Heaven — More Than Wishful Thinking

My father-in-law’s death last month naturally caused sorrow because we’ll miss his presence in our lives. Despite the grief, however, I’ve experienced an undeniable peace and even a sense of celebration. This man, age 90, lived a good life and was ready to take up residence in heaven – a promise fulfilled because he’d placed his saving faith in Jesus Christ. Earthly pain and struggles are behind him, and without doubt, he’s now with his Savior.

His passing reminded me of my father’s death a year ago. As his body slowly shut down, he whispered precious words to my mother. They were words that brought comfort in our loss, words that brought hope, peace, and that same sense of celebration. “It’s so beautiful there,” he gasped. “I see Jesus.”

For those who know Jesus, death has lost its sting. The grave has no victory. Job knew this to be true. In the midst of indescribable sorrow and physical pain, he said, “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at least. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God. I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought” (Job 19:25-27).

Talk about confident hope! When I reread these verses, two words jumped off the page at me: know and will. Job said, “I know that my Redeemer lives.” He didn’t say, “I hope my Redeemer lives,” or “I wish I could know that my Redeemer lives.” His words expressed strength and security despite a seemingly hopeless situation.

The other word, will, expresses confident hope, too: “He will stand upon the earth”; “…in my body I will see God”; “…I will see him for myself”; “…I will see him with my own eyes.”

Job didn’t say, “Maybe Jesus will stand on the earth someday,” or “I sure hope I’ll see God with my eyes.” No, using the word will indicated a solid conviction that what he was speaking would someday come true.

The older I get, the more aware I am of my mortality. Someday, I’ll face death, too. That thought doesn’t scare me anymore. The sting is gone, replaced by peace that comes from knowing Jesus as my Savior and Friend. Someday I will see Him for myself, with my own eyes. In Job’s words, that thought overwhelms me – with hope, anticipation, and great joy.

How about you? Can you say with certainty, “Someday I’ll see Jesus with my own eyes”? If so, I look forward to spending eternity with you. In the meantime, celebrate in your confidence and share the reason for your hope with others.

If not, you don’t have to go through this present life wondering whether or not you’ll have eternal life. You can place your saving faith in Jesus today by acknowledging that you’re a sinner in need of a Savior. Confess your sin to Him, acknowledge that He paid for your death penalty when He died on the cross, and that He purchased a place in heaven for you when He rose from the grave three days later. Get hold of a Bible and start reading in the book of John – it’s filled with amazing truths that will forever change your life. Don’t hesitate to ask questions here, okay? I’ll do my best to answer.

Have a great day, y’all!