Gerry van der Wende: A Glimpse of Heaven

A Glimpse of Heaven ...

February 3, 2013

1 Cor 13:12

Introduction

One of my colleagues lost a close friend this last Tuesday
Pat Kesler also lost her mother the same day
I believe both Cynthia and Pat's mom are now in heaven, both of them had accepted Jesus into their lives, and Jesus told us that he was preparing a place for each of us, in heaven
But what does heaven look like?
What will it be like to be on the other side of the great divide, when we pass from death into life?
The Bible does not give an enormous amount of detail on this subject, but this morning I want to look at some verses which give us some clues, and perhaps speculate a little about what things could be like
But please remember some of this will be speculation, all we really know is what the Bible tells us

What does God's throne room look like?

Rev 4:1-11
Picture what this looks like
The apostle John was on an island in the Mediterranean
He had been banished there for a period of time
He sees a vision of God's throne room, an open vision
He sees a throne with someone sitting on it
Eph 2:4-6 - we are seated with him in the heavenly realms
Right now, in this life, we are in Christ and he is in us!
In some way, we are with him in heaven! We can't comprehend this but this is what it says!
What is it like to be with someone?
We talks, share, communicate, plan
Acts 7:49 - heaven is God's throne - how can we think we can provide a temple for a God who fills the universe!
We are with him and he is with us
When our spirit goes to heaven, we will be in a place of total intimacy with Jesus
Him in us, and us in him, you can't get closer than that!
We will be with Jesus all the time, in total communion
Just like Jesus with the Father - where you go I'll go, what you speak, I'll speak
Jesus was in constant communion with the Father, we will be too

What kind of body will we have?

1 Cor 15:42-49 - a body which is spirit, imperishable (it cannot die), glory, no more weakness, but powerful instead
1 Cor 13:12 - we see only a glimpse of God today, only a hazy impression
But then we will have a full understanding
Rev 6:9 - given white robes, conscious, speaking to Jesus
The white robes may imply that they moved around, were not just disembodied spirits under the altar
They were clothed and thinking and communicating
1 John 3:2 - we will be like him, seeing him face to face
This means we will be able to see his glory, Moses was only allowed to see a part of it
We will have glory, just as Jesus has, because we will be like him
How incredible!

Are we going to be stuck in one place, at the throne?

Created in God's image

Gen 1:26 - created in God's image
God is the creator of all things
He has also place a creative gift in mankind
That is in this life
How much more will that be developed when we receive our spirit body!
We will have incredible capabilities and no doubt God will send us to express that creativity in the universe
Luke 13:21 - leaven goes through the whole lump of dough
Dan 2:44-45 - kingdom will never be destroyed, endure forever
Isa 9:7 - of the increase of His kingdom will be no end

Conclusion

Those of us who have lost loved ones and are experiencing the pain of loss, be encouraged
The present pain is on our side of the great divide - the other side is a wonderful place and experience, which our loved ones are now enjoying, living, laughing, planning and working in total closeness with Jesus
The things we experience today, including miracles, storms being stilled, mountains moved, people being healed of all manner of illnesses, are only a small foretaste of what is yet to come for us, but which our loved ones are now experiencing.
So be comforted
1 Thes 4:13-18

Prayer

Gerry van der Wende