From the DayBreaks archive, December 2007:
What do you think heaven looks like? We read of the streets of gold and the city gates being made up of a huge, single pearl each. There are descriptions of the river of life that flows through the city and the trees that bear fruit along its banks. Incredible creatures are there, too, according to Revelation: myriads upon myriads of angels, archangels, and don’t forget the fascinating four living creatures that stand before the throne itself. What do they look like? John describes them somewhat for us, but even then, it’s a mind-boggling and mind-stretching scene to try to imagine. Then, don’t forget the glassy, crystal sea. It must be beautiful to look upon!
And of course, there’s the Lamb and the Father and the Spirit – all pictured in various places throughout Scripture, but most intriguingly, perhaps in Revelation.
So, what is it that you think will be the most amazing thing to see? Will it be God Himself? Will it be when our eyes are opened and we can see the Spirit? Will it be the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world? I am sure that when we see Them, it will be beyond our imagining, even though we’ve read about them in John’s apocalypse. And I’m sure that the four living creatures won’t disappoint, nor will the sight of the angel, Michael, the leader of God’s heavenly army.
But, as I thought about it the other day, while not the most glorious sight, but perhaps the most surprising, may be those who have been at last perfected by the blood of the Lamb. Not even the most beautiful actress or actor at their finest will begin to compare to a perfected human being. We’ve never seen a perfected human in the 21st century. There was only One human who ever lived that was perfect – all that the Father Creator meant for Him to be. Only one century was privileged to see that. But even then, his flesh wasn’t perfected – it was subject to decay and failure, just as ours is.
As I sat during Thanksgiving and watched my family around the table, in the front room, in the kitchen, and I watched them with wonder in my heart and delighted to hear their interactions and laughter, I looked at my wife and thought: won’t she be incredible in heaven? (I think she’s wonderfully incredible now!) She’ll have no flaws of any kind, nor will I. In heaven, we will be perfected – all God ever meant for us to be. Won’t it be a glorious sight to see?
John 1:14 (NIV) – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
1 John 3:2 (KJV) – Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
PRAYER: Lord, we can’t imagine the delights of Your home, and our home! We wait with patience, we will finish well, Lord, by Your grace and great power, as we look forward to the day when You complete Your mighty work in us! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Copyright by 2017 by Galen C. Dalrymple.
Advertisements Share this:
