Before Moses died, God led him to the top of Mount Nebo to show him the beauty and bounty of the land that the children of Israel were to possess. In his play The Green Pastures, Marc Connelly has God say to Moses concerning heaven which he was soon to enter, "Moses, it's a million times nicer than the land of Canaan."
Of all the beautiful sights and places we may have seen in our travels -- impressive waterfalls, flora and fauna in their natural setting, a colorful sunset, the "purple mountain majesty above the fruited plain" -- we can say of them that heaven is a million times nicer.
Who on this side of heaven can really say what it is like? Our minds are too limited, our vocabulary too inadeqaute to comprehend and describe heaven. We can only think in terms of approximation, of comparison with things we have known on earth. Heaven is like the perfect paradise in which Adam and Eve lived before they fell into sin. It is a place of reunion with loved ones. Jesus speaks of heaven as the Father's house of many mansions. The book of Revelation affords a glimpse into heaven by means of pictures and symbols: a well laid-out city with jeweled walls, streets of gold, gates of pearl. The holy seer tells us of sad experiences that will not be repeated in heaven: no more tears, no mourning, no more pain, no death.
The most consoling fact is that in heaven we will be in the presence of Jesus Christ, our dearest friend. Our Lord prayed for this, "Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because you loved Me before the creation of the world" (John 17:24). Fellowship with Jesus is something we have known on earth. It is a foretaste of eternal life; it is a glimpse of heaven.
I pray for the steadfastness in your faith, so that you may be with Jesus forever.
In Christ's love,
Matt
