“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” Revelation 21:1
Richard Baxter was the famous British preacher who wrote The Reformed Pastor. He struggled with chronic pain and illness most of his adult life. One of the main ways he endured that suffering in faith was to think about heaven for 30 minutes every day.
So much of the Christian life is focused on FUTURE GRACE.
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13
Christians should expect a measure of suffering in this life. Why should we expect better treatment than our Lord received? Peter was preparing believers in the early church to be persecuted for their faith. This verse is like a general speaking to new soldiers about to see their first real battle. “Get dressed. Gear up.” The phrase “preparing your minds for action” is the old Biblical expression, “Gird up your loins” – which would roughly translate today to “put on your under armor.”
As we prepare, as we brace ourselves for whatever comes, how can we stand firm? The answer Peter gives is the answer of Richard Baxter: think about heaven. Picture in your mind that moment when Jesus comes back. Hear the trumpet call of God resounding throughout the world. See the skies roll up like a scroll. Experience the sun turning black and the moon to blood. And see the blinding glory of King Jesus on that white horse, with the uncountable armies of heaven lined up behind Him.
And don’t just think about it, set your hope there completely. That is when we will have the fullness of joy. That is when all sadness, suffering and pain will be removed. Future grace. And not just grace – future glory!
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18
Read Revelation 21 and 22. Glory. Radiant beauty. The full majesty and divinity of Jesus, no longer glimpsed as through a dark and cloudy mirror but finally seen face to face – finally unveiled for all to see! And that glory will not just be in front of us, it will be shining in us and through us. That is the message of Revelation 21 (click here if you missed that message – God’s People Perfected). Then go on to chapter 22:
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:1-5
John sees a vision of Eden restored and extended throughout the world. And don’t miss the key point in verse 5 – we will REIGN with Christ forever and ever. Eternity will not be a passive time just reclining on cloud couches. We will rule. We will reign. We will exercise dominion over all of creation as God originally intended for Adam and Eve in the Garden. Creation extends to the far reaches of space – so I fully expect there will be some Star Trek type adventures awaiting us.
But the emphasis of Revelation 21-22 is not the place or the activities of heaven – it is the PEOPLE. Primarily we are to fix our hope completely on the future grace of being united with God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit will dwell with us and we will know God and walk with Him and worship Him directly, with no veil, no obstacle, not a single sin to cloud the view or taint the relationship.
To think about heaven, think about your favorite places on earth – and multiply their beauty 1,000 fold. Think about your favorite moments with your closest family and friends – and multiply the joy of those moments into infinite. Our happiest moments, our best relationships are just the tiniest glimpse of the joy that will be ours forever and ever.
Think about heaven. “In this world you will have trouble,” Jesus tells us, “But take heart. I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Indeed, the Lord Jesus has conquered sin and death! He has overcome the enemies that could keep us from the joys of His eternal kingdom. So seek first His kingdom NOW. And think about the grace that will be ours when Jesus comes back!