The late (and, great) American pastor, in his 1997 book Talking To My Father, recalls the following event: ‘An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years, and they were returning to New York City to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions.
No one paid much attention to them. They watched the fanfare that accompanied the President’s entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of the great man. As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said to his wife, “Something is wrong. Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us? Here this man comes back from a hunting trip, and everybody makes much over him, but nobody gives two hoots about us.” “Dear, you shouldn’t feel that way,” his wife said. “I can’t help it; it doesn’t seem right.”
When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other dignitaries were there. The papers were full of the President’s arrival, but no one noticed this missionary couple. They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East side, hoping the next day to see what they could do to make a living in the city. That night, the man’s spirit broke. He said to his wife, “I can’t take this; God is not treating us fairly.” His wife replied, “Why don’t you go into the bedroom and tell that to the Lord?”
A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. His wife asked, “Dear, what happened?” “The Lord settled it with me,” he said. “I told him how bitter I was that the President should receive this tremendous homecoming, when no one met us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put his hand on my shoulder and simply said, ‘But you’re not home yet!’”
Well, we have had two saints from our church family pass on to glory this past week and thus it seems an appropriate time to take a look at heaven.
First, upon our arrival in heaven, our heavenly Father will welcome us with these words, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:23)
Second, Jesus will be waiting for us when we arrive there. “In my Father’s house are many rooms…. 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.” (John 14:1-3)
Third, in heaven will be “Persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Matthew 5:9) Every person who has confessed Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Saviour will be there (and, in His mercy, God will decide on the rest).
Fourth, heaven will be more beautiful than we can imagine (see Revelation 21).
Fifth, there we will (finally) be perfect. No more sin. No more pain. No more death. And God will wipe away our tears (Revelations 21:4) and our loved ones who have struggled physically on this earth will be able to run and jump and see and hear (see Isaiah 35).
Why Christians would not look forward to being in heaven or to their loved ones going to heaven and leaving this beautiful, but very flawed, world is beyond me.
The popular Christian music group, Mercy Me, released a very popular song which states,
“I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by Your side.
I can only imagine what my eyes would see when Your face is before me.
I can only imagine.
Surrounded by Your glory what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine.
I can only imagine when that day comes and I find myself standing in the Son.
I can only imagine when all I will do is forever, forever worship You. I can only imagine.”
Heaven is glorious! Let’s rejoice in that assurance and fact.
