Monday, September 2, 2024

Do you ever imagine what heaven will be like? 

If I’m being honest, I prefer not to. The usual images of floating around serenely on clouds doesn’t really appeal to me, and it feels like there’s just so much we can only speculate about. But as we learned last weekend, there’s actually a lot we can know about heaven from Scripture and Jesus’ teachings. 

Here are a few things we do know about heaven: 

• John 14:1-3 - Heaven is a place prepared with room for us.
• Romans 8:20-21 - All of creation will be freed from the curse brought on by sin.
• Revelation 21:4 - There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.
• Isaiah 65:21-23 - There will be satisfying work, where we enjoy the fruit of our efforts.
• Revelation 21:3, 22-23 - We will experience God’s presence there.
• John 14:6 - Jesus is the way to get there.

There is a lot we don’t know about heaven, but we can have confidence in the things we do know as Christ followers, as we focus on the mission God’s given us in the here and now. 

John 14:1-2
¹ “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ² There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?”

This week, we’ll unpack some of those points. But right now, we can find peace in the bottom line: Heaven is a place prepared for us to experience God’s presence.

Questions:
What do you imagine heaven to be like? How has this changed since this message and series?

What amazes you most about heaven?

Next Steps: 
Take time to contemplate God’s intentionality with heaven and what it means about his love for you.

Take time to raise your voice in worship for the one who has saved your life and has gone to prepare a place for you in eternity. 

Prayer: 
Lord, thank you for loving us so much that you have prepared a place in advance for us and have created a way to have us spend eternity with you. Your goodness and mercy knows no end. I can’t even begin to imagine the wonders of heaven or what it means for my body mentally, physically, and emotionally, but I am thankful that when I put my faith in Christ, I will be in your loving presence forever. This is a comfort to me, and I praise you. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:
Hebrews 3:14 
For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. 

This post was written by Payton Lechner, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.