For Heaven’s Sake — Monday
Revelation 21:1-2
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth”… the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down… prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (NIV)
A class of 3rd graders was asked the question, “What will Heaven be like?” Eight-year-old Lisa replied, “All the cookies you’d ever want!” A little boy named Chad said, “Hopefully a place full of nice teachers.” (I’m guessing there’s a hidden story there!) Very wise William said, “You’ll get everything you want in Heaven, but if you want too much, you might not get there.” Katy gave the answer I like most: “Heaven will be the happiest part of my dead life.” Kids have a way with words, don’t they?
Well, opinions abound as to what Heaven will be like, as well as who’s going there. A recent Pew Research poll pointed out that 73% of Americans believe in Heaven, down from more than 90% twenty years ago. Interestingly, nearly half of those who are confident they will someday go to Heaven aren’t Christians. That’s a discussion for another time and place. As for those of us who've made Jesus Lord, let’s think about some certainties about Heaven this week, and there are many!
To begin with, Heaven is a prepared place. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy prepared things. When I go to a restaurant, I love eating a well-prepared meal. When I stay in a hotel, I enjoy a well-prepared room. At UK basketball or football games, I’m excited when our team is prepared to play. We can surely expect that Heaven will be a prepared place, too, because God Himself is behind all the preparations. John describes Heaven as a “bride” beautifully dressed for her husband. If ever a groom and bride look their best, it’s on their wedding day—hair, skin, makeup, dress, tux, shoes—first class all the way!
Heaven will be that way, too—so beautiful that all its glories can’t possibly be jammed into the straitjacket of human words. Paul describes heaven as a place “so astounding that [it] cannot be expressed in words (2 Corinthians 12:4, NLT). Think of the most beautiful things you’ve ever seen, then multiply them by a thousand, and you’ll just be touching “the hem of the garment” with regard to the beauty of Heaven. Join us tomorrow; there’s more to come!
Monday’s Reflection
Take some time today to read Revelation 21, and as you read, make a list of the many wonderful things God says about Heaven. Go on, do it! I dare you! As the old-timers used to say, “If that won’t light your fire, your wood’s wet!”
