Are you looking forward to heaven?
My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. Philippians 1:23
Heavenly Father,
We confess, some of the descriptions of heaven
have made us think it would be boring.
People with wings and robes
floating around on clouds playing harps? Really?
Thankfully, not really!
Lord, help us to regain an understanding
of what the Bible tells us about heaven.
Here are just a few things we know:
First, the moment we die,
angels will carry us to be with you,
the triune God (see Luke 16:22; 2 Cor. 5:8).
Second, while we will not have bodies
when we go to the “temporary” heaven,
the intermediate state,
we do not become angels,
because angels are spirits
created by you to be completely different from humans (Heb. 1:14).
Third, one day, when Christ returns to establish the new heavens and the new earth,
we will receive resurrection bodies.
The angels will never have bodies,
but by your grace, one day,
we will have fully restored and redeemed bodies (1 Cor. 15:35-49).
Fourth, Jesus described even the intermediate state as “Paradise,”
telling the converted thief on the cross,
“Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 22:43).
Since Paradise also referred to the Garden of Eden,
where your holy presence lived,
we know that heaven gleams with your glory
and is far nicer than Hawaii.
Fifth, and last for today but not forever
because there’s so much more to say
about the joys of heaven:
St. Peter is not standing at the pearly gates with a clipboard
deciding who gets in and who stays out.
All who trust in Christ for forgiveness of sins
will go to heaven:
“Jesus said to her,
‘I am the resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in me, though he die,
yet shall he live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me
shall never die.
Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
Yes, Lord, we believe this.
Thank you for the joys of heaven we anticipate by your grace and mercy.
Amen.
