Looking Forward to Heaven

      This life can be frustrating at times.  One minor example, I have called for a tow truck three times in the past two weeks.  I look around in my circles of family, friends,  and acquaintances and see health issues, conflict, financial challenges, prodigal children, stunning loss and struggling marriages.  As a result of a back injury several years ago, physical pain is a daily part of my life now.  Thankfully this life is not the eternal state.  Whether given 20 or 100 years here, this life is just the opening chapter.  Through the perfect life, sacrificial death and stunning resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christians have the hope of heaven, specifically the new heavens and the new earth.  
     We look forward to the future with confidence.  Thinking about our eternity is beyond what we can fully imagine (Ephesians 3:20).  I think of how difficult it would be to explain to a baby in the womb the pleasures of this world—humor, tasty chocolate, beauty, family and friendship to a name a few.  Despite our inability to fully comprehend heaven still the authors of Scriptures do give us glimpses of what awaits. 
     One, we will have perfect relationships.  Relationships in this life can be beautiful but always contain some brokenness.  Even the best marriages contain a bit of selfishness.  Even great children can at times disappoint.  When we are reunited with the Christians who have died before us and those who pass after us there will be whole, complete, even perfect relationships.  Therefore, if you miss that Christian father or grandfather, someday you will be reunited and it will be even better than your remember it.  Most importantly our relationship with God will be full and complete.  There will be no more times where God seems distant or absent.  God promises to be with us fully (Revelation 21:3)! 
     Two, all the shattering damage of mankind’s sin will be gone (Revelation 21:4; 22:3).  No more diseases, we will have perfect health.  No more tears, there will be no sadness.  No more death, only life never ending.  If you have ever watched an aging parent fade away in the clutches of Alzheimer’s disease, your long goodbye will be replaced with intriguing conversation and laughter.  If you ever lost a child in the womb, you will meet and hold that child again.  If your own body has become a prison because of Lou Gehrig’s disease, you will become whole again.  The new creation itself will be changed; predators can be harmless pets (Isaiah 65:25).  The perfect beauty of creation will be restored for our enjoyment.  And we will have resurrection bodies to fully experience the new life that is offered to us. 
      Third, we will do meaningful work.  Work existed before the entrance of sin into the world and will always exist.  Now some jobs will no longer be needed in the new heavens and new earth—funeral directors, doctors, therapists, police officers and social workers to name a few.  But we will happily serve God.  We will have the best boss and remarkable co workers for whatever tasks God gives us.  The work we do will be consequential and pleasurable.  We will consistently work in that sweet spot where our talents meet our calling. 
        Fourth, we will be rewarded for the good we did in our time here.  God saw every moment of quiet faithfulness.  He saw when you were courageous.  He noticed your kindness when no one else did—the times you checked on a hurting friend, helped the sick, and took in the struggling foster child.  God saw it all and promises to reward you. Faithful Christians will hear “well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21, 22).   
       Christians are a good news people living in a dark world.  Let’s take a posture of confident expectation when we think about and long for eternity. 
I can hardly wait!
Pastor Derek Dickinson
Journey Christian Church