Have you ever thought about what Heaven will really be like? I have a friend who was in a coma, and when she woke up, she shared her glimpses into heaven. She specifically remembers colors like her eyes had never seen before. Flowers and butterflies that were so beautiful they were indescribable. In my Daddy’s final day of life, the veil between Heaven and Earth had grown very thin, and he told me what he saw. He would burst out in a deep belly laugh and say, “Jesus is so funny.” Then Daddy said, “Everyone is so happy here.” One of the final things he said was, “Run to the light.”
I want to see those colors, don’t you? I want to be one of those happy people in the presence of Jesus. I want to run to the light of Jesus!
I grew up afraid of Hell. I knew absolutely nothing of Jesus, but I knew there was this fiery place of misery somewhere down below where sin was punished. And every time I did something bad, I was afraid of that punishment. My very first introduction to the thought of what Heaven would be like was through the song “I Can Only Imagine” in the early 2000’s. Did anyone else belt out these words in their car?
Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
My friends, what will Heaven be like? Well, I can only imagine! But here’s what I know for sure … I WANT TO GO THERE! And I really want to go there with YOU! Let’s experience this together!
I have a strong case of FOMO. You know, the Fear of Missing Out. It eats me up thinking I might miss something great. I will sacrifice sleep. I will save up my money. I will go to crazy lengths to ensure I don’t miss out on good things. And my God is not only the giver of all good and perfect things (James 1:17), but he takes all the other things and he works them together to make them good (Romans 8:28). So, whatever God is offering and whatever God is doing is good, and I’ve decided I don’t want to miss it! I want to be in alignment with what God is doing and I want to be available for what he is offering.
Now, here’s the thing, I can’t see what God is doing and I have no way of knowing the fullness of what God is offering, I can only imagine it. But, it’s even more than I can imagine. More than I can dream of. More than I’ve ever dared to think. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
Yes, I can only imagine, but it’s immeasurably MORE than what I imagine! And how does God do more? It’s right here in this scripture. It’s through his power that is at work within us! How crazy awesome of God to decide to do his work THROUGH US. How incredible that he has invited us to be part of his work and carry his power. That just blows my mind.
So, my sister, you and I have a job here. As the girls who carry this power to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine, we’re here to share hope with others. Hope of the future mind blowing beauty and goodness that awaits those who have accepted Jesus. We’re supposed to help them imagine how good Heaven will be so they too decide they just can’t afford to miss it!
1 Peter 1: 3-4 MSG, “Because of Jesus we’ve been given a brand new life and have everything to live for including a future in heaven – and that future starts NOW.”
Jesus gives us a brand new life and this new life he’s offering is something worth living for! You and I have something to live for! We are not hopeless, helpless, or stuck. Jesus has made a way for us! He has sealed our destiny. Honey, our future is beautiful!!!! But, God in all of his mercy and grace said, “I’ll even let you get started on eternity now.” He has made life here worth living for too. He’s given us a purpose, and knowing that you’re walking in your purpose feels so good! That’s his gift to us! We get to be part of his will unfolding here on Earth as it is in Heaven, and he unleashes his power within us. That’s worth living for!
The enemy tries to make our lives feel like they’re not worth living. He tries to burden and overwhelm us. He tries to turn our attention to all that is wrong and getting worse. But God says to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient (2 Corinthians 10:5). He says to think about the things that are right, lovely, excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). Is that what you’ve been thinking about? Or has the enemy crept in and tricked you into thinking the thoughts he hides in?
Our thoughts either make life miserable, or make life worth living. God wants to give you thoughts that make life worth living! Thoughts that open your eyes to his power and make you say, “I can’t miss out on this!” Thoughts that have you imagining all God is working on for you and for your future. What is he working on? Well, I can only imagine!
Go ahead and imagine it! Imagine how God is working all the things in your life together for something good. Imagine how God is using you and your story to help others come to know of his love and mercy. Imagine how God is preparing Heaven for you!
This weekend I was studying the books of 1 & 2 Peter. While I was studying, I received a text from Sarah, an amazing woman I mentor. Sarah randomly shared with me a Bible study tool she was using called Enduring Word. It’s actually just a website (enduringword.com), but this website has over 11,000 pages of verse by verse commentary of the entire bible. Commentary that actually makes sense. Commentary that explains scripture and applies it to life.
One bit of commentary I read has me absolutely spinning! 2 Peter 1:4, “He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.” Now, dig deeper! God has promised us to share in the divine nature that escapes the corruption of this world. What is that? THAT IS HEAVEN! This goodness I can only imagine!
Here’s what the commentary said: How generous of God. He could have just rescued us from hell and not invited us to share in the divine nature.
I never thought about that. God didn’t have to offer Heaven to us. He could have just forgiven us and kept us out of Hell. He could have just cancelled our punishment, but not given us a reward. He could have made us do this life over and over again until we got it right. He could have offered us our lifetime, and let that be it. Done. Over. No more. But he didn’t. God went so far as to rescue us from Hell and invite us into Heaven!
What?!!!!!!! Why would God do that? Why would he go so far? Why would do all of this for me? For you? Because that’s God – he does more than we could ever ask or imagine!
And in God’s nature of doing even MORE, he not only has Heaven waiting for us, but he invites us to be part of his divine work here on Earth. Our future with God starts NOW! It is here! This is worth living for!
How is God working in what you’ve gone through to use it for good? I can only imagine.
What good plans does God have for your future? I can only imagine.
What will you do the moment you see Jesus face to face? Will you dance – will you stand in awe? I can only imagine.
What amazing adventures will you and I have together in Heaven on day 1 of eternity? I can only imagine!
I know this much … it’s worth living for!
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