Jesus answered them, “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” – John 10:28-30
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:4
The older I get, the sweeter Heaven becomes. Part of that is all the people I love who are there now – my mom, my older brother, a dear nephew, a life-long friend… Part of that is the violence, struggle, and disorder of this world which too often gets blamed on God – cheap blame that avoids looking into the mirror of our own neglect and disregard of the needs of others. More even than those reasons, when I see glimpses of Heaven now, I am filled with hope of what lies ahead.
While living in Casablanca, Morocco, years ago, I was asked to teach a class on world religions. It was for one semester. The students were high schoolers from influential families – all Muslim except for one Hindu student. I knew all the students through their team sports and performing arts. It was a joy to teach them. At the end of the semester, one of their assignments was to choose a religion on which they would do a critical analysis and give an oral report.
As each student team give their reports, they talked about the religions’ beliefs about the afterlife. [It’s a fascinating study, if you’ve never considered it.] The beliefs ranged from reincarnation, to a hoped-for state of nirvana, to a state of nothingness or non-existence, or, finally, to either a Paradise or Hell. For Christianity, the students reporting said, cryptically, “When Christians die, they hope to be with God.”
That is it exactly. That is Heaven for me. That is Paradise.
Too great a thing to hope for? Too fantastic a thing to even believe? If I believe what Jesus says, then I believe what he says about Heaven: “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 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. And you know the way where I am going.” [John 14:2-4]
“Where I am, there you may be also…You know the way.”
Those great students of mine did their homework. Their understanding of what Heaven is for Christians was spot on. I do look forward to the day my faith becomes sight. The glimpses of Heaven we have here…and there are many…will one day be His followers’ full eternal experience. Not because we deserve Heaven, for we don’t. Not because we worked hard enough or well enough for Heaven, because that’s not possible…but because of what God has done for us and because of His word to us…as we witness and believe Him here…for There.
Heaven…with Him…Hallelujah!
Worship with me:
On the day when I see
All that You have for me
When I see You face to face
There surrounded by Your grace
All my fears swept away
In the light of Your embrace
Where Your love is all I need
and forever I am free
Where the streets are made of gold
In Your presence healed and whole
Let the songs of heaven rise to You alone
No weeping
No hurt or pain
No suffering
You hold me now, You hold me now
No darkness
No sick or lame
No hiding
You hold me now, You hold me now
In this life I would stand
through my joy and my pain
Knowing there’s a greater day
There’s a hope that never fades
Where Your name is lifted high
and forever praises rise
For the glory of Your name
I’m believing for the day
Where the wars and violence cease
All creation lives in peace
Let the songs of heaven rise to You alone
For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your Name [x4]*
YouTube Lyric Video – You Hold Me Now – Hillsong United
What Did Jesus Say About Heaven?
Matt Chandler’s Gospel Presentation – Like You have Never Seen It!
The Gospel in 6 Minutes – John Piper
Coming Home 2015 New Heaven & New Earth TCG National Conference
YouTube Video – I Can Only Imagine (with lyrics) – MercyMe
Randy Alcorn Interview – Looking Forward to a Heaven We Can Imagine
Randy Alcorn on a Biblical View of Heaven – Will We Play Sports? What Age Will We Be?
The Big Religion Comparison Chart (See Afterlife)
Photo Credit: Ingrid Pullar Photography
I love this! Thank you for your post. (I found you via Kara Tippett’s story.) God bless you!
Thanks, Larilee. We are both missing Kara today, huh? She has had such an influence on my life. Heard Big Daddy Weave this morning, and thought of the great Homecoming she received. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnDTDLOM0rY