What will Heaven be like?
The question of what will heaven be like is probably best answered by asking, what are you like? For Heaven is a place that will be created for YOU!
God is self-existent (meaning he always existed and wasn’t created), so he existed before Heaven was created. Therefore Heaven wasn’t created for God – he didn’t need it. Since Angels are spirits, it’s possible that they didn’t even need heaven; or at the very least they don’t need the same things in heaven that you and I need in Heaven.
So Heaven is created for us.
Think about the splendor of Heaven. Heaven will not have any sin, evil, or decay, so all of the things that are ugly and lack beauty here on earth will not exist in Heaven. When you walk around Heaven you will be aware of the beautiful Holiness and Purity of the place. Heaven will be clean and pure in a way that you cannot imagine right now. There will be no sickness or disease. There will be no poverty. Heaven will be perfect because God made it that way and there will be nothing to change that.
Heaven will be a place of peace and love. When the Beatles sang about peace and love in the 60’s they were longing for Heaven. Heaven, and the fact that it exists has been birthed in your heart. It will be like your most fantastic dream come true. You will see the lion lay down with the lamb. You will bask in the love, mercy and presence of the Almighty God. God will walk with you face to face. People will love each other in a way that you cannot even imagine in this life.
Heaven will be more beautiful than you can even imagine. Heaven will be the most beautiful place that The Almighty can imagine. You’ll be awed by just how wonderful his imagination is. If you’ve ever been to the Grand Canyon and stood on the rim and marveled at the size, scope, beauty and grandeur of this amazing place, then you’ve had a teeny tiny sample of what heaven will be like.
Every place in Heaven will be incredibly more beautiful than anything you’ve ever seen or dreamed of on earth. You will see mountains that will absolutely awe you with their beauty and grandeur. There will be waterfalls that will floor you with how beautiful they are. There are going to be islands that will make the Caribbean or Hawaii look like garbage dumps, because they are more beautiful than anything you’ve ever thought of.
And one of the most interesting things about Heaven will be it’s size. We read in Revelation about the New Jerusalem and think that Heaven will be limited. NO WAY!
Heaven will be made for people that are going to live forever; a people that like to explore; a people that must learn new things to be challenged; a people that are filled with insatiable curiosity; a people that could easily become board in eternity if Heaven weren’t designed to meet their needs. So heaven will go on forever and ever. You will never explore it all. Nobody will. You will go to a waterfall one day (there won’t be days in Heaven, but bear with me. It’ll be easier for both of us to understand if we talk in terms of this age that we understand.) The next day you will go to another beautiful waterfall and you will marvel at its beauty, and so it will continue. Each place and each experience will be rewarding, mentally challenging, and invigorating. Heaven is made to keep you interested and fulfilled forever.
So like Jesus says, “Lay up your treasure in Heaven.” Keep your mind fixed upon Heaven and your eternal home. The 80 years of hardship that you endure here on earth will be immediately forgotten as soon as you get to Heaven.
John Wheeler
Showing posts with label Heaven. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heaven. Show all posts
Friday, September 7, 2007
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Heaven Part 1 - A Philosophy of Man
Hebrews 2:6
“What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Pradis CD-ROM:
YOU ARE GOD’S MOST TREASURED CREATION
It would be impossible for me to overstate your value to God. You are God’s most treasured creation. He created you in his image. I know that you and I’ve heard this since we were kids, but don’t get jaded and underestimate what this means. He created you EXACTLY how he wanted you to be and with exactly the characteristics, skills, and interests he wanted you to have. And when he was finished creating you he was pleased (Genesis 1:31).
GOD CREATED YOU JUST LIKE HIM
When you go to a mirror you see a reflection, or image of yourself – that’s what it means to be made in God’s image. You look exactly like God; you are just a smaller copy of God. The bible calls us Little Christ’s, or Christians. The Bible also tells us to be Godly (or like God). You are as close to being like God as is possible for a created being.
