Heaven! (3/10/22)
The ultimate heaven is not just a place of the spirit. The Bible tells us in Corinthians and Revelation that it will be a “new heaven and a new earth” and that we will have resurrection bodies. In other words, when Christ returns, our spirits will be re-clothed with immortal bodies. Now this raises some questions. Will we recognize each other? Will we eat in heaven? What will we do there?
I have often said that heaven is not just about floating around on clouds or strumming a harp. A great book by Randy Alcorn is simply entitled Heaven. I have read Randy’s fiction in the past and he does a wonderful job describing both heaven and hell. Now, on with the questions.
Will we recognize one another? Yes. Alcorn follows a principle called redemptive continuity. In other words, heaven will be the perfection of what we are here, not something or some people who are wholly different.
That means our personalities and our uniqueness will be perfected, but still very much individual. Isn’t one of the beauties of creation the fact that we are all unique individuals making unique contributions? No two faces are alike. No two voices are alike. The more we get to know someone, the more we see how unique he or she is. It is only eastern religions that speak of us being swallowed into the greater force of the universe. Alcorn summarizes this way:
You will be you in Heaven. Who else would you be? …If when I arrive in heaven, I’m not the same person with the same identity, history and memory, then I didn’t go to heaven.
Moreover, he answers the questions “Will we eat?”; “Will we rest?”; “Will we work?”; “Will we have our own homes?” To all he gives a resounding “Yes!” Jesus said he was preparing a place for each of us in heaven.
How old will you be in heaven? That’s a little more difficult to answer. Those of us who are older might pick our favorite age and wish for that. What about those who die as children? I don’t know how old they will be, but I know they will be there and we will recognize them.
Specifically, Revelation 21 and 22 describes heaven as the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven to the remade earth. Only this city will be 1,400 miles square, and just as high. That’s a little beyond our comprehension or imagination, to say the least. Perhaps, if we see a little symbolism here, there is a better way of looking at it. Perhaps the whole point is that it is beyond our imagination!! The idea is perfection. There are symbolic numbers in the Bible such as multiples of 12 and 10. (In original measurements, it was 12,000 stadia.) Isaiah describes it as a holy mountain. One author estimated that this area would hold 20 billion people with plenty of space for each person. Since there are more people on earth today than have lived throughout history, this should be plenty of space. If the people are spread out evenly, that means there will be 75 acres per person. Besides, the majority will not go to heaven, only those of the household of faith.
Given the vastness of heaven, will we be limited in our travels, or more like Jesus’ resurrection body which appeared and disappeared at will? We don’t know those answers yet. But will that really matter? We will enjoy the Lord and each other for eternity! “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” I Corinthians 2:9 Let’s pray:
Lord, thank you for the promise of heaven. It is thrilling to think of, even though it is beyond our imaginations. Thank you for glimpses you give us in your word. Thank you for making us unique individuals who have the promise of living with you forever. Thank you for the great reunion we look forward to. Help us place our faith in you to live so that we may enter in by your grace.
Help us to keep our eyes focused on heaven through the dark times in this life. Thank you that nothing can separate us from your love here. But we also thank you that in heaven there will be no more sickness, pain, separation, night, war or death. Thank you that there will be no more tears. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.