What is Heaven Like?

We wonder what heaven is like. We know for sure the streets are made of gold, and there are many mansions. Somewhere there must be a huge table, because those who know the Lord will participate in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

But there’s an intangible quality in heaven we can’t miss. Holiness. It’s written about in the prophets, including Revelation. We should be conditioning ourselves to holiness now, because it’s the essence of heaven.

Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: Isa. 63:15a Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven. 2 Chron. 30:27.

Look ahead to eternity future in Rev. 21: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  (2)  And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev. 21:1-2

The point is, the New Jerusalem and heaven are lined and filled with holiness…the supreme value of God. Any sin is an assault to God’s character, and it will not be in heaven.

Remember when Saul was king of Israel and he did little disobedient things, like offering an offering when that was Prophet Samuel’s job? Then there was the time God, through Samuel, told Saul to kill the enemy Amalek and destroy everything, animals included. Saul decided they should keep the best sheep and oxen rather than destroy them. When confronted by Samuel, Saul lied about his reason for keeping the cattle. He made it sound spiritual. He kept them to sacrifice to God, he said.

But remember, God is holy. Lying lips are an abomination to Him. Here is Samuel’s summary to Saul. And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. (1 Sam. 15:22-23a)

God and everything He stands for is holy, and our old nature bristles at that. Understanding that, let’s not try to get away with compromises and sin. Let’s keep our eyes on God and His character and ask Him to help us. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. (Psalm 19:13)

Jody