Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to "Joni and Friends.”
If you know me—and you probably do—you know how much I enjoy thinking about heaven, right? Hardly a day goes by that I don’t set my heart and mind on heavenly glories above where Christ is seated. Hardly a day goes by I don’t think about the new heavens and new earth and our new bodies. And, oh, what a day that will be ... no more wheelchairs; no more pain or old age or illness or injuries or disabilities. God will live with us; we shall live forever with Him. Oh, the marvelous things we will do together with our glorious God, and with each other. Together we will rule the world and judge fallen angels. Together we will eat the fruit of the tree of life and be pillars in the temple of God—whatever that means. Together we shall receive the morning star and be crowned with life, righteousness, and glory. Most of all, we will enjoy the best of "togetherness"; we shall be together with God.
Now I want you to note how many times I've used the word "together," because heaven is not a hangout for mavericks roaming solo across the universe, doing their own thing. No, don’t be thinking heaven is a place where you get to choose your mansion far away from others. No, heaven is a place of sweet togetherness. Look at the way Revelation chapter 21, verse 3 puts it, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’” Maybe that's why later on in Revelation chapter 21 it says we will live together in a city, the New Jerusalem. We won't be sprinkled here and there in countryside cottages isolated from one another; no, we are going to live in harmony in a city—a nice city, a holy city.
Now, I'm no fan of urban living, but I love this idea of all of us living in harmony in a city, living together with our God. Because there are so many brothers and sisters in Christ who I will want to help serve for all of eternity; so many Christian friends who have done so much for me, a quadriplegic in a wheelchair; friends who have given me bed baths and exercised my legs and sat me up in my chair. I can’t wait for the day when I can do something, in the name of Christ, for them! Look, I don’t want to be a Lone Ranger in heaven. I like that word “together.” But it begs the question: Down here on earth do you consider yourself a loner when it comes to being with God’s people?
One of the most glorious gifts God has given us on earth is communal relationships—our families, friends at school, co-workers at the office, neighbors, and relatives—and all of these relationships are handpicked by the Lord to prepare us for heaven. Scripture always describes our heavenly union with God not as private, but as corporate; the church, whether here on earth or glorified in heaven, is never a solo act. We are to be with each other as, one day, God will be "with his people."
You can prepare for this heavenly togetherness today. Hebrews chapter 10, verse 25 says, "…[do not neglect] to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." So pray with me right now, together. Let’s go before the Lord and let’s ask, “Jesus, we look forward to the day when You will remove all barriers between Your people. We confess that we need to remove some of those barriers ourselves. And so we pray for the day when we will truly be one in You. Please help us to enjoy being together with all our brothers and sisters down here on earth, and remind us that this communion of saints now is preparing us all for heavenly togetherness in the soon-and-coming future. In your wonderful name, Amen.”
© Joni and Friends, 2013
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PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376