The Hope of Heaven: Our Mansions

by David Chadwick

Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” The hope of heaven is the ultimate fulfilled desire for followers of Jesus.

John 14:2 says, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you.”

Jesus went to heaven before us to build a place for us. This will be the place where you and I, his bride, his church will live forever.

The earliest biblical translations have “mansions” to describe what Jesus will prepare for us. And the later translations have “dwelling places.” No one is completely certain what a dwelling place is. Some have suggested it may be like an apartment. We really do not know for sure.

But if you don’t mind, I’m going to stick with the older translations of “mansions,” as I’d like to think that my loving heavenly Father has prepared a magnificent dwelling place for me in which I’ll live forever that closely resembles a mansion here.

This is not to say that it has to be luxurious or lavish, but it will be marked with excellence and perfection. A permanent home where we all dwell together. A smaller dwelling place or a huge estate? Or something in between? None of us will know until we get there.

All I know is that it will be wonderful. Magnificent. Glorious. And I think it will be something close to all my loved ones and friends. A place to spend time together.

My Jesus is gracious and good. He is kind and generous. He loves to give good gifts to his children. That’s why I lean toward a mansion. Either way, it’ll be beyond anything we can imagine. Another reason to look forward to heaven!

Just do me one favor: Make sure you belong to Jesus. Be sure that you have given your life to him and accepted his gift of salvation by his grace.

And you are completely assured of this precious promise.

The Hope of Heaven: Seeing our Loved Ones

by David Chadwick

Heaven brings an undeniable hope to followers of Jesus Christ.

For those of us who put our faith in Jesus, we will one day, once again, see all of our loved ones who also put their faith in Jesus. For me, this will be my mom and dad, my big brother Howard, and many of my friends who have gone on before me.

For some of you, it may be babies who were miscarried or died in infancy. Children or grandchildren. Aunts or uncles. All there. Reunited with Jesus and with one another.

1 Corinthians 13:12 says that right now we look through a mirror dimly. But soon we will see face to face. We will soon see both our Savior and our loved ones again—face to face!

College football teams have homecoming games. Have you ever been to one? They are the highlight of the football season. Lots of gatherings. Parties. Food. Fun. Decorations. People who have not seen one another for a while come together. This is such a great picture of heaven. One grand reunion.

Now imagine those times when you’ve been away from home for a while. I remember living overseas for a year, not having seen Mom or Dad for a while. Finally, it was time to return home. I remember vividly how exciting those days were leading up to my homecoming! Getting to see loved ones and friends again, getting caught up, eating scrumptious meals, and laughing in fellowship with one another.

Heaven will be even better than that! After being separated from family and loved ones for a season, we will finally be reunited with them in heaven. Just imagine the joy! The hugs! The conversations that will ensue after finally being reunited.

Remember this: This world, in its present broken and sinful condition, is not our eternal home. The new heaven and the new earth, remade by God to its original intent, will be our home forever.

Heaven will be the ultimate homecoming! Get ready!

The Hope of Heaven: The Throne of Jesus

by David Chadwick

On the other side of this broken world is the hope of heaven.

The throne is central in heaven. Where there is a throne, there is a king. And in heaven, it’s not just any king. It is THE King of kings. Jesus Christ, our Lord.

There are so many verses in the Bible that speak of this throne. Isaiah had a vision where he saw the Lord seated on the throne. It said the train of the Lord’s robe filled the entire temple with all of his glory (Isaiah 6:1). It is hard to even comprehend this kind of majesty.

I would imagine that we will always be able to see Jesus seated on his throne.

Some other biblical descriptions of Jesus’s throne are found in Revelation 4 and 5, immediately following all of Jesus’s corrections of the various churches in Revelation 2 and 3. I find it even more profound to read the descriptions of heaven in Revelation 4 and 5 after reading the depth of brokenness the church has both succumbed to, endured, and tolerated due to sin: false teachers, Christians leaving their first love, perversion, and sexual immorality. But all of those who endure and who have ears to hear what the Spirit of God says will live in heaven!

In direct contrast to this broken world, in heaven, all the saints and angels will regularly gather around his throne and worship the Lamb. Words seem inadequate when you read these verses. But they do give insights into just how glorious heaven will be.

Now look at Revelation 22:1-3. Flowing from Jesus’s throne, a crystal-clear, wondrously cascading river will flow all throughout the New Jerusalem.

One day, Jesus will rule perfectly and righteously from his throne. All of his people will willingly obey his desires and follow his will. There will be no objection to his rule from his throne.

Everything and everyone will be perfect, complete, and lacking nothing.

And every glance at the throne will remind us all of the One who controls everything with perfect love, mercy, and grace.