A glimpse of heaven

          Yesterday January 13, 2011 was the one year anniversary since my wife died and went to be with the Lord.  Several people called me and many people wrote me e-mails and I appreciate all of them.  It was a good day because we were rejoicing that Minnie is now with the Lord and experiencing the joys of heaven.  And what are those joys that she is experiencing right now?  I posted an article on this blog on November 3, 2010 called "The Glory that is Yet to Come" that tells many things about heaven.  You can find it by looking at my list of articles under "Heaven."  Here are a few excerpts from that article:

 

http://billandminnieburnside.blogspot.com/search/label/heaven

          Our family life should be a little glimpse of heaven on earth as we love one another, help one another, and share in one another’s burdens and problems. Our homes should be a shelter from the world and a place where all learn of Christ and worship and serve Him together. They are not always that way, but to the extent that we show forth the riches of God’s truth in our lives and treat one another in the way that pleases God and we see growth in love and in grace, think of how that closeness will be multiplied in eternity future in heaven.

           Think of a simple meal and pleasant conversation around the evening dinner table. Or of a special feast such as the mother or family prepare at Thanksgiving. We all anticipate those special occasions and thank God for them. What about the delight of participating in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? or of breaking bread together with the Lord in heaven. What will that be like?

            Do you take pleasure in walking through lovely gardens and long walks along a beautiful river or overlooking a seascape? How much greater pleasure will that be when there is nothing to mar its perfection and when the curse has been removed from this old world? God created man and woman and put them together in a garden, the most glorious, perfect garden you can imagine. He gave them a pleasant, but meaningful task to do and the pleasure of each other’s company. And the Lord God walked in the garden in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:8

         How much more wonderful will the garden in the New Jerusalem be? “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. . . . ." Rev. 22:1-5

         Think of your favorite music and how delightful it is. But what singing awaits us in heaven and we will participate in it with a heavenly choir and perfect voices. “And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Rev. 5:9-10

        “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” Rev. 15:3
 And if choral music is wonderful, there will be instrumental music in heaven also because several instruments are mentioned in scripture. How much proficiency will we have in music? Remember heaven is a place of perfection and we will have a sinless, glorified body and an attitude much like Jesus Himself. “We shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2

          One of the joys of life is learning and discovering new truths about life and exploring God’s works and rejoicing in the works of His hands and His wisdom and creativity, enjoying the complexity and beauty of what He has made. We will continue to learn and discover new truths as we explore God’s wisdom. We are finite and of course will continue to be finite in heaven. We will no longer see as in a fog or a “cloudy mirror.” “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” He’s talking about fellowship with the Lord; certainly he’s not saying we will be omniscient! We cannot be because we are creatures and creatures are finite and limited. God is infinite and the works of God are infinite so we will never exhaust what there is to learn and enjoy throughout all eternity.