All Saints' Day - November 5, 2017
Revelation 7, 1 John 3, Matthew 5
It's a simple enough question, “What will heaven be like?” It's often asked by a child. But worth asking, since all of us hope to be there someday.
1. What we know, we know from Scripture
We ought not look to Hollywood for our definitions and descriptions of the afterlife, either good or bad. Nor ought we defer to our culture, which paints a picture much the same. Many people believe in a heaven of some kind, perhaps most people in our world – far more than believe in a place called Hell. Which may illustrate how shaky people's understanding of the topic can be.
Even we Christians may be especially tempted to imagine a heaven of our own design or creation – if you're a golfer, you might want to think of it as a perfect golf course you can play every day for free. Or if you're a foodie, you might picture it as a giant Sam's Club on a Saturday with unlimited free samples of all your favorites.
What an odd place heaven would be if it was simply everyone's greatest desires – a rock concert over here, country music over there. A hunter runs through chasing a big buck while the Cubs win every world series. And of course, all dogs get to go there, too.
Rather than looking to the world, or to our own imagined heaven, the Christian lets Scripture tell the tale. We can imagine all we want, but that doesn't make it so. Like all our doctrine and teaching, we must turn to Scripture to clue us in. And some of that picture is painted in our readings for this All Saints Day.
2. We don't know that much
Perhaps it's worth noting, however, from the outset – that Scripture tells us precious little about the world to come. We are given hints and glimmers, pictures that give a sense of it but are far from answering every question. We know some popular myths are just wrong – for instance we don't become angels when we die. But many of us are like that curious child, wanting to know more. And that's maybe not a bad urge in itself. We ought to yearn for our eternal home. This veil of tears is filled with troubles and misery, temptation and sin. We ought to look forward to that horizon. Like St. Paul, we recognize, it will be far better to be at home with the Lord than here in our mortal bodies.
And so we take comfort in what little Scripture does teach us about this place we call heaven:
3. We know we don't deserve it. But Christ promises it.
One thing we know for sure is that we don't deserve it. Our sinful nature and our sinful actions and inactions have made us worthy of a far different fate – temporal and eternal punishment is what our sins deserve. Were it not for God's great mercy he would have been there already, long ago. By rights God could wipe us out just like he did to the wicked world before the flood. But he is patient. He is merciful. And he would not see the sinner perish, but desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. He wants you to have life, and have it abundantly, with him, forever.
Which is why he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. The Lamb at the center of the throne around whom all the saints gather. The Lamb, by whose blood, their sinful robes are washed white and clean. It is because of Jesus, and Jesus alone that anyone receives the blessings and promises of heaven. Christ crucified, dead, risen and ascended again will bring you there.
4. What we do know is good, even great!
We speak of heaven in really two senses. When we say “heaven”, we often mean where the dead in Christ reside now – with God. Paradise, Abraham's Bosom, or simply “being with the Lord”.
And here's what we know about that: The dead in Christ now rest in peace. They are with him. And it is good.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors. (Rev. 14:13)
Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” Not tomorrow or someday down the road. Today, that is, as soon as you die. Those who die in the faith are with the Lord. Stephen, the first martyr, confessed the same with his dying prayer, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59)
Jesus also hints at this reality with story of Lazarus in “Abraham's Bosom” - both of whom were contrasted with the agony of the rich man who died in unbelief.
Today we give thanks for our loved ones and those Christians who have gone before us into the paradise of God's presence, into the rest and peace that is Heaven. They are away from the body, but they are with the Lord. And that makes everything ok. But as they say at the end of commercials, “But wait... there's more”
There is something else, heaven in the final sense – that kingdom of glory that begins on the last day. This eternal life, lived in the new heaven and new earth, this is really the final and best hope of God's people.
Or another has said there are various “modes” of eternal life. Eternal life – that life we have now, even already, beginning at our baptism. Then there is the eternal life of the Spirit that rests secure with God, but away from the body, awaiting the judgment day. Then there is the eternal life in the kingdom to come, life in the resurrection – in the body – which is the final promise to and hope of the children of God.
Paul makes it clear, especially in 1 Corinthians 15, the great resurrection chapter of the Bible, that we too will rise, bodily, at the last day. Jesus is the Firstborn of the Dead, but that title itself shows that others will follow. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Romans 6:5
When will this happen? At his second coming. Paul says the dead in Christ will rise, and we who are still living will be changed in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet.
At his appearing – we will change, be like him (1 John 3:1-3)
And this gives a clue what the heaven of the resurrection might be like. How will it be to live in resurrected, glorified bodies? We have a clue, perhaps, by looking at Jesus' glorified, resurrected body.
On that day, at the fulfillment of all things, The Beatitudes will become visible (Matthew 5). The blessed mourners comforted, the blessed meek shall inherit the earth. All the saints, in our final glory, will be blessed forevermore.
Jesus has gone to prepare a place for you, will come back (John 14:1-6)
And the picture of the multitude robed in white reminds us that in that glorious day, God's people will all be there. A great multitude no one can count from every nation and tribe and people and language. A joyful reunion with our God and with one another. There will be endless, perfect, joyful worship of God. A perfect communion of all the company of heaven.
Revelation paints a picture of bliss:
15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Later, John's vision depicts the church in glory as heavenly Jerusalem. There she is described in terms that evoke the paradise of Eden restored. For in Eden there was were rivers, a garden and the Tree of Life. Now in glory we see the River of life, the Tree of Life reappearing. The curse is removed. Paradise is restored, and all is well.
Here today we have a glimpse of that heavenly feast, a foretaste. Here as we gather around Christ, enthroned in simple bread and wine, we gather with just a small portion of that final heavenly multitude. But in a way, we also commune with those at rest in Christ, and with all the Christian faithful who will one day visibly gather with us around the heavenly throne. Here, at the Lord's altar, then, is about as close as you can get to heaven-on-earth. For here you are united with Christ and his people in a holy and precious way. Here, heaven and earth are in a way united, in Christ, for you. Here, today, is the communion of saints.
Heaven is for real, but it's not the heaven of mere imagination. It's the eternal bliss that God has prepared for his children, those redeemed in his Son Jesus Christ. It's the joy of his presence when we die, and it is the glory of a resurrection and life from the last day forward. Like all of God's blessings, a pure and free gift won for us in Jesus Christ. Remain in him, and you will abide to the end, even to heaven. Amen.
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