You have all the same characteristics (often called attributes) that God does. God is loving, kind, generous, compassionate, good, holy, righteous, pure, and just etc. If you’re living a Godly life you will have those same characteristics. You should be loving kind, generous, compassionate, good, holy, righteous, pure, and just, etc. also. As far as characteristics, you were created EXACTLY like God in kind, but not degree.
What I mean by saying you’re exactly like God in kind is that you possess the same attributes as God. Even the heathen and unbelieving people posses many of the same attributes as God in this life. For instance, God is a just God. If you are God’s servant, you should be just. And even some unbelievers are just. The difference between you and The Almighty God is that he is infinite in all his attributes and you aren’t; and never will be.
You have such a special place in the heart of God. No other beings are created in the image of God. As special as angels are, they were not created in the image of God. There is no place amoung created beings that is as special as being created in the likeness and image of God.
At one time in my life, I was a framing contractor. I loved building houses. At the start of the project, you’d drive up and there was nothing but an ugly grey foundation, but when you left, you had created a house from a bunch of lumber. It was very satisfying and I was always proud of the places I built; but the pride that came from framing a house doesn’t even begin to compare to the pride I felt the first time I held my children. My children are made in my image (well probably more my wife’s image), and they are my Opus Magnum (great work). Nothing will ever compare to the pride I get from my children.
GOD BRAGS ABOUT YOU
Well, guess what? It’s exactly the same with you and God. God is so proud of you that he brags on you. Bet you never thought of that before; but yes, it’s true.
I’m sure he says to Gabriel, “Hey Gabe, look at that Susan, I just love how she sings. She has such a beautiful voice.”
Or to another angel he might say, “look at Sharon. She’s a single mother and has had to go through a lot of hard times to remain faithful to me. I’m proud of her.”
Or he might say, “Look at that Paul, what an artist. Look at that painting. Wow, I really like that one.”
Still don’t believe that God brags on you? Then what does it mean when God says to the Devil, “have you considered my servant Job. There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8
YOU ARE TRULY SPECIAL
Holy One’s of God, you are special throughout all of creation. Nobody was created exactly like you and God is so proud of the way you were created.
Humbly,
John
“What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Pradis CD-ROM:
YOU ARE GOD’S MOST TREASURED CREATION
It would be impossible for me to overstate your value to God. You are God’s most treasured creation. He created you in his image. I know that you and I’ve heard this since we were kids, but don’t get jaded and underestimate what this means. He created you EXACTLY how he wanted you to be and with exactly the characteristics, skills, and interests he wanted you to have. And when he was finished creating you he was pleased (Genesis 1:31).
GOD CREATED YOU JUST LIKE HIM
When you go to a mirror you see a reflection, or image of yourself – that’s what it means to be made in God’s image. You look exactly like God; you are just a smaller copy of God. The bible calls us Little Christ’s, or Christians. The Bible also tells us to be Godly (or like God). You are as close to being like God as is possible for a created being.
You have all the same characteristics (often called attributes) that God does. God is loving, kind, generous, compassionate, good, holy, righteous, pure, and just etc. If you’re living a Godly life you will have those same characteristics. You should be loving kind, generous, compassionate, good, holy, righteous, pure, and just, etc. also. As far as characteristics, you were created EXACTLY like God in kind, but not degree.
What I mean by saying you’re exactly like God in kind is that you possess the same attributes as God. Even the heathen and unbelieving people posses many of the same attributes as God in this life. For instance, God is a just God. If you are God’s servant, you should be just. And even some unbelievers are just. The difference between you and The Almighty God is that he is infinite in all his attributes and you aren’t; and never will be.
You have such a special place in the heart of God. No other beings are created in the image of God. As special as angels are, they were not created in the image of God. There is no place amoung created beings that is as special as being created in the likeness and image of God.
