Dear Friends,
Bonnie and I stood at the bedside of Bill, a 95-year-old friend who is in hospice care. He was tucked comfortably in his covers and his face radiated a peace — a peace, as we read about in Philippians, that passes all understanding — A peace that comes from having a life-long relationship with the Lord.
We prayed for him and asked God to make his transition as easy as possible. Bill is looking forward to joining his beloved wife Geneva in heaven, but I suspect when it comes to heaven, meeting a loved one will be but a small “hooray” in the midst of one never-ending “Hallelujah.” Bill is on the threshold of meeting Jesus.
Do you ever wonder what that first day in heaven will be like? There is a Christian worship song, by the band MERCYME, that addresses our inability to know just how powerful it will be to move into the presence of God.
I Can Only Imagine
I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side…
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
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! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!
I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
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! Yeah! I can only imagine!
Songwriter: Bart Marshall Millard
I Can Only Imagine lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
Much of what the Bible has to say about heaven is metaphorical or symbolic. I’ll leave it to escatologists to decipher the Book of Revelation. Thankfully, we know quite a bit about heaven based on other Scriptures.
There is a ticket to heaven: Jesus
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 New Living Translation (NLT)
Jesus is looking for true disciples
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”
There is a difference between being judged and judgment.
For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. 2 Corinthians 5:10
And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” John 3:36
Rewards in heaven will be based on our motives on Earth.
“But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:3-4
A place has been prepared.
“There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2
Followers of Christ will get an amazing “make-over.”
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 Corinthians 5:1
A great reward awaits those who are persecuted for following Jesus.
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.” Matthew 5:11-12
Heaven is forever.
Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. Psalm 37:18
There is no waiting period for the spirit of those who die in Christ!
And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
Whenever anyone asks me what I believe heaven will be like, I make the mistake of thinking in human terms. I imagine myself sitting by a beautiful stream watching God paint a rainbow or listening as he assigns one of his angels the task of being air traffic control for a flight of birds, or I think of the smells and tastes around the banquet table Jesus has laid out for us, a banquet table with all our favorite goodies.
I can only imagine? I can only imagine? Scriptures tell me my thinking is way too small.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8
Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ
Ps: If you haven’t seen it, you may enjoy the movie “I Can Only Imagine,” which tells the story how Bart Millard came to write the song.
Because He Loves Us Press 