By Waylon Bailey
Children and adults alike want to know: “What is Heaven like?”
The Apostle John wrote of the impossibility of knowing all things and the assurance that we will be with God and that we will be changed: “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:20).
What will heaven be like? What can we know for sure?
First, heaven will be a place where all the former things will pass away.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning 0r crying in pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). We will no longer deal with the issues caused by our fallen, sinful nature. Our bodies as well as our relationships will be different.
Second, we shall be in the presence of perfect love.
The Apostle John also describes how perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). When we are with God we will be in the presence of perfect love because God is love 1 John 4:8).
Heaven will be a place where love, joy, and peace will be not only abundant but also complete in every way. Can you imagine a place with perfect love, joy, and peace? Yet, this is exactly what heaven will be!
Finally, we shall always be in presence of the God who gave His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sin (1 John 4:9-10).
God revealed this wonderful fact: “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).
What a day, wonderful day that shall be!
Waylon Bailey is pastor of First Baptist Church in Covington and a past president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. This editorial first appeared on his blog.
