Vital Signs - Monday, April 20, 2020
My home is in heaven. I’m just passing through this world. — Billy Graham
The earth is full of sights and experiences that take our breath away. Sensational sunsets, majestic mountains, and fascinating forests are just a few we get to take in. We are drawn to many things on this planet, yet earth is our temporary residence and not the place we will live forever. At some point, all of us will depart this globe where we currently reside.
Our citizenship as Christ followers is in heaven. So, when things don’t go our way and we experience disappointment in the here and now, we can fill our minds with hope seen by remembering this truth. When the pain is too great and we wonder how we can endure, we just need to remember that this turmoil is temporary. The Bible says that our life is a mist that appears for a little while and then we’re gone. Our short time existing in human form on earth is tiny compared to eternity in Heaven, for it goes on forever.
What is heaven like? The Bible gives us some information about our forever home, but most of what we will learn will be on the day we leave this earth. The Bible does say that God has prepared something great for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9) and that righteousness dwells in heaven (2 Peter 3:13).
But Revelation 21 gives us quite a glimpse into heaven when John shares his eyewitness account. This is what he says about heaven:
It is a holy city.
God will live with us.
We will be His people.
He will wipe away every tear.
There won’t be death or sorrow or crying or pain.
Jesus will make everything new.
The holy city shines with God’s glory.
There is no temple for God is our temple.
There is no sun or moon because the glory of God lights it up.
Nothing evil will be allowed.
Can you even imagine? A place with no evil or pain or sorrow? A place where God’s glory is so bright that it outshines the sun? It’s astounding and overwhelming to think about it. And this is what we get to call home for we are citizens of heaven.
“whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
James 4:14 NKJV