(This is the second in a series of two articles on heaven by
Dr.Ted Kalivoda.)
A Wedding in Heaven
While in our present earthly life, we glory in Jesus and acknowledge his love in rescuing us. But when in heaven, face to face with Him, we will be filled with the reality of our salvation like never before. We will actually experience our new status rather than merely look forward to it. Then a beautiful event follows: The wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready (19:7).
The Bible depicts Jesus as the Lamb and us as the bride (Rev. 21:9). Ah, we will be united in love, like husband and wife, together at last. How will it be celebrated? Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb (19:9). Can you imagine - a wedding banquet? And the dinner given by the groom, Jesus, who is obviously overjoyed with the presence of his bride (us) and who wants to celebrate the gala event with his dearly beloved. Why wouldn't it be so? He has been waiting for centuries to unite with his loved one for whom He gave his life and showed tender care in so many ways during our earthly sojourn. Now He celebrates that union with a face to face encounter at a gala wedding supper. Aren't you glad you will be a part of it?
Our attitude will undoubtedly reflect the words of the final stanza of Anne R. Cousin's The Sands of Time are Sinking:
The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom's face;
I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of Grace;
Not at the crown He giveth, but on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Emmanuel's land.
Jesus will be supreme. Nothing in heaven will take His place.
People in Heaven
With all this talk about rejoicing in Jesus, we can't help but wonder about our relationship in heaven with others. Loved ones die during our lifetime on earth - parents, spouses, children, siblings, and other dear ones. We crave to unite with them. But the Bible is silent about what goes on in that regard. Although God's great compassion and understanding may have us recognize and delight in each other, the Savior will undoubtedly command the greater focus. I suspect that will be so because we are united there because of His grace — an incredible act of rescue from our fallen estate.
A heavenly mindset must surely replace the earthly one (I make that statement based on our being given heavenly bodies, which must include our minds), and if that is so, it will undoubtedly be more wonderful and satisfying than anything we have ever experienced. God in his wisdom and power will surely see to it, not to our sadness in making loved ones secondary, but to a rejoicing that takes everyone into account to the delight and satisfaction of all. What transpires in heaven has to be for our joy. Otherwise, it wouldn't be heaven, would it?
Through Jesus' statement we get a hint of the non-carry over of human ties as we presently know them: At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven (Matt.22:30). Angels? We are not talking about winged creatures fluttering about all day strumming harps. Angels are honored beings with a passion to honor God. Why wouldn't it be so for us? We will be in the presence of the Creator of the universe, our great Savior and rescuer. We will be astonished at His majesty and show eternal gratitude for His mercy and love.
Many questions we ask about what life will be like in heaven are unanswerable. Sorry to disappoint you, but I am not about to make anything up. We wonder, for example, how we will recognize loved ones who now have heavenly bodies. Will we carry over our earthly age at death? How about parents and children? Will an infant who suffered the sting of death be of the same age in heaven? Will my mother, who died when I was 12, know me some 60 years later? Will I recognize the apostles, OT prophets, and other Bible characters I had read so much about?
Maybe God will grant us the ability to recognize people, just as he did with Peter, James and John at the Mount of Transfiguration. Although never having seen Moses and Elijah, they recognized those Old Testament personalities who were talking with Jesus (Matt.17:1-4).
But then maybe we won't recognize everyone, because people's importance will be minor compared to that of Jesus. Those are questions for which we lack complete answers. We simply must accept God's sovereignty over matters that puzzle our present earthly minds. In other words, sadness can't exist in heaven. The Bible is clear about that. You are not going to be saying, "I know my wife (or child, or whoever) is up here, but I can't find her." That would leave you in despair, a characteristic totally inconsistent with heaven as a joyous place.
Let's consider Jesus' words trustworthy when He portrayed His Father's house as special, and that He was going there to prepare a place for us to enjoy (John 14:2-3). Everything in heaven has to be joyous. Otherwise, it wouldn't be heaven.
Activity in Heaven
Okay, but we also wonder what we will do there. Humans hate sitting around in idleness twiddling their thumbs. Forget about the media's usual portrayal about us floating on a cloud and plucking away at a harp. Because of heaven's nature, activity there has to be exhilarating. Boredom, tiredness, anxiety or any other unpleasant earthly feeling surely cannot exist there. Heaven means unadulterated and timeless joy. God will make it so. That is undoubtedly why we exchange old bodies for new ones. We leave behind past limitations and enter a new realm beyond our wildest dreams.
In summary, the Bible describes our eternal home in physical terms, albeit briefly. Heaven's properties will dazzle us. But there is more. We will have an honored status, with new bodies and angelic makeup. Hopefully we will recognize and experience intimacy with family members and friends, but we leave that to a caring and trustworthy God to arrange. He will not allow anything distressing to transpire, simply because it is inconsistent with his promises.
Jesus, however, will always remain the central figure. Nothing will displace Him since He is the one who makes heaven possible. His magnificence will astound us, and the memory of His gift of grace will grab us like never before. We will realize that we have entered an astonishing realm beyond our wildest dreams. And it will last forever.
Surely we will be filled with an indescribable joy, not so much over physical aspects of heaven, but over the spiritual - being in the presence of our Creator, Savior and Lord.
Our Present Challenge
A joyous experience awaits us. But we certainly don't want to get so carried away with the future that we forget the present. Joy is also something we can have right now - today - as we anticipate that coming great day.
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though
you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of
your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:8-9).
When we radiate joy we are doing ourselves - our bodies and minds - a favor. A happy spirit affects our entire well-being, which of course pleases our Creator who indwells us and wants us to thrive. And of course it affects those around us too, calling attention to Jesus, the great joy giver.
"Filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy," the apostle Peter proclaimed. So let it be with us while on earth and then surely in heaven at God's timing. Hallelujah to our Lord and Savior.
(Let me know if any of this has been helpful to you + Questions?) E-Mail: 
