The Hope of Heaven: Unimaginable Beauty

by David Chadwick

There will be unimaginable beauty in heaven. Inextricable joy. Eternal wonder.

The New Jerusalem is described as a magnificent and glorious city. Revelation 21:2 says that this new city will come “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” One day it will come down from heaven and be established on the new earth at the end of the millennial kingdom.

What will New Jerusalem look like? The walls are jasper, the streets are gold, and the gates are made of pearls. I wonder if what we describe on earth as “precious metals” are simply common sources of construction in heaven.

Here on earth we search far and wide to find gold, silver, pearls, and precious stones like jasper and emeralds. They are precious and valuable because they are scarce. But in heaven, they are used in every basic part of the construction of the holy city!

It reminds me of the joke of the man who decided to hide gold in his death suit, thinking that perhaps he could smuggle it into heaven and have some resources available to him in eternity. Upon arrival, St. Peter purportedly examined him and found the gold. He then jokingly asked the man, “Why in the world are you trying to smuggle street pavement into heaven?”

What is valuable here will be common there. The beautiful things we cherish on earth will surround us in heaven. It will be splendorous. Beautiful. Unimaginably glorious.

The reality of heaven should cause all of us who follow Jesus to exclaim, “I can’t wait!”

Are you one of his followers? Do you feel the anticipation swelling in your heart to go home one day? This should drive you to worship Jesus more and share him with others.

When you are faced with the brokenness of this world, whisper to yourself, “I can’t wait!” When discouragement settles in because the world is not yet restored, proclaim, “I can’t wait!” And as you do, little by little, let hope arise in your heart for the most glorious reunion with your soon-coming King.