As we near the end of the Book of Revelation, in Chapter 21 we are given a spectacular vision of our eternal home in a NEW heaven and earth. In his book, The Eclipse of Heaven, A.J Conyers says many believe that this life is ALL THERE IS, resulting in people feeling cheated, bitter, angry and miserable. If our dominant goal in life is believing that we’re accountable only to ourselves, life ends at the grave, and THIS is our only shot at happiness, we’re likely to attempt to procure everything for ourselves. However, when we believe that GOD loves us so much and wants us to live with Him eternally in heaven, we strive to reflect His ways as we hold Him and heaven in our hearts. We focus on what He wants us to do, which gives our life meaning and direction, and as we worship God in His presence, through our work, relationships, fun times and love for others, it becomes our ‘new way of life’. This fallen world is merely the result of our rebellion and sin!
NEW is a keyword in describing heaven! GOD makes EVERYTHING NEW – our intimacy with Him, beauty, community, our nature, and we receive glorified bodies. When we have faith and trust in Jesus, we become citizens of heaven. C.S. Lewis wrote: “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world”. When we see Jesus face-to-face, we begin our true and divine intimacy with Him and He will be our closest and most intimate friend in heaven!
In God’s presence, we’ll be transformed into sinless, beautiful, loving beings free from envy, dishonesty, distrust, power struggles and competition we see today. Our good, earthly memories are precious, but are a foreshadowing of the REAL community: deep, meaningful and authentic relationships, which we experience in heaven. We will be loved AND accepted without question or criticism! God’s greatest treasure in heaven will be His people, you and me, redeemed and made perfect through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. We will have COMPLETE FAITH AND TRUST THAT WE ARE SPECIAL TO GOD! The Apostle John says we shall be like Christ because we see Him as HE is.
Revelation 22:3 says there will be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will SERVE HIM. We were created in God’s image, to worship Him through our work, and be co-regents with Him. There is wonderful information packed into Chapter 21, and we will discuss the difference this makes to our lives, in the final message in Revelation Chapter 22.
Finally, anticipating heaven is comforting, and we SHOULD PRAISE GOD that He wants us in Heaven when we’re finished here on earth. This knowledge will remind us that when we focus on the Problem Solver and His promises, God will not only be WITH US, but will give us everything we need to keep trusting Him – HE WILL SEE US THROUGH!
We don’t know how things will play out, but WE KNOW how it will end! Jesus IS coming again; because He died for our sins and rose victorious over the grave WE shall live victoriously in heaven! Focus on Jesus, what He’s done for us, and the stunning vision He gave the Apostle John of our eternal home. PRAISE GOD ALMIGHTY!