What Will Heaven Be Like? – Family Devotion – May 27, 2022

Read: Revelation 21:21-27

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God … the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. … the city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Revelation 21:2,21,23

What Will Heaven Be Like?

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In this week’s devotions, we have been celebrating the ascension of Jesus to heaven. After he died to pay for all our sins, he came alive again to prove we are forgiven. Forty days later, he returned to heaven because his work was done. But before he left, he promised, “I’ll come back to take you to be with me.” Because of Jesus, we get to go to heaven! Heaven is the most awesome place ever!

Have you ever wondered what heaven will look like? Let’s start by thinking of the most beautiful, fun place you have ever been to in your life. Okay, got that place locked in your head? Heaven is a gazillion times better. It’s more beautiful than any place on earth! But in today’s Word of God, a follower of Jesus named John got a glimpse firsthand what heaven will be like. He tried to describe it in ways we could understand:

• He saw white pearls as big as a garage that were gateways into heaven. Awesome! As he entered the gates of heaven,
• He saw streets paved with pure gold, but remarkably he could see through the gold pavement like a glass window!
• He saw there were no road signs pointing in the direction of God’s house because heaven is so filled with God’s presence that everyone there sees him face to face all the time. Remarkable!
• He didn’t see a sun or moon in heaven because Jesus is the light, not only of this world, but also in the world to come. Amazing!

Put it all together, what is heaven like? Heaven is a perfect place that will always be open for you. No one locks their doors in heaven—you will always be perfectly safe because Jesus has defeated all your enemies. Nothing will ever scare or harm you in heaven because there’s no nighttime—darkness and spooky things don’t exist there. Everything and everyone in heaven is perfectly clean, because Jesus has washed us clean and made us all his special people.

Tell me, do you sometimes cry because life is not easy and your feelings get hurt? Are you tired of living in a world filled with darkness and dirtiness? “I’m coming back to take you to be with me,” Jesus promised before he ascended back into heaven. A perfect city. A place filled with beautiful light where we get to walk with our beautiful Savior. Together, heaven is where we get to live happily ever after!

Closing Prayer:

Jerusalem the golden, with milk and honey blest—
The sight of it refreshes the weary and oppressed.
I know not, oh, I know not what joys await us there,
What radiancy of glory, what bliss beyond compare.
To sing the hymn unending with all the martyr throng,
Amidst the halls of Zion resounding full with song.
(Christian Worship 889:1)

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What is the name of the place Jesus wants us to live someday?
• What is the best thing you heard that you love about heaven?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why is there is no darkness or dirt in heaven?
• What important event in your life “washed you clean” of sin’s dirt? How is your baptism comforting when hear that “Nothing impure will enter [heaven]?” (See Rev. 21:27.)

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Has there been a moment when you wondered if you were good enough to go to heaven? Discuss with your family what you need to remember the next time you’re struggling with this doubt.
• Take a moment down and walk down “memory lane.” Say out loud the names of loved ones who already are walking the streets of gold in heaven!