But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.2 Peter 3:13

At the top of the back wall of our church’s sanctuary is a small window.  For me, one of the joys of singing in our choir was looking through that window to the sky and imagining that we were singing straight to the throne of God.   It always encouraged my soul and gave new energy to my singing.  Sadly, the addition of a balcony required blinds on that window.  That imagery is now but a fond memory.  Often it seems that the daily events of our lives and the concerns that we bear are like that blind and prevent us from contemplating and looking forward to heaven.  However, it is helpful to pause every now and then to evaluate our focus.  In that light, consider the following.

The Calling

“Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” 2 Peter 1:10-11

God in Christ has offered an open threefold invitation.  First He freely offers the gift of salvation.  Second, He invites us to live as His ambassadors of grace and truth.  Finally, He offers the final reward of abiding with Him for eternity.  Each of these invitations builds on the former.  Initially we accept the gift of salvation.  However, in order to solidify our choice, we are called to live a life wholly devoted to our Lord.  It is a life of obedience, service and refinement.  Having lived the life Christ calls us to, entrance to the eternal kingdom is “abundantly supplied”.  That is the beginning of our eternal reward.

The Promises

But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.  2 Peter 3:13

For the sake of this discussion, consider three major benefits of heaven.  The first is a new heaven and a new earth.  They will be much different than what we experience now.  One principal difference is that there will be no sun because the glory of the Lord will illumine everything.  For those of us who struggle with illness, pain and the effects of aging, our new bodies will be a key benefit.  Not a simple upgrade of what we have now, but rather an exponentially better one.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that the comparison is like a seed to a beautiful plant or a nut to a wonderful tree.  Finally, the reign of righteousness affords freedom from sin, the end of death, perfect relationships and the ability to abide with our God forever.  These are a few of the promises that motivate us to endure and allow the Holy Spirit to perfect us.

The Foretaste

But for Apostle John and a few others in scripture that were blessed with a solid glimpse of heaven, we must rely on the descriptions of scripture to get a sense of what heaven is like and what we are promised.  However, we are not completely lacking.  Through nature we get to enjoy the handiwork of God.  For me, it brings a sense of awe that makes me want to drop to my knees in worship.  When we truly worship in the Spirit, especially en masse, or we read the book of Revelation, we get a foretaste of what worship will be like.  When we enjoy the blessing of true fellowship, we get a preview of the fellowship that we will enjoy in heaven.  They are a mere foretaste, but they leave us wanting for more which encourages us to persevere.

The Challenge

…to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.  Romans 2:7

There are two challenges here: our focus and our perseverance.  To be sure, they are intertwined.  The enticements, trials and the normal duties of this life have a way of drawing our attention away from our goal of eternity.  If that isn’t enough, the culture of this world pressures us to turn from God and forget His principles.  When yield to these pressures and shift our focus downward to this life rather than eternity, our resolve to endure wanes.  It is our duty to continue despite the challenges we face.  However, we are not alone.  Through God’s sustaining grace and the work of the Holy Spirit, we have the resources to overcome any lapses we may have and to redirect our focus to its proper place.

Out of His immense love, God has called us to be His children.  Once accepted, that calling becomes a yearning for the reign of righteousness not only in our lives but all around us.  To fulfill that desire we must keep our focus on heaven.  The benefits that He promises and the foretastes that we have in this life encourage us and keep us motivated.  Yet we are not alone.  God is with us encouraging us, directing us and sustaining us so that we may persevere and receive the prize.

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.

Will