Bob Prichard

Topic(s): Family, Eternity & Judgment, Home, Nature of Man

John speaks of heaven’s glory: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. . . . And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 21:3-4; 22:5).

Truly heaven will be a beautiful place of joy in the presence of God. But just as surely as we know that the redeemed will go to heaven, others will receive punishment for refusing to do the will of God. Paul warns that Christ will return “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Since “few” will find the narrow way, many of the Christian’s loved ones of necessity will be lost, and not spend eternity in the presence of God.

Will the saved be happy in those circumstances? Yes. God will insure the joy of His redeemed children. “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). The redeemed will have no more sadness or tears because God will make it so. The saved in eternity will have a new perspective because “the former things are passed away.” They will have greater understanding of the nature of God, His plan of redemption, and His will. They will understand more fully God’s love and justice. It is not His will that any perish, but when people refuse to obey Him, He must render justice. Those in heaven will not want those who rejected God in life to be in His presence for eternity. Jesus said that obedience to God is more important than earthly relationships. “Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:48-50).

Will we just not know whether or not our loved ones are in heaven? Surely that is not the case, because there would be more anxiety if we did not know if any of our loved ones were in heaven. This would rob us of one of the greatest promises of heaven, the reuniting with loved ones who have gone before. Abraham “died . . . and was gathered to his people” (Genesis 25:8). The key is preparation for eternity NOW!