You're Expected
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In one of his Far Side cartoons, Gary Larson depicts a winged man seated in heaven on a cloud. No one near. Nothing to do. Marooned on his celestial post. The caption witnesses his despair: "Wish I'd brought a magazine."
I can relate. Eternal life? Clouds in my midst, a harp on my lap, and time on my hands, unending time. An endless sing-along—a hymn, then a chorus, then still more verses. "Whatever the tortures of hell," declared science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov, "I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse."
You might have similar reservations, quiet yet troubling. Will eternity meet expectations? Jesus gives an assuring response:
Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 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 14:1-2, NLT)
Perfected Prototypes
Forget the movies' images of knee-high fog banks and floating spirits. Jesus has gone to "prepare a place." Heaven is tangible: as real as the soil in your garden, as physical as the fruit in your orchard. In fact, your garden and fruit might look familiar in heaven.
You probably assume God will destroy this universe and relocate his children. But when God created the heavens and earth, he applauded his work (Genesis 1:31). God never denounced his earth, just man's mistreatment of it. Besides, he's the God of reclamation, not extermination. He restores, recovers, renews. Expect him to reclaim every square inch of what's rightfully his (Matthew 19:28).
Although Scripture uses A-bomb terminology to promise earth's destruction: "disappear with a roar … destroyed by fire … laid bare … passed away" (2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 21:1), destruction need not mean elimination. Your body provides a prototype. It will return to dust. Yet the one who called Adam out of a dirt pile will reverse your decomposition with resurrection. Amino acids will regenerate. Molecules will reconnect. The mortal body will put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53 ).
The same is true about earth. The "whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth" (Romans 8:22, NASB). Like a mother in labor, nature looks toward her delivery day. You see the birth pangs: floods, volcanoes, earthquakes. But God will cleanse and reconstruct his cosmos. And pristine purity will flow, as Eden promised.
Glorious Glimpses
God grants glimpses of this future state. He designed an oculus in this pantheon. Through it you see gold-drenched sunsets. Diamond-studded night skies. Appetizers of heaven.
But none of those compare to God's crowning jewel: the New Jerusalem. Scripture reveals this city's jaw-dropping dimensions: an exact square of 1,400 miles (Revelation 21:16). Large enough to contain the land from the Appalachians to the California coast—Canada to Mexico. Tall enough to stack more than 600,000 stories—ample space for billions of people to come and go.
Related Topics:
Heaven, Rest, Trusting God
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Average User Rating:
DOSANNA NISETTE
AWESOME ARTICLE! INSPIRING...I DEFINITELY WANT TO BE SURE TO MAKE IT HOME!
Margot Ditterich
Great truly great. Helps us hang on until we get there. This world is getting darker. The light of Christ beckons. I can't wait.
Amanda P
I love Max Lucado's writing - it always blesses me immensely, and this is no exception. The common worldly idea of Heaven is simply pathetic and merely reveals ignorance of God's ways and His Word - there is no doubt in my mind that the future heaven and earth will be awesome - far, far superior to what we experience now. I thank God for you, Max!
Paul M
A new heaven and a new earth, redeemed and rescued. Earth will be our home and the new Jerusalem will be here. You're right, no boredom, no floating around on clouds (I'm afraid of heights)Heaven and Earth will be one. We'll be at home with God!!!!!!!!!!!
Ephrem Hagos
The Invitation to all is where "People will look at him whom they pierced"! (John 19:30-37)
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