When my wife and I were expecting our first child, it was an exciting time of anticipation. We were so looking forward to having a child of our own. We made preparations in the house, chose names, bought clothes and diapers. We just had to wait until the proper time for our baby to come. Especially in the final months, we had people tell us how much our lives would change, that we were going to have an indescribable love for our child, and that this new life would become our world. One time in particular, we said, “We know.” Then this Christian couple looked at us and said, “You have no idea. You have to experience it to fully understand.”
In I Corinthians 2:9, the Lord tells us: “…Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Interestingly, Isaiah 64:4 says almost the exact same thing. It differs only that Isaiah closes his verse referring to those that “waiteth for him.” Whether for Israel in her earthly Kingdom hope, or for the Body of Christ in our future heavenly existence, what God has prepared for us is so spectacular that we really have no idea how magnificent it is going to be. But, both Israel and the Body of Christ have a glimpse of their eternal future. Israel is promised she will become the light of the world (Isaiah 60:1-3), Christ will be her light source (Isaiah 60:19-20), she will be righteous (Isaiah 60:21), have no sorrow (Revelation 7:17), and forget all past sorrows (Isaiah 65:17). We, the Body of Christ, are promised new heavenly resurrected bodies free from all pain (I Corinthians 15:35-36; Philippians 3:21), to forever be in the presence of our wonderful Savior (I Thessalonians 4:17-18; Colossians 3:4); and we will be richly rewarded for any service done for Christ after salvation (I Corinthians 3:13- 14; Ephesians 6:8).
Even with all this information about eternity, we really have no idea how fantastic it will be. We will have to experience it to fully comprehend it all. How should this affect us now? We should be rejoicing in these riches, longing to be with Christ, living in preparation for eternity, and remembering that problems here pale in comparison to what awaits us in heaven. Today, lift the spirit of another believer with the promise of what God is preparing for us.