
There will be a day
When death will be no more
Standing face to face
With He who died and rose again
Holy holy is the Lord
And ev'ry prayer we prayed in desperation
The songs of faith
We sang through doubt and fear
In the end we’ll see that it was worth it
When He returns to wipe away our tears
And on that day we join the resurrection
And stand beside the heroes of the faith
With one voice a thousand generations
Sing worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Forever He shall reign
So let it be today
We shout the hymn of Heaven
With angels and the Saints
We raise a mighty roar
Glory to our God
Who gave us life beyond the grave
Holy holy is the Lord
Holy holy is the Lord
Holy holy is the Lord
Bill Johnson | Brian Johnson | Chris Davenport | Phil Wickham
© 2020 CDavs Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Songs for TIM (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Phil Wickham Music (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])
Simply Global Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])
Bethel Music Publishing
CCLI License # 810055
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