BIBLE READING

Revelation 21: 3-6; 22-23

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death” or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’

He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’

He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life....

....I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

REFLECTION

This week we are thinking about what Heaven will be like and what we will do when we get there.

WE WILL ENJOY GOD'S PRESENCE AND FELLOWSHIP:

Look at Rev 21: 3:

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”

This is what heaven is really all about – fully knowing and seeing and experiencing God. The greatest thing about heaven isn’t going to be the golden streets or the new Jerusalem or even the fact that we are free from pain and suffering. The greatest thing about Heaven is that we’re going to see God face to face, in all His glory and majesty an love and we’re going to live in His presence forever.

As Christians, through Jesus, we can know God during this life here on Earth.

We can experience something of the relationship and closeness with God we were created for through prayer and worship and fellowship. But all of this is simply just a foretaste of something so much greater and richer and fuller and deeper that God intends for us. When we come to the consummation of God’s plan of salvation here in Rev 21 and 22 we experience God in ALL His glory.

In Heaven there will be nothing to separate is from God. God’s glory will be the air we breathe. It will be the light which shines everywhere.

Look at verses 22 and 23:

“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”

Notice it also says there is ‘no temple’ in Heaven. The Temple was where God dwelt among His people – if you wanted to meet God you had to go to the Temple. In Heaven there is no temple or church – because the whole place is filled with God’s presence. You don’t go anywhere to meet with God – wherever you are, God is there.

His presence and glory are tangible. There is no dark corner where God is absent. We will gaze upon God on His throne and we will see His face.

We will be able to see with our own eyes the beauty and majesty and holiness and glory of the Eternal Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

Ever since sin entered the world no one has ever been able to see God’s face. Even Moses, when he encountered God was told to turn away while God passed by because no one could see God and live. The bible says even the angels cover their faces with their wings when they are round the throne of God.

And yet because our sin is done away with through the blood of the lamb Jesus, we stand righteous and clean and pure before God and so we can see His face.

That’s heaven. Heaven is only heaven because God is there.

That’s all I want. The streets of gold, the jewels, even the lack of suffering I can do without – if I can just see God face to face.

I love what one old saint Samuel Rutherford said:

“O my Lord Jesus Christ, if I could be in heaven without thee, it would be a hell; and if I could be in hell, and have thee still, it would be a heaven to me, for thou art all the heaven I want.”

Heaven is about God, knowing and loving and serving and worshiping Him for eternity. It’s what we were made for. You will never get bored because it’s what you were created for. You’ll be more fulfilled and satisfied than anything on earth could ever bring.