Brand Newনমুনা

Heaven

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:4–5)

The God who created heaven is the same God who created mountains for us to climb and ski, and oceans for us to surf and snorkel. He created us to love, to be skillful, to learn, to be curious, to enjoy relationship with each other and with him. He made us creative, adventurous, and unique.

Our God has prepared heaven better than earth in every single way. Every hope and expectation will be surpassed. Imagine the best things on earth: favorite smells, tastes, sights, hobbies, and places. Those are merely shadows of what heaven will be. Your dream job, your closest relationships, your ideal home—all of it pales compared to what God has in store for us!

If your idea of heaven is floating on a cloud, playing a harp, and sitting around twiddling your thumbs for eternity, then get that idea out of your head. We will have a perfect relationship with God and one another. We won’t have anything to hide or be embarrassed about. We won’t be left out. We will do what we love as worship to God. Our lives and jobs will be meaningful. We won’t be less of what God created us to be here on earth, we will be more ourselves than we can ever be on earth.

Answer these questions after reading Revelation 21–22.

• What images and ideas do you think about when you picture heaven?
• How has your idea of heaven changed after reading today’s Bible verses?
• What are some of the things that will not be in heaven? (See Revelation 21:4.)
• What excites you about heaven?

Pray

Today’s prayer comes from John 14:1–4.

Dear Lord, you have prepared a place for me. I confess that I can get wrapped up in my life and what’s going on here on earth. Please help me focus my heart and mind on you. Teach me to trust and to hope in you. May my anticipation of heaven impact the way I live my life for you today! Come, Lord Jesus. In your name, amen.

This reading plan is adapted from Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ by Shilo Taylor (Lexham Press, Bellingham, WA), 2018.

We hope this plan encouraged you. Learn how to unlock your Bible study’s full potential in this free ebook.