Heaven as It Is Now: Cultivating an Eagerness for Heaven

Excerpted and Adapted from Preparing for Heaven: A Guide for Going Home to God, by Steve Swartz

November 13, 2020

Heaven: Our Glorious New Home, Part 10

Heaven as It Is Now: Cultivating an Eagerness for Heaven

Scripture has a lot to say about Heaven, and what we as Christians can look forward to. Here are just a few things that it says about the immediate comfort that we will enjoy as soon as we enter those gates!

Perfection and Peace

Heaven as it is right now is the place where “God will wipe away every tear from [your] eyes” (Rev 7:17). This means the very moment you enter into the presence of the Lord, you will have no more concerns, sadness, or regrets—a far cry from our life here and now! You won’t need to worry about your family or unresolved issues or relationships in life, and your faith in the Lord will be made into sight. This is the Lord’s perfect, sovereign care for you.

In 1991, the world famous heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne released a hit song called, “No More Tears.” It was the longest song he had ever recorded, at almost eight minutes. The basic story of the song is that life is so intensely miserable that eventually you just have to stop feeling anything and have “no more tears.” He spoke of death as “the man in the dark [who] will bring another attack.” His song evoked utter hopelessness. In contrast, God alone will wipe away every tear—meaning every pain, sorrow, and anguish.

Perfect Guidance

Perhaps you’ve wondered if we’re going to know what we’re supposed to do when we arrive in heaven. Will there be some sort of orientation class? Will we get a booklet titled, “Making the Most of Your New Heavenly Home?” It will be much better than that!

Revelation 7:17 says that Jesus Christ will be your shepherd! Imagine the Lord Jesus Himself providing all the guidance you need! The incoming class of graduates from earth of which you will be a part will be in awe at their first sights and experiences of heaven. And this first experience of heaven as something new will never lose its luster and excitement! Psalm 16:11 says that “in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore!” (emphasis added).

The Feel of Your Home Country

Hebrews 11:14–16 uses words like “homeland,” “land,” “country,” and “city” to describe heaven. This reminds us of the Garden of Eden. Eden was not the name of the garden, but rather the description of the fabulous garden which was located in a country called Eden. If our picture of heaven is basically a giant church building, then that is far too small of a picture. Heaven is a country, a homeland, a land. And this is just God’s warm-up for New Heaven and New Earth!

Just remember, everything you love and adore about the concept of “home”—everything that makes home feel like home—will be your immediate experience in heaven. In some way that only God can accomplish, you will feel more comfortable and more at home than you ever did here on earth, reminding us again of 2 Corinthians 5:8 that being in heaven is being “at home with the Lord.”


"Preparing for Heaven: A Guide to Going Home to God"

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Steve Swartz, D.Min

Dr. Swartz serves as Senior Pastor of Grace Bible Church in Bakersfield, California and is a guest instructor at John MacArthur’s Grace Advance Academy, a church-planting training program. Dr. Swartz is the author of numerous books, including Strength in the River, Joyful Generosity, Shattered Shepherds, and The Essential Church.


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