Thursday, April 6, 2023
Heaven, a topic of wonder and intrigue. For the believer, it is our future home. John describes it in Revelation 21:10-11 as “the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.” He then goes on to describe that incredible city. If you have the time, read Revelation 21 right now before going on here, it will just take you a few minutes. Try and picture what John is describing: the size of that city, what it is made of, the size of the precious gems and pearls, and more. Did you notice what wouldn’t be in that city: a temple, the need of the sun, and any type of sin whatsoever!
WOW! Just reading all that blows my mind away! Incredible, don’t you agree?! And that is our future home! Think about it. Doesn’t that just make you long for home, our eternal home, all the more? The song runs through my mind, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through…” It was written in 1919 but the author is unknown:
- This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through,
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.- Refrain:
O Lord, You know I have no friend like You,
If heaven’s not my home, then, Lord, what will I do?
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
- Refrain:
- They’re all expecting me, and that’s one thing I know—
My Savior pardoned me, and now I onward go;
I know He’ll take me through though I am weak and poor,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore. - I have a loving Savior up in glory-land,
I don’t expect to stop until I with Him stand;
He’s waiting now for me in heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore. - Just up in glory-land we’ll live eternally,
The saints on every hand are shouting victory,
Their songs of sweetest praise drift back from heaven’s shore,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
So, what will life be like in the New Jerusalem, our eternal home? The Bible doesn’t say a lot on the subject, but Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, in his teaching on Revelation, points out eight things life in Heaven will include that I would like to share with you:
- Fellowship: 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” We will see our Lord and Savior face to face. We will have that fellowship with God like Adam and Eve did before they rebelled against Him (Genesis 3). Fellowship will no longer be a struggle. WOW!
- Rest: Revelation 14:13 says, “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” This doesn’t mean we will have a life absent of work or filled with boredom. No. Whatever work we do, it won’t be labor because we won’t be living under the curse of sin anymore. No more sweat, no more physical pain and sore muscles, no more exhaustion, no more burn-out. WOW!
- Knowledge: Again 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” We will not know everything as God does, omniscience, but will have the fullness of human knowledge. WOW!
- Holiness: Revelation 21:27 says, “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” We will live a life of holiness, no longer struggling with our flesh nature! Can you picture that? WOW!
- Joy: Revelation 21:4 says, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Read that list again and try and imagine it. We will have lives of pure joy. Think of a time when you experienced pure joy and try and imagine that feeling always. WOW!
- Service: Revelation 22:3 says, “And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.” We will be demonstrating our love for God by our service to Him. The Bible doesn’t say what that will be, but it does say we will serve Him. He will have jobs/responsibilities for us. So, life definitely won’t be boring as some may think. WOW!
- Abundance: Revelation 21:6 says, “And He said to me, “It I done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.” He will give freely, or abundantly of the water of life. There will be no needs in eternity. Can you imagine never being thirsty again? WOW!
- Glory: 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” and Colossians 3:4 goes on to say, “When Christ who is our life appears, the you also will appear with Him in glory.” When I think of glory, I think of splendor and praise, and beauty beyond compare. So, living a life of glory far exceeds my imagination! WOW!
I think the Bible sums it up really well in 1 Corinthians 2:9 when Paul writes, “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” The Bible doesn’t tell us much about eternity because it would blow our minds. Just the little He reveals makes me go, WOW! WOW! WOW!
How about you?
Blessings, Mari
