Heaven

By Joseph M. Stowell, III, Th.M., D.D.
President, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois

An oft-repeated description of life in Narnia in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is “always winter, but never Christmas.” It is Lewis’ profound way of describing life without hope.

If it weren’t for Heaven, life would be just that, “always winter, but never Christmas” without hope. Heaven is the inevitable reality which is to come, giving us not only something to live for, but also something to live toward in the midst of earth-side realities which so often disappoint and defeat us. Heaven is the reality that someday we will escape the grip of our adversary and the defeating blows of this fallen world for a place far better…forever!

In fact, that is exactly how the apostle Paul describes Heaven in Philippians 1.21-23. Paul’s picture of the wonder of Heaven is so simple, its profundity might escape us. For all of us who think Heaven will be about singing in a choir, cloud-sitting and flying around with angel wings, think again. An eternity of that could get rather boring.

Heaven is far better. Note Paul did not qualify the “far better” description in verse 23. It simply will be far better than anything we have ever experienced in this world, certainly far better than the pain, despair and crying we have experienced here. Think of the most exhilarating, joy-producing, satisfying experiences you have ever enjoyed. Heaven will be far better.

And the “farbetterness” of Heaven is the undiminished eternal joy of a relationship. We have all learned by now that good and rewarding relationships are really the best part of life. All that the world offers in material or self-centered pursuit cannot compare to the richness of Heaven. Paul’s great anticipation is an unhindered face-to-face eternity with Christ. Now, as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13.12, we see Him through a glass darkly, one smudged by the shallow and fleeting distractions of life in this present world, smudged by our failures and disappointments in a world that promised what it cannot deliver. But Paul also notes in the same verse that one day, we will see Him face to face.

Heaven is a reunion with the Lover of our souls. There we will be individually and perfectly loved forever. While Heaven will be full of reunions with loved ones already there and privileged encounters with the likes of Moses, Luke and Timothy, the old Gospel song has it right when it says, “…I want to see Jesus, He’s the One Who died for me.”

I like the detail John adds to the picture when he writes Heaven is about God dwelling with His people in an environment unfettered by the “stuff” that clogs us in this fallen world, see Revelation 21.2-4. John then concludes with this intriguing thought, “And He Who sat upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new,’” Revelation 21.5.

This is why Paul says to die is gain. Unfortunately, most of us live for gain in this world while true gain is what is in store for us in the world to come. Living in this world is about living for Christ in anticipation of the unimaginable gain of seeing and experiencing Him on the other side.