Heaven (Part 3)ഉദാഹരണം

Echoes & Glimpses

I will never forget the time I stood in Ibadan, Nigeria, during one of Reinhard Bonnke’s great gospel crusades. That week, the gospel was preached to 3.9 million people, and 2.65 million of them gave their lives to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

On the final night of the crusade, 1.3 million people gathered in one meeting. As far as I could see in every direction, the crowd stretched like an ocean of people.

Their worship was like nothing I had ever experienced. It wasn’t just the sound, it was the weight of it, a living wave of praise that shook you to your core.

That evening, I stood on top of a shipping container as Reinhard prayed for the Holy Spirit to descend upon the crowd.

Then it happened – the roar of the people. It was a sound I can only describe as Heaven touching Earth.

So many people, from so many communities, united with one purpose: to seek God, to worship Him, and to know Him. In that moment, I thought, This must be what Heaven feels like.

Heaven is described in Revelation 7:9 as a place where people from every nation, tribe, and language gather before the throne of God, united in worship.

What struck me in Ibadan was not just the sheer size of the crowd, but their unity. People from every background, each bringing their own story, their own language, and yet standing together as one.

C.S. Lewis described Heaven as a 'festival', and I think he was right. Heaven is not a quiet, reserved gathering, but a celebration of unity, joy, and purpose. Each of us, uniquely created, will add to the beauty of that perfect community, and all of it will glorify God.

In Heaven, there will be no barriers or divisions. We will be fully known, fully loved, and fully accepted. As John Wesley said, 'The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.' God designed us to live in community, and in Heaven, that design will be perfected.

I think of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, where he describes the body of Christ.

Right now, we are like a rehearsal, sometimes messy, sometimes missing our cues. But one day, we’ll hear the symphony as it was meant to be played, and every single person will have a part to play.

Charles Spurgeon said, 'To gather with God’s people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.'

In Heaven, this gathering will be complete. Imagine standing shoulder to shoulder with people from every corner of the Earth, every voice lifted in worship, every heart overflowing with joy – how amazing will all this be!

But here’s the thing: we don’t have to wait until Heaven to experience glimpses of this community.

Jesus said, 'By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another' (John 13:35 NIV). When we love, forgive, and serve one another, we reflect the heavenly community here on Earth.

So, who can you reach out to today? Who in your life needs encouragement, inclusion, or kindness?

Every act of love and unity is an echo of Heaven, a small glimpse of the perfect community we’ll one day enjoy forever.

Reflect

• Think about the people in your life today. Is there someone you can encourage, include, or serve?
• How can you bring a glimpse of Heaven’s joy and unity into your relationships this week?

Pray

Lord, thank You for the promise of Heaven and the vision of perfect community with You. Help me to live in a way that reflects Your love, so others can see a glimpse of Your kingdom in how I treat them. May my life point to the unity and joy we will one day experience forever. Amen