The Bible describes Heaven as everything perfect and good. The Image of Heaven is usually portrayed with the Golden/Pearly Gate, the streets made of gold, angels singing in praise, you know, all the good stuff.
I asked a few friends what they expect to see when they go to Heaven. Michelle pictures Heaven with streets of gold and filled with people in fellowship and singing to Jesus. My other friend, Nicole pictures Heaven the exact same way. But I asked her if there was anything in particular that she would hope to see. She told me that she hopes to see her loved ones and to walk with God.
Steph also pictures a big gate, but with silver walls and a bright fog. My sister, Abby, imagines all of these things plus mansions.
Ben and Shawntae picture it a little differently. Ben said that he sees himself sitting on a beach watching the sunset. Shawntae said that she would describe Heaven as a sunrise: Beautiful yet indescribable. She said it would be filled with extreme comfort and joy, and you would know that you have finally made it home.
But I guess I think in to it too much. Will it always be perfect? Will it be boring? Will we even need to be worried about entertainment? There's also a part in the Bible where it says that Jesus is making a special place for each of us, and waiting for our company in Heaven. Some people think that it's a special seat right next to Him. Other's think that it's a certain place in the choir.
When Don Piper died, he went to Heaven and saw a pearly gate and heard singing. But that was it before he came back to life on Earth. Maybe we do see streets of gold and hear the angels singing. And we probably do walk (or glide) through a pearly gate. But I like to think more about the special place that Jesus is making for us.
We all picture paradise differently. We all have different opinions of what is perfect. So maybe that special place that's waiting for us is what we see as paradise. And if this is true, then this is how I picture Heaven:
After walking through the pearly/golden gate, I see myself on a golden road. Instead of grass, I see clouds. I begin to walk down the golden road and after I come to the top of a hill, I see a beautiful city bursting with color and music far away. I run toward the city, and it only ends up taking me a second to reach it. I start to laugh hysterically (because I think that I will do that a lot in Heaven for some reason). I'm greeted with all of my friends and family who have left the world before me. There's singing and dancing and laughing everywhere. Jesus comes to me and we begin to talk about everything that had happenned in my life. After that, he tells me that He had just finished my special spot. I say, "Niiiice, how can I find it?" and He will probably say something like, "Just close your eyes." Once I open them, I see my own personalized paradise.
Jesus and I are standing in a huge field of grass. This grass isn't your typical Earth-grass. It's tall, and about a foot deep, and shaggy. I fall to my knees to run my hands through it, I pull at it and it never comes out of the soil. And, apparently, it's hypoallergenic grass- no breakouts! In the middle of my field, there will be a massive willow tree, with a hammock hanging from one of the limbs. I'll ask God to make some begonias and lilies sprout out of the ground. The sky is a deep purple, like storm-cloud purple, and the air is filled with a mild drizzle. But the atmosphere is warm, so it's perfect. After a few acres of beautiful grass, there will be a cliff. At the bottom of the cliff is an endless and iridescent ocean. And it won't be too cold to dive in. The time of day will always be around sundown, unless I ask God to change it to night, morning, or afternoon. Perfect. No deadlines, no exhaustion, no allergies.
But whatever type of special place we receive, it will be perfect no matter what. I hope I'll get all my questions answered, and I hope I get to talk to others, strangers or not. Ponder a bit...
