The Blessing of Heaven for Believers

The Old Testament promises that in the heavenly state, death will be swallowed up forever(Isaiah 25:8). Paul speaks of this same reality as it relates to the future resurrection,when the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable,and the mortal with immorality,then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death is swallowed up in victory"(1 Corinthians 15:54). Revelation 21:4 tells us that God 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." What an awesome blessing this is: There will be no more death-no more fatal accidents,no more incurable diseases,no more funeral services,no more final farewells. Death will be gone and done with,never to be faced by those who dwell in heaven. Life in the eternal city will be painless,tearless,and deathless.

We will also have Intimate Fellowship with God and Christ. Can there be anything more sublime and more utterly satisfying for the Christian than to enjoy sheer delight of unbroken fellowship with God,and have immediate access to the divine glory(John 14:3;2 Cor.5:6-8;Philippians 1:23; 1 Thess 4:17)? We shall see him "face to face" in in all his splendor and glory. We will gaze upon His countenance and behold His infinite beauty forever. In the afterlife there will no longer be unbroken fellowship with the Lord,ruined by sin. Instead,there will be continuous fellowship. Spiritual death shall never again cause human beings to lose fellowship with God,because for believers,the sin problem will no longer be existent. When we enter into glory we will no longer have the sin nature within us. Sin will be banished from our being.

To fellowship with God is the essence of heavenly life,the fountain and source of all blessing:" You will fill me with joy in your presence,with eternal pleasures at your right hand"(Psalms 16:11). We may be confident that the crowning wonder of experience in the eternal city will be the perpetual and endless exploration of that glorious beauty,majesty,love,holiness,power,joy,and grace which is God Himself.

One of the most glorious aspects of our lives in heaven is that we will be reunited with Christian loved ones. The Christians at Thessalonica were apparently very concerned about their Christian love ones who had died. They expressed their concern to the apostle Paul. So,in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17,Paul deals with the "dead in Christ" and assures the Thessalonian Christians that they will indeed be a reunion. And yes,believers will recognize their loved ones in the eternal state.

How do we know we will recognize one another? Besides the clear teaching of 1 Thessalonians 4,we are told in 2 Samuel 12:22-23 that David knew he would be reunited with his deceased son in heaven. He had no doubt about recognizing him. As well,when Moses and Elijah(who had long passed from earthly life)appeared to Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration(Matt.17:1-8),they were recognized by all who were present. 1 Corinthians tells us that "now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part;then I shall know fully,even as I am fully known." The mirrors of the ancients were made of polished metal and were far inferior to the mirrors we have today. The images were dark and indistinct. Similarly,our present knowledge is but a faint reflection of the fullness of knowledge we will have in the afterlife. This being so,we will surely recognize our Christian loved ones in the eternal state.

The Undiscovered Country by Ron Rhodes


God bless everyone!