WHAT WILL heaven BE LIKE?
10 Reasons Why the Hope of Heaven Is for Today The hope of heaven often feels distant and sort of unreal, like a far-off dream exclusively for future you. But that hope is grounded in the reality of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. This hope is not just a future expectation; it's a present reality. The hope of heaven is a hope we can live in today, and here are 10 reasons why:
Fresh Perspective | Ecclesiastes 3 Heaven gives us a new perspective, helping us see that both our greatest joys and biggest struggles have purpose. This perspective invites us to trust that every season we go through is part of God’s larger plan. When we view life through the lens of eternity, we can take comfort in knowing that everything, whether joyful or sorrowful, has its place in God's plan. Comfort in Grief | Psalm 34:18 The hope of heaven allows us to find comfort in inevitable grief, reminding us that we will one day be reunited with our loved ones. It also assures us that, even in our moments of sorrow, we have a God who draws near to us—and a community of believers, too. Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, we are never truly alone. His Spirit abides in our hearts, connecting us and providing strength, healing, and comfort. Impactful Generosity | Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus tells us to store up treasures in heaven because they are eternal. Earthly treasures—whether wealth, status, or possessions—are temporary. They can be lost, get old, deteriorate, or get destroyed. But heavenly treasures, like the way you treat others and grow your relationship with Jesus, have a lasting impact. When we focus on things that align with God's kingdom, we store up treasures that bring eternal rewards and shift our hearts toward what truly matters—and that can impact our contentedness today, too. Accessible Joy | Romans 15:13 The joy of heaven isn’t dependent on life going exactly how we want it to—it’s rooted in something far more lasting: the promise of eternity spent in the presence of God. This is a promise we can always cling to, no matter what comes our way!
Strong Faith | Colossians 2:6-8 Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we don't see. The Bible gives us glimpses of heaven, like streets of gold and no more pain. But heaven is far greater than anything we can imagine. God’s promises have never failed, and the promise of heaven is no exception. Realigned Priorities | Matthew 6:33 Our priorities change when we recognize that our time on earth is short, and we want to live in a way that reflects the eternal hope that Jesus offers. The hope of heaven influences where we invest our resources, how we cherish time with loved ones, what we let go of instead of worry about, and how we nurture our relationship with Jesus. Increased Gratitude | Hebrews 12:28 The hope of heaven fosters gratitude. Despite our sinful nature, God desires to spend eternity with us. We are no longer separated by sin and have the promise of eternity in a place free from pain, sorrow, suffering, loss, and heartbreak—where only his perfect love remains. Motivation to Persevere | James 1:2-4 Because of Jesus' resurrection, we can look forward to an eternity with him, where there will be no more pain or tears. We can live each day with the assurance that the suffering we endure now is temporary. He even says to consider it pure joy when we face trials. This doesn’t make them easier, but we can find joy knowing God is shaping and refining us for something far greater.
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Week 3
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What will heaven be like?
In heaven, our focus and attention will be on the most (and only) important person and thing: Jesus. On this side of heaven, how often do we focus our eyes and attention on other less worthy thrones? Things like sports, social media, and even relationships. Throughout Revelation, John doesn’t want us to skip over life now and just wait to get to heaven. No, he wants the future vision, a vision of God’s kingdom, to inspire our present life today. In fact, because of the Holy Spirit living in believers, it is possible to bring heaven to earth. That’s also one of John’s primary messages. Why? Because that’s what Jesus wanted for his followers, too. What does it mean to bring heaven to earth? Practically, it means reflecting on what or who has your primary attention. If it's not God, it's time to re-focus. Every time you live the way Jesus wants you to live, you are bringing a piece of heaven to earth. We don’t have to wait to worship God; we can do that now. We don’t have to wait to create beauty and celebration; we can do that now. We don’t have to wait to find unity and purpose; we can find those things today. Every time you do, you're making the world a little bit more like God’s kingdom. You're bringing heaven to earth.
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It’s worth pondering, right?
In the arc of history, in comparison to eternity, our time on earth is very, very short. If we’ve put our faith in Jesus, the rest of our time will be spent in a place set apart for us with God. Is it a place in the clouds with angels playing the harp? Will there be a golden gate? Is this our final resting place? Or is there something even beyond heaven that we have to look forward to? We'll save that last question for later, but for now, John gives us a picture of what heaven will be like. According to Revelation 4 and 5, it will be a place of majestic beauty, glorious presence, unceasing worship, joy, and celebration, with all eyes focused on the throne and the person sitting on the throne. Notice what John wants readers to focus on: Everyone and everything in heaven is focused on the one sitting on the throne: Jesus. He’s the only one who is worthy enough to open the sealed scroll—the scroll that will bring God’s full redemption and judgment to the world.
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The hope of heaven brings us... Daily Peace | John 16:33 We can live in peace every day because we no longer have to fear death or what comes after. We're not stepping into the unknown but into a place promised to be far greater than anything this earth or our imagination can offer. We can have peace knowing we don’t have to earn salvation—it's freely given to us. Purposeful Life | Matthew 28:19 Before Jesus ascended, he commanded his followers to go and make disciples of all nations. He gave us the free gift of salvation—eternal life with him. To this day, he calls us to share this hope with others. While we all share the same purpose, the way we fulfill it will look different for each of us. Our unique gifts and circumstances shape how we spread the message of hope! How can you step into that purpose today?
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Sign of the Times: A Study of Revelation
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Week 3
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