Really, how does one describe the indescribable?  We struggle to put into words the incredible things we experience and the views we see here on earth.  If we sometimes struggle to adequately describe our present world, how could we even begin to describe the wonders of the world waiting for us in heaven?

The Apostle Paul writes this:  “… No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 – NIV 1982).

In other words, the wonderful home in heaven which God has prepared for his faithful people is indescribable!  Since no eye has seen its splendor and no ear has heard its sounds, how could any mind conceptualize what it is really like?

Of course, the Bible does give us some insights into that wonderful place.  Jesus’ simple words provide a cozy picture of that new home: a room in the Heavenly Father’s mansion in the presence of Jesus himself.  “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3).

Jesus’ description makes heaven sound wonderfully comfortable; John’s description from his God-given vision in Revelation 21 displays it as beyond extravagant.  Here are his mind-boggling words:

“The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.  The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.  The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.”

“The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl.  The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.”

“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (Revelation 21:18-23)

Is that description of the heavenly wall, gates and street intended to be taken literally, or is it symbolic of the matchless beauty and priceless worth of being there?  Is it God’s way of propelling us to absolute awe by providing a picture we can “sort of” grasp?  Who here on earth could know?  However, I believe the description of God’s glory illuminating heaven is undoubtedly the way it is.  Nothing shines brighter, so no other source of light is needed there!

Then John provides this little nugget regarding our salvation: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes’” (Revelation 21:3-4). 

Those tears?  They are tears of joy at being allowed to exist in the very presence of God … forever!  I suspect that the Lord will frequently need to dry our joyful tears through our never-ending time there.  We’ll be repeatedly – eternally! – overwhelmed by the magnificence of the place, and the sheer wonder that we are actually there (and never have to leave!).

The descriptions of how heaven looks and how heaven will be are impressive.  Perhaps even more impressive are the descriptions of how people feel and act there.  What I have always found fascinating is that very often the Bible’s descriptions of the blessings of heaven tell us what does NOT exist there instead of what does!  (Which makes sense because our frame of reference is life in this broken world.)

“There will be no more night” (Rev. 22:5).  For the blessed who are there, “‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat’” (Rev. 7:16).  ‘“There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’  He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!”’ (Rev. 21:4-5). 

We can certainly conceptualize what is NOT in heaven.  But what IS there is inconceivable, and therefore indescribable. 

I suspect everyone envisions their existence in heaven differently.  We likely picture it in earthly terms with earthly concepts.   I confess mine is relaxing peacefully before some spectacular view of nature.  Others may have different thoughts on what would make for a “heavenly” heaven.  But here’s what will make salvation unmatchable: we will finally and forever be able to look upon our all-sacrificing Savior on his throne … and that view will be indescribable!

And then there’s the sight of the angels and all the other glorified believers who are there with us!

Not to mention the brilliant light and other-worldly colors.  The exuberant and unmatchable singing.  (Perhaps 100-part harmony sung by the redeemed and angels beyond count!)  The splendorous smells.  The sumptuous heavenly “feast” (Isaiah 25:6).  The ultra-fine feel of everything there.  (To once again use our earthly senses in an attempt to grasp the unearthly.)

But to transition to the spiritual, which will far transcend the physical: the pure holiness of everything in that perfect place!  (Including us!)  The absolute and all-encompassing security.  The perfect peace; the incredible joy.  The lack of any trace of negativity. The complete tranquility.  The utter bliss.  The eternalness of it all!

In the words above, I’ve shared some of the Bible’s descriptions and a few thoughts of my own regarding heaven.  But finally, the only way to describe heaven is that it is indescribable. 

The fact that we get to go there because of Jesus our Savior is indescribable too!  

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven for you …” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

How incredibly blessed are we to be heirs of such magnificence!  And how incredibly blessed are those who are already experiencing that inheritance!

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This post is dedicated to the many wonderful Christians who have arrived at their heavenly home in the past year … some of whom were very dear to me, and some of whom were wonderful supporters of this blog.

In particular, I want to mention Diane Quick, who regularly played organ for our congregation’s worship services for almost eleven years, and who was the third person to subscribe to this blog.  She jumped on board immediately.

I also want to acknowledge Lee Hunt, who was the eighth person to subscribe, and was one of my greatest encouragers on this endeavor.  He eagerly read every post, and discussed them with me almost every Sunday.  When I held a 50^th post contest, God saw to it that Lee won.  He proudly wore his “Heading to Heaven” prize tee shirt many Sundays to worship in our church … which always warmed my heart and now chokes me up. 

Both of them have indeed “Headed to Heaven.” I pray that some of the things I shared on this blog (and from the pulpit) “encouraged them until they finally got where they were going.”  I will miss them both, as well as all my loved ones who are now rejoicing with the Lord in their heavenly home.  But I rejoice at their destination!  I know it’s indescribable, but they will have an eternity to try.