What Will Heaven Be Like?

While most people believe in some kind of “heavenly” afterlife, they seem to differ dramatically about what it takes to get there and what it will be like when they arrive (because of course, THEY’RE going there!)  Some Christians suppose it to be one eternally-long church service, while those who adhere to the second-most-popular religion in the world believe heaven will be some male-centered erotic paradise filled with virgins for the taking.  That same faith, of course, teaches that women who enter paradise will have one man with whom they will be satisfied, but I’ll keep the focus here on what CHRISTIANS might expect in heaven.

Will it be a donut-filled smorgasbord for those of us who are weight-challenged?  Or will heaven have stocked lakes and mountain scenes for those who love such here on earth?  Or will the streets of gold be filled with tail-wagging puppies playing with giggling babies?  Will it look like Scotland?  I find it interesting that most of us have some view of heaven that includes the things we find best about living here now.  After all, can you imagine living in a city like this one?

The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone…the 12 gates are 12 pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The broad street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.   Revelation 21:19,21

A city where gold is as plentiful as asphalt and everything around you is precious?  Even after hearing that description I have no idea what to expect.  (Because, of course, I’M going there!)  God speaks to us in the Bible to show us His heart and His love for us.  And knowing that God paid for our salvation with His own Son should tell you that your eternal dwelling place will be as amazing as that Holy Sacrifice.  But in trying to imagine what heaven will actually be like, we run into this verse:

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”   1 Corinthians 2:9

Get it?  No matter what you think or hear or imagine, heaven will be better.  If God can do amazing things through US in our faith,

God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)

then surely He will do amazing things FOR us when He finally welcomes us to eternity.  The singing group, Mercy Me, reflects on the possibilities of heaven in their popular song, I Can Only Imagine, linked at the bottom of this page.[i]  Their refrain should be ours:

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel?  Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of You be still?  Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall?  Will I sing hallelujah?  Will I be able to speak at all?  I can only imagine….

If you’ve never thought much about it, today might be a good day to start.  Because if THEY’LL be there and I’LL be there, don’t you want to be sure YOU’LL be there, too?  If you need directions, I’m here to help.

Jacob

---

[i] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da4fnYIuV9s