During a visit to the South San Juan wilderness in Colorado, it was so beautiful and peaceful that I found myself asking God, “What is Heaven like?” At that moment, a strong north wind began to blow down the valley, causing the aspen leaves to whistle, shimmer, and dance. The wildflowers which were scattered across the high mountain meadow added splashes of yellow, purple, pink, and white, on either side of the river flowing peacefully alongside.
As I breathed in the crisp mountain air and felt the warmth of the sunlight reflecting off the towering mountain face, I sensed Creation offering its praise to God. The laughter of family in the distance brought a smile to my soul. As the evening coolness slipped into the valley and the night creatures began their evensong, the soft light and warmth of the cabin and the aroma of a home-cooked meal drew me in.
At that moment, I realized that the God’s blessings provided me with an answer I could understand.
In fact, the Bible affirms my observations:
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
James 1:17
Heaven is like everything good on earth that we can possibly conceive but—even far beyond the beauty and wonder our human mind can comprehend. Perhaps that is why God’s Word doesn’t provide us with detailed information about what the new heaven and new earth will be like.
It would simply blow our minds!
However, what we DO know is that GOD will be there and there will be nothing that makes us sad, causes pain, or ends in death:
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away EVERY TEAR from their eyes; there shall be NO MORE DEATH, NO SORROW, NOR CRYING. There shall be NO MORE PAIN, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:1-4
When I contemplate the absence of tears, death, sorrow, crying, and pain, I can’t help but imagine the profound beauty and joy that environment will create.
But God’s goodness goes beyond the absence of evil; in fact, it reaches far beyond our imagination!
God is the giver of all life, beauty, delight, and every good thing. When the verse says “God will be with them and be their God” it is a significant clue about the nature of our eternal abode. If we go back to Genesis and review what He created in the beginning, we can imagine a world without the consequences of evil—without floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and the groanings of creation (Isaiah 24). Imagine a world without the…
“works of the sinful flesh,” where there is no adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like and of which Paul the Apostle said “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21
Can you envision NEVER feeling—anxious, fearful, tired, hated, unloved, unimportant, angry, dissatisfied, or defeated?
Heaven is where Jesus, whose nature is perfectly—righteous, just, and loving—reigns supremely. His presence will create an environment that reflects His nature. As His people, when we will collectively worship Him without the hindrance of sin, the fruits of His Spirit—love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, gentleness, and humility—will flow freely from Him, into us, and out to others. It will be a place of ultimate satisfaction and joy.
In the new heaven and the new earth, God’s law of love will rule.
God is everything good, and the experience of the new heaven and new earth will be the ultimate experience of His pure presence. To be in God’s presence without any trace of the darkness of sin will be a life far greater than any life we have imagined here on earth. We have glimpses here…but there it will be completely unveiled from this present darkness! I want EVERYONE to receive God’s gift of salvation and live forever in God’s presence, don’t you?
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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5 Responses
What a beautiful and wonderful devotional! It evokes such excitement and hope for the day of Jesus’ return and to finally see the beautiful and wondrous Heaven that God created for us!
Amen!!!
This one is so good. I love this.
Praise God!!