New Covenant Church
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Most people focus on several things about heaven:
- The beauty
- The end of suffering and death
- For some, reuniting with loved ones
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13,
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
There’s a ‘then’
We fully know – perhaps all knowledge
Perhaps God Himself (“but then face to face”)
- We will see His face!
- Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. (Revelation 20:11)
Or it could be all people.
We are fully known – we will be as now, but only much better!
- Our bodies will be like Jesus
- Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (I John 3:2)
There’s a ‘now’
We see in a mirror dimly. Mirrors in Bible times were usually polished bronze, not as clear as reflective glass. James tells us the Word of God is a mirror.
They had to keep polishing the mirror. Likewise, we have to not let corrupted human understand distort what the Bible says about the afterlife.
It’s also like what the moon reveals about the sun.
We wish there were more details, but that’s the way God wants it. There is enough written about heaven that we should want to go there (and hell, that we should want to not go there).
What will heaven be like?
There’s not a lot of detail about what will be an immense eternal dwelling (‘we see dimly’), but here’s what we know.
- And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. (Revelation 22:3)
- That means a new physical universe as well as new bodies.
- Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1)
- The ‘heaven’ here refers probably to space beyond earth, not God’s dwelling. There’s implication that there will not be a sun or moon, because we’re told we don't need them.
- Much more land than this earth – ‘no more sea’. Maybe to accommodate all the redeemed?
- There’s description of beauty, but it’s along the lines of God’s throne, the walls of the New Jerusalem, it’s gates, etc.
- So, I tend to think of stunning plant life and geography, whereas the Bible speaks of a magnificent city and temple.
- We are told of a river of life, and a tree of life, but these are messages about God’s life available to us even now, not physical beauty.
Intense worship
In scripture every window into heaven shows worship as the main activity.
I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1)
And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:2)
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. (Revelation 4:2)
…And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8)
Intense fellowship
“…but then I shall know just as I also am known.” (I Corinthians 13:12)
Fellowship is knowing someone’s story, as it relates to God.
People spend money to go out and eat and then don’t talk – they look at their phones.
The more expensive the meal, the more intense the fellowship should be!
The subject of heaven is God
It is His home.
Vikings, Muslims, Jehovah Witness, the ‘in name only Christians’ – the subject is us.
Only in the Word of God do we see the real center of heaven
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. Revelation 4:2
Am I Going?
Many unbelievers and lukewarm people are offended at the thought that when they die, they might not be granted entrance into heaven.
But… if you don’t want God in your life now, why would you want Him then? Why would He invite you in when you’ve indicated you have no regard for Him? I don’t invite people like that into my home.
It’s not how good you are, it’s how much toward God you are!
Hebrews 12:14 – “without holiness no one will see the Lord”. Holiness means to be set apart to God, like a bride is to a groom. We are the bride of Christ.
So… you need to begin to orientate your life around God now. He must become the subject of your life. This starts with repentance and forgiveness.
This is not just so you can live life then, it’s so you can really live life now.
