God has promised to be with us for all time. In our time on earth, God provides us strength and help with any difficulties. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. Psalm 34:19. We also know that faith in God can invigorate us through an inner joy as we approach each day. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31. In heaven, God is still with us for all time and the joy of knowing Him will provide us with great strength and vigor. Our relationship with God will be different though because in heaven there is no sin. We will see God’s face, live with Him, and worship and serve Him with great passion! Revelation 22:3-5a describes this. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. It is an amazing thing that we will see the face of God. In ancient Israel only the high priest could go into the Holy of Holies of the temple; and the high priest could only go in once a year. When he went in, a rope a was tied around his ankle in case he died inside. The Holy of Holies was so sacred that no one else would dare go in. In Exodus 33:18-23, Moses says to God, Now show me your glory. God replies that He will cause all His goodness to pass in front of Moses. God goes on, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Exodus 33:20. The wonder of heaven is that we will be freely welcomed into the very presence of God and see Him face-to-face! Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sins so that through God’s grace and forgiveness we can be seen as holy. When Jesus died on the cross, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). Sin renders people unfit to be in the presence of God and see Him face-to-face. Jesus Christ, through His death, removed the barriers between God and us. In our time on earth we can approach God in prayer and worship to receive mercy and grace to help us with any problems. We can also look forward to a perfect relationship with God in heaven. To be able to look into God’s eyes will be what we have always longed for. We will find that seeing God will be our greatest joy! All joy will flow from our relationship with God. In Matthew 5:8 Jesus states, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” In heaven our actions, words, thoughts, and feelings will be pure and solely focused on God’s love for us. God’s grace makes us pure and heaven is His free gift to us. Poet and song writer Fanny Crosby wrote the following lyrics in 1891. The sure hope of a home in heaven is evident in the lyrics as well the joy of living with God forever. Some day the silver cord will break, And I no more as now shall sing; But oh, the joy when I shall wake Within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, And tell the story—Saved by grace; And I shall see Him face to face, And tell the story—Saved by grace; Some day my earthly house will fall. I cannot tell how soon ‘twill be; But this I know—my All in All Has now a place in Heav’n for me. References:
Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP. Crosby, F. (1891). “Some day the silver cord will break.”
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Micah StohlmannChristian, author, and professor of mathematics education. Archives
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