heaven is....

Sometimes I think that God gives you a little peek into heaven. I think He does it to keep us intrigued with our own definitions of what it looks like. We all harbor this secret hope that we are right in the heaven that we have selected for ourselves. I remember hearing, over the years, many pastors trying to plant a vision in my mind of what heaven really looks like. There was a clear conflict between that vision and mine. I often thought, “How could they possibly know?” I realize that there some specific facts about heaven that can be gleaned from the Bible. I also know that there were three people, from Scripture, who were privileged to see heaven. All of these men, Stephen and the Apostles Paul and John, were alive when they were given a glimpse of the wonders of heaven. I also know that I think those facts are what causes us some consternation when we think of a real place called heaven. I think the pearly gates, streets paved with gold, the many mansions and a whole entire city challenges us on many levels. It calls into play our faith in a very big and real way. The Bible says, in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” The things we do not see we can only imagine. Some people have a very vivid and complex imagination and others do not. Irrespective of all that there is universal agreement that it will be a place of perfection and that it is a real place. Jesus very plainly tells us this in John 14: 2-4, when He says,

“In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

I love that Jesus says that heaven is a real place and that we know the way to get there and that He will be there…waiting on us. We are quick to say…this is heavenly or this is like heaven or I’m in heaven. But clearly it cannot be unless Jesus is there. I think that John Piper, in his book God is the Gospel, says it best when he says,

“The critical question for our generation--and for every generation--is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever say, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?”

Of course not…God gives me a peek of the heaven that I often imagine on perfect days like today. It’s really simple actually…me, my best friend, my bike and a really long road. I call it bliss which is defined as a state of profound spiritual satisfaction, happiness and joy, often associated with religious ideas of the afterlife. It means you are in such perfect alignment with God and His purpose for your life. It is what some have called the sweet spot and we know it when we are there.I think about that every single time that I get on my bike. Not only do I think about it I feel it in the depths of my soul. Every time. I remember telling this to my wife when we went to Chicago last year to ride BIKE THE DRIVE with a really good friend. It was the early dawn light of a summer morning before sunrise. We were riding down the middle of a deserted and quiet Lakeshore Drive staring ahead at the downtown heart of Chicago. Just me…Joanne…Jesus…two bikes rolling along on a long road. I looked over at her…and with tears in my eyes said, “This is what heaven’s gonna be like…” She smiled.