The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 14:2-3,
"My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
The NIV Quest Study Bible points out that Jesus' description of heaven here, with "many rooms", speaks to unlimited space and permanence.
I'm certain we all wonder what our heavenly abode will be like. We have not been given many details. We have descriptions of the incredible blessing it will be to have the Lord to commune with us there. We know that we will exist eternally, and that existence will be marked by "no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4b.
I often think we already have an example of what our eternal abode with the Lord may look like: where we live right now! (Albeit a greatly damaged example due to mankind's sin and the resulting impact.) The garden of Eden on planet earth was the environment God chose for his new creation of mankind and following his creative week, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." Genesis 1:31.
I suspect many of us tend to think in terms of what we would like heaven to be, given the sparsity of detail we have in the Scriptures. Perhaps we define heaven in terms of not being like what currently frustrates us about this life.
There are different aspects of our eternal life to muse on. Our relationships with others, social interaction, our proximity to the Lord, hobbies, habits and vocations, and the environment itself.
Thinking about the environment, I'm sure we all would like to see those elements of what we do find attractive and desirable here: a tropical paradise, a lush old growth forest, beautiful beaches, mountains, rivers and fish filled creeks, etc. I suspect one of the reasons there is not a lot of heaven's environment described is that the Lord is looking for those who want him, not the real estate he provides. But... It is fun to think about.
As you consider our coming existence in heaven, what comes to your mind? This is our great hope as believers and something good for us to muse about from time to time. "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
The NIV Quest Study Bible points out that Jesus' description of heaven here, with "many rooms", speaks to unlimited space and permanence.
I'm certain we all wonder what our heavenly abode will be like. We have not been given many details. We have descriptions of the incredible blessing it will be to have the Lord to commune with us there. We know that we will exist eternally, and that existence will be marked by "no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4b.
I often think we already have an example of what our eternal abode with the Lord may look like: where we live right now! (Albeit a greatly damaged example due to mankind's sin and the resulting impact.) The garden of Eden on planet earth was the environment God chose for his new creation of mankind and following his creative week, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." Genesis 1:31.
I suspect many of us tend to think in terms of what we would like heaven to be, given the sparsity of detail we have in the Scriptures. Perhaps we define heaven in terms of not being like what currently frustrates us about this life.
There are different aspects of our eternal life to muse on. Our relationships with others, social interaction, our proximity to the Lord, hobbies, habits and vocations, and the environment itself.
Thinking about the environment, I'm sure we all would like to see those elements of what we do find attractive and desirable here: a tropical paradise, a lush old growth forest, beautiful beaches, mountains, rivers and fish filled creeks, etc. I suspect one of the reasons there is not a lot of heaven's environment described is that the Lord is looking for those who want him, not the real estate he provides. But... It is fun to think about.
As you consider our coming existence in heaven, what comes to your mind? This is our great hope as believers and something good for us to muse about from time to time. "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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