5 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

1 Chronicles 1
John 13:31-14:11

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

John 14:2 (CSB): “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?”

Reflecting on God’s Word

I grew up in a Christian home. My dad was a pastor. So, I knew about Heaven at an incredibly early age.

But, if I were to be completely honest with you, I wasn’t in any hurry to get there. To be even more honest, it seemed like an incredibly boring place. My understanding of it at that age painted a picture of Heaven that was so different from this world that I enjoyed. I like the trees, blue skies, animals, baseball, and so much more. Heaven didn’t (at least I thought it didn’t), include any of those things.

Then, I began to really pay attention to the book of Revelation (particularly the last two chapters). I saw something in Revelation 21:1 that really piqued my interest. God said that He was going to prepare a “new Earth” for us to live on. Then, the “New Jerusalem” would come down from the current Heaven and rest on the earth, making it a literal heaven on earth. It began to dawn on me that there would be so many things on the New Earth, my eternal home, that were remarkably similar to life as I knew it, yet without any sin or the consequences of sin. There would be trees, grass, animals, waterfalls, and maybe some baseball.

Then I read Randy Alcorn’s book, “Heaven.” He explained the Scriptures and painted an incredible picture of what Heaven will be like on a new Earth.

Then, I came to see something in Jesus’ words in John 14:2. He was comforting His disciples as He prepared them for His death. He said: “… I am going away to prepare a place for you.” Then, I remembered what John wrote about the New Jerusalem that would come from Heaven nd rest on the new Earth.

Revelation 21:1-2 (CSB): “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.” (emphasis mine)

I believe that when Jesus sought to comfort His disciples, He told them that he was going to prepare … the New Jerusalem, the unimaginably beautiful city that would come from Heaven and rest on the Earth where we would dwell forever. It was all fitting together for me. Heaven wasn’t ultimately some place way out in space somewhere. It was ultimately going to be a brand new perfect Earth, unharmed by sin or its consequences, and inhabited by the righteous redeemed forever with our God. Just as the Lord used to walk with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, it just might be that we will get to walk and converse with Him as well on the New Earth.

I would encourage you to fan into flame your fascination with what awaits you in Heaven if you are trusting in Jesus alone to make you right in God’s eyes. Read what the Bible has to say about it and consider getting a good book or two that dives into Scripture to paint an accurate picture of what Heaven will be like. And then let that vision of Heaven encourage you and motivate you to keep your chin up in the hard times. After all, no matter how hard life gets, you have Heaven waiting on you!

Hebrews 11:9-10 (CSB): “By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to help you cultivate an accurate picture and desire for your Heavenly home.
  • Ask God to help you look beyond your troubles in life to the finish line when God calls you home to be with Him in Heaven.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into the New Earth, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“What are the new heavens and the new earth?”

Sharing

If this post has been helpful to you or if you think it could help others, please consider tapping one of the social media buttons below to share it on your favorite platform.

____________________

Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)