Heaven (Part 2)ნიმუში

The Great Reunion

'Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord' (1 Thessalonians 4:17 ESV).

Imagine stepping into Heaven for the first time. You’re standing in a place that feels both familiar and breathtakingly new. Then you see Him – Jesus, the One who carried you through every moment of your life and everything you faced.

Just behind Him, you notice familiar faces. There’s your mum, who prayed for you every day. Your dad, whose quiet faith set an example. A grandparent whose stories about Jesus shaped your childhood. A child you lost far too soon, now smiling with the joy of Heaven. Even a close friend who always pointed you back to Christ. Their eyes meet yours, and their smiles seem to say, ‘We’ve been waiting for you.’

I am not sure exactly if this is how it will be, but we will know and recognise our loved ones in Heaven.

There will be a great reunion!

I often think of the people I’ve loved and lost. Some, I’m confident, will be there because they followed Jesus.

Others, I’m not so sure. Did they know Him? Did I share enough about the hope of Heaven?

These aren’t easy questions, but they remind me of what’s at stake. If eternity is real, then we have to live our lives like it matters.

But Heaven isn’t just a close-family reunion. Imagine meeting the great men and women of faith whose stories have shaped your life.

Abraham, who trusted God for the impossible. Esther, who stood in the gap for her people. David, whose Psalms have carried your prayers. Or Paul, whose words transformed the Church. Heaven will be alive with the stories of God’s faithfulness through every generation.

I would have so many questions for Joseph and would be able to tell him how much his story and journey have impacted my life in these last few years.

And then there’s the cloud of witnesses from Hebrews 12:1. Who are they? Can they see us? Maybe. But what matters most is their legacy. They’ve finished their race, and now it’s our turn to run ours, drawing strength from their lives of faith. Their stories remind us that every act of obedience, no matter how small, is part of something far greater.

Heaven is where we’ll meet Jesus face-to-face.

The One who bore our sin, carried our pain, and never gave up on us. Imagine hearing Him say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’

Every tear, every heartache, every moment of struggle will fade in the light of His glory. We’ll finally be home.

But here’s the truth: this reunion isn’t automatic. Heaven is God’s gift, but every gift needs an RSVP.

I’ve made this so clear on previous days that we’ve been in this Heaven series. I would encourage you to go back and review each one if there is any uncertainty in your mind.

Jesus invites us, but we have to say YES. And part of accepting that invitation is sharing it with others.

So, let’s live like Heaven is real – because it is! Let’s run our race with eternity in mind, knowing the finish line is the arms of Jesus. And let’s share this hope with urgency, so that when the day of the great reunion comes, the faces we see will really be the ones we want to!

Reflect

• Who in your life still needs to know about God's love?
• What might change if you shared your faith with them today?

Heaven is waiting. Will you be there? Who will you bring with you?

Pray

Thank You, Lord, for the promise of the great reunion where we’ll meet You face to face and be with our loved ones in Your glorious presence. Help me to live with eternity in mind, to be bold in sharing Your hope, and to run my race faithfully until I'm safely home with You. Amen.

If you've felt encouraged, intrigued, or even challenged by this reading plan, I'd love to invite you to explore Heaven further with me in Part 3 of this series.