When Heaven is Your Home

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. I Peter 1:3-5

I think about heaven a lot. It’s easy to get lost in my own thoughts about what it will be like to be in the presence of God, totally free and fully loved.  I think about the people I’ll meet for the first time and all the ones that I still love that I’m longing to hug so tightly. Although there is no definite Biblical proof, I hope and believe I’ll get to hug the babies I miscarried and finally hear them say, “Hi Mama! We’ve been waiting for you to get here!” There is no way to know this for sure on this side of heaven, but I believe with all my heart that life begins at conception, and eternal life belongs to every believer.

What thoughts does heaven stir within your heart and mind?

Are you longing for a physical hug from Jesus and to see your loved ones? Ready to meet people you shared the gospel with but never knew if they found their salvation in Jesus? Looking forward to meeting Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Elijah, Job, Rahab, Rebekah, Esther, Mary, John the Baptist, Paul, John, Peter, and Stephen?

There certainly is more about Heaven that we don’t know than there is about what we do know. But we can be sure that heaven is real even though it seems so far away, because we have not yet been there.  It looks like a dream to think about eternity and enjoying the presence of God forever with no end. If I’m honest, it’s a little frightening.  Even as I write this, I feel my chest getting tighter.  Eternity, forever, no end.  Fear chases as my thoughts run away.  Anxiety pulls me in when I give in to my own understanding.  The comprehension is beyond me.  It just doesn’t make sense to my finite brain to be able to live infinitely with God and never run out of things to do or say. Surely, I can’t be the only one ever to feel this way. This is an area of opportunity for trusting God.  I have to hand those fearful thoughts over to Him as I learn to trust that, while I can’t understand it now, I know I will love it there, and I won’t want it ever to end. Thankfully, He has comforted me with His Word and His Spirit, and I have resolved to look forward to it and trust Him with everything. Knowing that all my fears are irrational, and it would unhinge me to learn everything he has in store for us now, trust is the best course of action. 

Scripture is a huge comfort to my heart when I struggle to understand something. Jesus knew this about us, and He often spoke about heaven during his earthly ministry.  Even as He knew His arrestors were seeking Him out, He spoke words of comfort to His disciples.

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.  And you know the way where I am going.” John 14:1-4

How glorious it is to know that He’s been back in Heaven for over 2,000 years, preparing a place for us to spend eternity! The time spent and attention to detail must be a significant factor in the finished product. I can only imagine how wonderful it will be!

I’m looking forward to joining Him there through death or meeting Him in the air while I’m alive.

Often when I hear random noises, sirens, or loud sounds, I catch myself looking up. This happens a lot, even to my own embarrassment. I have made myself laugh out loud on many occasions. With every breathtaking sunrise, sunset, or God’s creative display in the sky, I’m consistently looking up in anticipation of the return of Christ.  It would be impossible, but I don’t want to miss Him!  This is something that I haven’t always felt, but the older I get, the more I long to see Him coming in the clouds.  Jesus is coming back, and we have a promise in His Word for those who look forward to His return.

“In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” II Timothy 4:8

One day, after we’ve stepped into the next chapter of our eternal life as believers, there are rewards in store for us. The Bible tells us so, but it’s difficult to imagine. Wouldn’t spending eternity with our Triune God be enough? I’m sure it will be, but it is His nature to lavish His love on us. It’s easy to believe that our God would shower us with blessings throughout eternity.  And who knows? Maybe we’ll get to join the 24 elders around the throne and throw them back at His feet in adoration for all He is and has done and will do.  And there, we will be home with Him. Forever. 

Ardently His,

Jessica

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