“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.’ ” (Revelation 21:3-4)
Here is the heart of heaven. Here is the end of the story. Here is the best and final moment in all of history. Here is what we are created for – and until this moment comes none of us will ever be fully complete, fully satisfied, fully who we were intended to be.
At this moment, the divider between God and humanity will be finally and fully removed forever. To be with God is what every human heart longs for, and here it is. He will live with us. And not just as a warm feeling or a “sense of his presence.” He will live with us physically, in person, face to face.
To define it negatively, we can understand heaven by what isn’t there: tears, sadness, crying; pain, loss, mourning, funerals; promises that “someday everything will be okay.” This verse is our someday. And it’s an endless moment worth waiting a lifetime for.
Think: Do you ever sense in yourself a longing to be with God? If so – or not – why do you think that is?
Pray: Ask God to help you to be aware of your longing to be with him in person forever.
Do: Make a quick list of ten things you’re looking forward to not having in heaven.