Heaven

Do you ever wonder what heaven will be like? Think of the descriptions, particularly in Revelation. They are intended to appeal to our material side. Golden streets. Crystal seas. Pearly gates. Those early Christians who were undergoing tremendous persecution really needed that.

But last night, as I was teaching the Gospel of John, we came to chapter 14. Every time I read it, my mind is reoriented toward what heaven really is about. In verse 3, Jesus says, "I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

"To be where I am" -- that's what heaven is! To be with the Father. To be with Jesus!

Fanny J. Crosby may be the most prolific song writer in the modern era. She wrote over 6,000 hymns in the late 19th century. Many of them are still staples in churches' songbooks. "Blessed Assurance." "To God be the Glory." "A Wonderful Savior."

Fanny was also blind. A person once said to her, "Blindness must be a terrible thing." Fanny responded, "Oh, not really. The first face I ever see will be Jesus."

Wow! That's the right perspective on heaven. To see Jesus!

Another song Fanny wrote is "As I Journey Through This Land." The chorus says, "O I want to see Him! Look upon His face. There to sing forever of His saving grace."

You can have the golden streets, pearly gates and crystal seas. Heaven, to me, means being with Jesus.