Almost Heaven – February 15, 2026

One key truth: Jesus gives us glimpses of his glory now through his Word so we can trust him until we see his glory fully in heaven.

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Matthew 17:1-9

Almost Heaven

One of the most famous karaoke songs of all time is John Denver’s “Country Roads.” The opening words are “Almost heaven.” When we hear that line, we know what he means—something so beautiful, peaceful, and breathtaking that it feels close to heaven, but isn’t quite there. It’s “almost heaven.”

The disciples experienced their own version of “almost heaven”—only theirs was far closer to the real thing. They saw Jesus shine with his own glorious light. For a moment, the curtain was pulled back, and they saw who Jesus really is—the Son of God.

That moment mattered more than they realized. Soon they would see Jesus bruised, beaten, and bloodied. When those dark days came, they could remember the mountain and remember his glory.

It’s easy to wish we could have been there with Peter, James, and John. If only we could see the glory with our own eyes, maybe faith would feel easier. Maybe hard days would feel less bleak. Would a sneak peek at “almost heaven” keep you going when times get hard?

Actually, we can! We see Jesus’ glory even more clearly than Peter, James, and John did. We see it in every page of God’s Word. We see Jesus’ glory when he willingly goes to the cross to pay for our sins. We see his glory when he rises from the dead and defeats death for us.

The disciples almost saw heaven for a moment. In Jesus, we see the promise of heaven itself. Someday, what we now see by faith, we will see face-to-face. How we look forward to that glory!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you showed your disciples your glory when they needed it most. Thank you for showing us your glory through your Word, your cross, and your resurrection. When life feels dark or confusing, help us listen to you and trust you. Keep us strong in faith until the day we see you face-to-face in heaven. Amen.