Essay/Heaven

My Curiosities About Heaven

Is it just me pondering the streets of gold?

The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (Revelation 21: 18–22, NIV)

I’m reminded of an old story often told by pastors regarding the above scripture. The original author is unknown.

There once was a rich man who was near death.

He was much aggrieved because he had worked very hard for his money, and he wanted to be able to take it with him to Heaven.

So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth.

An angel heard his plea and appeared to him. “Sorry, but you can’t take your wealth with you.”

The man implored the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules.

The angel reappeared and announced that God had decided to make an exception and was allowing him to take one suitcase with him.

Overjoyed, the man gathered his largest suitcase, filled it with pure gold bars, and placed it beside his bed.

Soon afterward the man died and showed up at the pearly gates.

St. Peter, seeing the suitcase, said, “Hold on, you can’t bring that in here!”

But the man explained to St. Peter that he had permission and asked him to verify his story with the Lord.

Sure enough, St. Peter returned, saying, “You’re right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I’m supposed to check its contents before letting it through.”

St. Peter opened the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaimed, “You brought pavement?”

I’ve reached a season in my life where worldly things lack luster. Even my deepest thoughts fly away, like nervous sparrows flitting from branch to branch.

It’s okay, I like this season.

It’s a place of peace where hands rest open, no longer grasping for the latest shiny object. At night when my thoughts dredge through the rubble of the day, or the fears of tomorrow, and sleep taunts me, staying just beyond reach, I remember the scripture that tells us to ponder the things above. Funny, once I change my thoughts to those beyond this world, I soon fall asleep.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3: 1–2, NIV)

If you read the Bible, you’ll find it teasingly gives clues as to what we can expect without offering a spoiler.

Here are a few that I think about quite often —

Heaven will be a city built for worship. (Hebrews 12:22–23, NIV)

This leads me to wonder what my singing will sound like in heaven. I’ve always known I am a great singer. The problem is that my vocal chords and sense of pitch don’t seem to have gotten the memo.

The passion is there.

Yet, when singing worship in church, I sometimes wonder if God has a filter for those of us with undesirable voices.

Don’t you think that’s a possibility?

A filter that allows God to hear our voices from out of our hearts instead of our throats. I hope so.

I’m confident we’ll all have amazing voices in heaven. There’s no way God’s heavenly choir is going to leave the tone-deaf out of singing His praises. Or worse, let them drown out the maestros.

Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! (Psalm 149:3, ESV)

Where there’s singing, of course, there’ll be dancing! Oh Lord, will I dance like Mikhail Baryshnikov? Will it please the Lord to watch me soar through the heavens, landing en point after a perfectly executed pirouette?

Remember, God delighted in David and he was known as “A Man After God’s Own Heart.” God favored him because of his desire to please the Lord.

David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. (2 Samuel 6:12–15, NIV).

Comparing myself to David may be a stretch, but we are both redheads by God’s choosing. Just saying.

Here’s a story that backs that information up, in case you didn’t know.

I love dreaming of what eternity will be like in heaven. I just might have enough questions to last through infinity.

Will I have one-on-one time with God? I know it doesn’t sound logical but I don’t think boring old logic exists in heaven. Our Father is much bigger than logic.

Will I be able to greet my husband with a hug, if I go first, or will he meet me at the gate with a kiss?

The bible says there’s no marriage in heaven.

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. (Matthew 22:30, NIV)

It also says we will be reunited with our loved ones —

John 14 and John 17 clearly imply that one of the greatest joys of Heaven will be our everlasting reunion with those we love. While the Bible doesn’t give us a verse saying, “You will know each other in Heaven,” it treats this reality like an obvious truth, simply assuming this is the case.

What will it be like to see my husband as a man but not my husband? How will that feel? I’m guessing it will be similar to how we feel today after decades of partnership. The marriage rules and obligations fall away, leaving two people in a bubble of love. A deep love we didn’t know existed until our time together created it.

I imagine it will be heavenly. And, although hubby’s earthly self hates to dance, I believe he will dance a jig in heaven. I can see it in my mind. The two of us leaping over clouds with Grace.

As beautiful as music is here on earth, can you imagine what it will sound like in heaven? What will the musical instruments look like? Will our earthly musician stars have a place in heaven’s band? That’s a strange thought because all the glory will be Our Fathers. Elvis Presley will not have a king title in heaven, that much I’m sure of.

Nothing is better than knowing we will dwell with God, that in heaven there will be no pain or sorrow and if there are teardrops, they are droplets of joy.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Rev. 21: 4, NIV)

Like I said, there’s much to ponder.

On a way less important note —

Although the quality of my questions is limited by human ability, I do have some thoughts I believe to be true, based on the fact that heaven is going to be the best place imaginable.

To me, that definitely means heaven is a place with no socks or bras. Right? I also believe there will be magnificent wildlife because God seemed to have taken such joy in his animal creations. And, we just might be able to fly. And colors? I suspect we have only witnessed a sampling of our Father’s giant Crayola box.

I’m not trying to tell you what heaven will be like. If you want to know more about it, the Bible is the place to look. Just remember, God saved a lot of the details for us to find out when we arrive. Isn’t that just like a good dad? He’s waiting to see the look of wonder and surprise on our faces.

Hope to see you there someday, strolling on the streets of gold rejoicing in the ever-present light of the Lord.

Here are more truths from the Bible to ponder about heaven —

• Heaven is our eternal home — (John 14:1–3)
• People will reside in real, physical bodies — (1 Corinthians, 15)
• People will experience everlasting joys, rewards, and treasures — (Matthew 5:12; Matthew, 6:19–20, Luke 6:23)
• Heaven will be a city built for worship — (Hebrews 12:22–23)
• All nations and people will worship Jesus — (Revelation 7:9–10)
• Heaven has twelve gates — (Revelation 21:12)
• Heaven has twelve foundations — (Revelation 21:14)

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