As we prepare our hearts to celebrate our Lord’s conquering of death, hell, and the grave, let’s not only be looking at what he’s saved us from but what he’s preparing for us.
Many Christians live with an impoverished view of heaven and what it will be like. Citing 1 Corinthians 2:9– “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
And they stop there, almost as if to say, we can’t know, so let’s not even try. But the very next verse goes on to say, these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” There are so many places in scripture that give us glimpses of what awaits us on the other side of this life.
Take a moment to picture what you envision heaven being like.
Was it fluffy clouds with golden gates and chubby babies flying around with harps? If so, it’s possible your theology of heaven has been influenced more by comic strips, Renaissance art, and neo-Platonic thought than by what the Bible says about our eternal life with God. Revelation 21 talks about a new heaven and a new earth. It speaks of God coming and dwelling with us here on our new earth. That is our eternal home! Jesus has reversed the curse completely, not just in a purely spiritual and legal sense, but he has reversed the curse for all creation. We are not destined to be disembodied spirits floating around with harps, we are destined to live with God enjoying him on an un-fallen earth— forever!
Back at Christmas-time we sang a wonderful hymn that describes a biblical view of the all-encompassing nature of Christ’s redemptive work in creation so well… Isaac Watts’ Joy to the World reminds us… “No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow, far as the curse is found.”
‘Far as the curse is found’ is pretty far, indeed. We can all think of many things that the curse of sin and separation from God has twisted and destroyed. Our current home is so beautiful in spite of its brokenness, but to inhabit an earth unmarred by the curse of sin will undoubtedly be an unending delight.
As we prepare for Easter, we can delight ourselves in looking forward to the joys that are set before us in spending eternity with the Lord in the new heaven and new earth. Here are a few prompts to meditate on, take to Him in prayer, and discuss with your small group or accountability partner.
Lord, help me be honest with you about my view of heaven.
Lord, please open my eyes to see what you’ve revealed in your Word about what life with you for eternity will be like.
Lord Jesus, help me see in your Word what will no longer be a concern in heaven.
Creator God, Maker of all the wonder and beauty that we see in our world now, help me to look forward to being with you in the place you are preparing for us.
Bonus Bookshelf:
Book: Heaven by Randy Alcorn
*I’ll be re-listening to the audio version of Heaven by Randy Alcorn again as we make our way through this season of preparation. I usually listen to this book yearly to renew my delight and yearning for our everlasting home.
Lyrics: Joy to the World by Isaac Watts
Joy to the world; the Lord is come;
Let Earth receive her King;
Let ev'ry Heart prepare him room,
And Heav'n and nature sing.
Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns,
Let men their Songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.
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