Five Things You Won’t Find in Heaven
By Rick Warren
“Can you understand the mysteries surrounding God All-Powerful? They are higher than the heavens and deeper than the grave. So what can you do when you know so little, and these mysteries outreach the earth and the ocean?” Job 11:7-9 (CEV)
When I was a little boy, we traveled to Disneyland for a family vacation. On the way there, my dad explained to me what it was going to be like. But no matter how he tried, there was no way for me to understand just how amazing that place was until I walked into the park for the first time. It far surpassed anything I had imagined it to be!
The Bible says in Job 11:7-9, “Can you understand the mysteries surrounding God All-Powerful? They are higher than the heavens and deeper than the grave. So what can you do when you know so little, and these mysteries outreach the earth and the ocean?” (CEV).
Heaven is a mystery that you will not fully understand until you arrive there. But the Bible does give important information about eternity, including five things that will not be in heaven.
In heaven, there will be no sickness. The Bible says, “This is how it will be when the dead are raised to life. When the body is buried . . . it is ugly and weak; when raised, it will be beautiful and strong” (1 Corinthians 15:42-43 GNT). There won’t be any sickness because you’re going to get a new, perfect body.
In heaven, there will be no sadness. God “will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4 NIV). God has kept a record of your tears and pain because he cares about you. But when you get to heaven, there will be no more broken hearts, rejection, loneliness, grief, or heartache.
In heaven, there will be no suffering. The Bible says, “‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat” (Revelation 7:16 NIV). Every one of your needs will be satisfied in heaven.
In heaven, there will be no sin. “God . . . will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault” (Jude 1:24 NLT). Jesus Christ died on the cross and paid for all your sin so that when you see him face to face, your character will be instantly changed to be like him.
In heaven, there will be no death. “There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4 NLT). Heaven is glorious in a lot of ways, but the best thing is that you get to be in God’s presence—forever.
The Bible says, “We don’t know everything, and our prophecies are not complete.... Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understand us” (1 Corinthians 13:9, 12 CEV).
One day it’s all going to be clear. It’s all going to make sense. You’re going to be able to say, “So that’s why God allowed that in my life!” Until then, God wants you to trust him.
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