If you’re like me, vacations often disappoint. We plan, arrange, dream and imagine a restful, fun-filled time at a location we have always wanted to visit. Months in advance! And then the time finally arrives. We jump in the car or hop on a plane and off we go!
At first things seem to be going well. But then, the inevitable happens. Your flight is delayed. No . . . wait. It’s cancelled. Seriously? You’re booked on the next fight out only to land at your destination in a rain storm. The motel isn’t as nice as it looked in the picture. The scenery isn’t what you expected. And the whole vacation ends up being somewhat of a disappointment. Granted – not every vacation is like this. But sooner or later we are all disappointed by something or someplace we had looked forward to.
But there is one place that will never disappoint us. Not even close. The New Heavens and the New Earth will be so wonderful that the Apostle Paul can’t even find words to describe what awaits the believer. Using a passage from Isaiah 64 Paul writes, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind conceived what God has prepared for those who love him . . .” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV) Our limited imaginations simply have no ability to imagine the glory, joy and splendor of what awaits us in the future. It cannot be anything other than absolutely magnificent because God will be at its center. This is the God of the Universe who has in himself all things good – and who is in himself all things good.
In the beautiful and encouraging Isaiah 40:9 we read, “Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news . . . Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
We can only imagine the wonder, awe and jaw-dropping splendor of what heaven might be like. We might even imagine a friend taking us by the hand, leading us into the presence of God – and welcoming us to eternity with those magnificent words, “Behold your God!”
Eternity will not be long enough to take in the beauty, majesty and glory of God himself. He, of course, will be the focus of our joy. Streets of gold may dazzle and the river of life may refresh, but nothing will compare to the glory of God. He is infinite in beauty, size, majesty and splendor. No amount of time will be sufficient to drink in all of his goodness.
These gifts and blessings which God gives to his people are no afterthought – no mere result of salvation. They have been part of God’s design all along. “This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.” (2 Timothy 1:9d)
“And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21) “To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:14) We will not only behold the glory of Jesus; we will share in that glory ourselves. We too will be glorious!
Set your mind on these things. Feed on them!
You may be many things in heaven. But one thing you will never be is . . . disappointed!