“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (GW)
You can be thankful in your trials—not because they are good but because God is good, and he has promised heaven for all those who believe in his Son, Jesus.
What is heaven going to be like? The Bible says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 GW).
The Bible says we can’t even begin to imagine how wonderful heaven will be. And yet most people have such a poor idea of heaven that it’s no surprise they’re not exactly looking forward to it.
Movies and TV have often portrayed heaven as completely colorless. But who do you think created the vibrant colors all around us? God did! And you’re not going to sit in a robe with angel’s wings playing a harp on a cloud. If you ask me, that would be hell!
There are a lot of amazing and beautiful things on this planet, and God created all of them—beach landscapes, snow-capped mountains, redwood forests, and all the beauty and variety of flowers and animals. The earth is broken, yet it’s still such a jaw-droppingly beautiful place!
Now think about a place with no sin, no suffering, no sorrow, and no destruction—and think about what it will be like. We can’t even begin to imagine what God has been preparing for us.
After our son Matthew died, Kay and I were asked in an interview about heaven and hope. Here’s what I said:
We probably received over thirty thousand letters of condolences. The letters that meant the most to me were the people that Matthew had led to faith in Christ—those who said they were going to be in heaven because of him. The ones who said, “I know the Lord. I have a relationship with Jesus because of your son.”
And I remember writing in my journal that in God’s garden of grace, even a broken tree bears fruit. And that was true in his life.
You say, “Well are you happy that it’s making a difference?” Of course I am. I still want my son back. I still want my son back. But as David, who lost a son, said in 2 Samuel 12, “He will not come back to me, but I will go to him.”
That is the hope of heaven that we have—that has strengthened us even through the darkest days. Wherever there’s a shadow, there’s a light. The key to walking through the valley of the shadow of death is to turn your back on the shadow, which is scary, and look at the Light. And that’s how you get through it.
If you’re walking through the valley today, keep going, and look to the Light. Heaven is just around the corner.
Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
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Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California with campuses in major cities around the world. He is the author of The Purpose Driven Life, which has been translated into 90 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. You can listen to his daily radio broadcast at PastorRick.com.