At one time in my life, I was a framing contractor. I loved building houses. At the start of the project, you’d drive up and there was nothing but an ugly grey foundation, but when you left, you had created a house from a bunch of lumber. It was very satisfying and I was always proud of the places I built; but the pride that came from framing a house doesn’t even begin to compare to the pride I felt the first time I held my children. My children are made in my image (well probably more my wife’s image), and they are my Opus Magnum (great work). Nothing will ever compare to the pride I get from my children.
GOD BRAGS ABOUT YOU
Well, guess what? It’s exactly the same with you and God. God is so proud of you that he brags on you. Bet you never thought of that before; but yes, it’s true.
I’m sure he says to Gabriel, “Hey Gabe, look at that Susan, I just love how she sings. She has such a beautiful voice.”
Or to another angel he might say, “look at Sharon. She’s a single mother and has had to go through a lot of hard times to remain faithful to me. I’m proud of her.”
Or he might say, “Look at that Paul, what an artist. Look at that painting. Wow, I really like that one.”
Still don’t believe that God brags on you? Then what does it mean when God says to the Devil, “have you considered my servant Job. There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8
YOU ARE TRULY SPECIAL
Holy One’s of God, you are special throughout all of creation. Nobody was created exactly like you and God is so proud of the way you were created.
Humbly,
John
Preface to my series on Heaven
Last week at my Wednesday Night Bible study, Tim asked, "what do you think Heaven is like?"
I was caught on my heals a bit, because I didn't really have a very good answer for him. In fact, I could probably tell you more about Hell than I could about Heaven. It's pretty sad, but that seems to be the situation for many Christians and many Christian Thinkers throughout history. So I decided to put together my thoughts, my study and my revelation about Heaven into writings and then share them with you.
Before we can talk about what Heaven is, we have to come to some agreement on a philosophy of mankind. In other words, we have to answer the question – what is man (or generically mankind)?
Since most of you don’t know me very well, you need to know that I try to personalize everything to myself or my hearer. I hate to have theological discussions in 3rd person, and talk about “what is man” in very lofty terms. Doing that gives the reader the sense that knowledge of God is unattainable; or at the very least, God is difficult to understand. This is not the case at all. The great secrets of God are revealed to the simplest of minds. So, I’d much rather talk in 2nd person and tell you, and show you what you are in God, rather than trying to make this seem difficult and beyond your ability to grasp.
Knowledge should never be impersonal. The goal of life isn’t to know about God, instead the goal of all knowledge is to KNOW GOD (meaning have a relationship with him). The Devil himself knows a lot more about God than you will know in this life, so don’t strive for knowledge about God. Instead strive to serve God and strive to be his friend.
I was caught on my heals a bit, because I didn't really have a very good answer for him. In fact, I could probably tell you more about Hell than I could about Heaven. It's pretty sad, but that seems to be the situation for many Christians and many Christian Thinkers throughout history. So I decided to put together my thoughts, my study and my revelation about Heaven into writings and then share them with you.
Before we can talk about what Heaven is, we have to come to some agreement on a philosophy of mankind. In other words, we have to answer the question – what is man (or generically mankind)?
Since most of you don’t know me very well, you need to know that I try to personalize everything to myself or my hearer. I hate to have theological discussions in 3rd person, and talk about “what is man” in very lofty terms. Doing that gives the reader the sense that knowledge of God is unattainable; or at the very least, God is difficult to understand. This is not the case at all. The great secrets of God are revealed to the simplest of minds. So, I’d much rather talk in 2nd person and tell you, and show you what you are in God, rather than trying to make this seem difficult and beyond your ability to grasp.
Knowledge should never be impersonal. The goal of life isn’t to know about God, instead the goal of all knowledge is to KNOW GOD (meaning have a relationship with him). The Devil himself knows a lot more about God than you will know in this life, so don’t strive for knowledge about God. Instead strive to serve God and strive to be his friend.
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