Heading for Heaven

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. ¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

 Romans 8:16-18

When I was young, I made a decision to be born again and commit my life to Jesus Christ.  There were three basic reasons why I did this:  Jesus loved me, I didn't want to go to hell, and I wanted to go to heaven.  As unthinkably horrible as hell is, heaven is infinitely better than we can grasp.  I think it is easier for us to comprehend the terrors of hell than the bliss of heaven while entrenched in our earthly condition.  In this life we have all tasted suffering to some extent.  Instead of backing away from hell in fear, Christians ought to set our focus upon the heavenly glory which will be revealed.  New Jerusalem will not be amazing because the streets are paved with gold or because of our glorified bodies:  New Jerusalem will be great because God is there, sitting on the throne in unspeakable glory, and we will be with Him forever.

Scripture is limitless in scope and application.  The more we dig in the more we realise much remains to be discovered and understood.  No man alive can plumb the depths or soar into the heavens of all that scripture contains.  Yet for all the height, width, depth and breadth, only a small fraction is spent describing the new heavens and new earth that will be our eternal abode - the place we commonly call "heaven."  Many books have been written on the subject, but they cannot not do heaven justice.  I'm sure the authors would not disagree.  Our view of heaven is foggy and misty at best.  Having been saved from the wrath to come, we do well to fix our eyes upon Christ and where He is, living in the presence of the Father.  That is a place where even angels fear to tread, bowing before the Father reverentially with constant words of praise and adoration.  Even with the revelations provided by the Holy Spirit, it has hardly entered into our hearts what God has prepared for those who love Him.  Our light affliction (which can be unfathomably heavy by the world's standards) is not worthy to be compared with our ultimate glory.  Suffering now increases the sweetness of heaven exponentially.

Revelation 21:3-5 reads, "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ 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." ⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."  Can you imagine a place where there is no death, sorrow, crying, or pain?  I can't.  I believe heaven exists and by God's grace, according to the assurance provided in His Word, I will someday live there.  But it is unimaginable how things will be different.  God will make all things new!  It will not be former things with a new coat of paint:  all things will be new.  Pain and sorrow are our inseparable companions on earth, but the day is coming when they will pass away forever.  Death will not even be a memory, for the former things will not come into mind (Isaiah 65.17).

I have heard many people say that they look forward to meeting men and women of faith spoken about in the Bible and asking questions about their time on earth.  Should I go up to Moses and ask him what was going through his head when he saw the burning bush, I would surely have to interrupt praise being offered to God!  He would be right to say, "Shut up, man!  You are in the presence of the KING OF KINGS!  Who am I?  You're thinking about a burning bush when the Lamb of God stands before you in glory?  Praise Him!"  Words are inadequate to convey the feeling of joy all will experience who are in the presence of God, a God whose presence we can boldly enter today by grace through faith.  Because the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in every believer, we know a bit of the joy we share in God's holy presence.  But when we are perfected and glorified, we shall comprehend in a far clearer and purer sense than we can today.  1 John 3:2 reads, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

Jesus says in John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."  When considering heaven, what is your primary focus:  crowns, mansions, a glorified body, or simply being with Jesus?  He is coming to receive His inheritance to Himself.  We are that inheritance, the reward of His suffering.  That God would love us to such a degree is mind-blowing.  Can you imagine, us sinful pukes as an inheritance?  Yet it is a reality that rightly brings tears of joy to our eyes.  To God be the glory now and forever!  Since we are going to be together forever, let's get to know Him better today.  When the time comes to meet Him face to face, there will be no words.  Looking into His eyes will suffice.