1 Corinthians 2:19

1 Corinthians 2:19

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”

For the most part, the idea of what heaven will look like and what we will feel as we stand before the Father and Son remains largely a mystery to us. How will we react, what will we think, say, or do? The lyrics of a well-known song seem to capture the feeling well, stating: “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?” You can feel the overwhelming magnitude of the situation, as the author of this song grapples with what to do, say, and feel when standing before the Lord. We are assured in God’s Word that heaven will be a place of great peace, free of all pain, free of all sin, where everything is right between God and man…perhaps much like the Garden before the fall. But what will it be like to actually look into the face of Jesus…to actually look eye to eye with the One we have called Savior? What will it be like to actually feel the embrace of the Father, the Almighty, the very Creator of all things? We will spend the rest of our days in this life wondering and picturing what it will be like when we fall asleep in this life and awaken restored and renewed in heaven. But one thing is for sure, we don’t have to worry about what happens at the end of this life. For through the sacrifice of the Son, and our repentance and true belief that the Son is the only hope we have to be restored and made right with God, we have complete assurance of our place in heaven. Romans 14:8 is one of many verses that gives us that guarantee, stating “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” Whether here on this earth, or resting in heaven, we are in the arms of the Lord…we are his chosen and beloved people. So when the life of a Believer comes to a close, may we take time to mourn the loss that we feel, but may we also take time to rejoice in knowing that one of our own has stepped through the gates of a paradise and stands in the very presence of God. And when our own time comes to a close, we can look forward to an incredible reunion, nothing but smiles all around, embracing past family and friends, and greeting THE LORD face to face. It’s hard to even imagine. To God alone be all glory!