The Kingdom of Heaven
What is God's eternal plan for His children? That is a big question, one I often wondered about. After securing my salvation through my faith in Jesus, I finally had the hope that I so desperately yearned for. However, I still did not know exactly what it was that I had to look forward to after my earthly body returns to the ground.
I still don't have all the answers, nor do I think that we are supposed to. But, God has revealed enough to cause me to become excited in expectation for His futures plans.
The images that come to mind when I think of common portrayals of Heaven are not too appealing to me. Spending eternity flying around the clouds and playing a harp the entire time does not sound exciting. If that's what God had planned for my future, so be it, but fortunately I believe that an examination of the Scriptures reveals a far more exciting future!
"Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world"
Matthew 25:34
For the Saints (the believers in the Body of Christ) our Lord has an awesome plan for us. The Kingdom of Heaven, also called the Kingdom of God, was the central theme to Jesus' teachings. All of Christ's other teachings directly related to the Kingdom of God. Jesus spoke often about the Kingdom of Heaven, teaching that it was yet to come, yet it was near. He also taught that it is for us if we put our faith in The Lord and hold true to His teachings until His return.
Just what is the Kingdom of God? Jesus compared it to a growing mustard seed, starting off very tiny yet growing into a big, beautiful tree. (Mathew 13:31) He compared God's Kingdom to yeast mixed with dough, causing it to rise and grow. (Matthew 13:33) He also taught that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field that is worth giving everything you have to obtain (Mathew 13:44). Jesus also tells us it is like a net cast in the water, waiting to catch all the fish it could hold before sorting the bad ones from the good ones. (Mathew 14:47)
The Kingdom of Heaven is God's plan of righteousness and salvation for His children, and it's also the Lord's plan for all of His creation . He planted the seeds to His Kingdom in the beginning and it has been growing ever since. When Christ came, He created the way for us to gain entrance into His Kingdom. Only through faith in Jesus will the doors to God's Kingdom swing open.
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as son, the redemption of our bodies.
Romans 8:18-23
God's whole creation is waiting for the Son's of God (the Body of Christ) to be revealed. Upon Christ's return the full potential of God's Ultimate plan will become a reality. Because of Adam's original sin in the perfect paradise, that was the garden of Eden, everything in the physical universe has become subjected to death, everything is in a constant state of decay. The entire creation is constantly winding down, breaking apart and returning to a state of chaos. Science has a name for this law of physics, it's called entropy.
This may sound somewhat disheartening but we have hope because this is only a temporary state for the creation. Romans 8:18 tells us that the whole creation is waiting eagerly in expectation, because it also, like ourselves, will no longer be held to this current law of decay once God's children are revealed. That is to say that everything in the universe, all the billions upon billions of galaxies, untold number of planets, stars, and we can only imagine what else the magnificent Lord has created through the universe, will no longer be in a state of death but rather liberated to a glorious never ending life.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
2 Peter 3:10
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first one had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling place 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. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new"
Revelation 21:1-5
What an awe inspiring vision of the future God gives us. After the Lord's triumphant return to claim His throne as King of the universe, the all mighty Lord is going to make a new heaven and a new earth. That means the entire universe will be created anew. The body of Christ, that is the believers who have accepted Him into their lives, will be the new Jerusalem. From that point on our Creator and Father will dwell with us and no longer will His face be hidden from us. The beautiful bride (The believers in Christ) will be resurrected into their new perfect bodies, washed clean of all of their sins, spotless and blameless.
God will wipe every tear from our eyes and we will live out eternity in the vast, paradise that will be the newly created, perfect universe. I don't believe we will be limited to an earthly existence, but rather, quite possibly, we would have the entire creation to live in. It's the cosmic gift awaiting God's children as heirs to His Kingdom with The Lord Jesus Christ as King of all, ruling the universe under perfect, holy and righteous government!
We are very limited in these earthly bodies (our earth-suits). Since that's all we have ever known, it can be difficult to actually imagine what out new resurrected bodies will be like. Let's look into God's Word for some insight.
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.... And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44,49
We know our new bodies will be incorruptible and perfect, no longer a physical body but a spiritual body. We will not be confined to the laws of the physical world anymore. Our new bodies will be similar to Jesus' Resurrected body (1 Cor. 15.49), recognizable to those who know us.
Jesus was able to enter the house to visit His disciples after His resurrection without using the door. At His ascension, Jesus floated up towards the heavens until He was received by a cloud as His disciples watched . What a glorious sight that must have been to see! Now that's something to look forward to. Our bodies will be perfect, without defects, having new capabilities that we can only dream of now.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18
These are just a few clues as to what we have to look forward to as heirs to The Kingdom of God but the truth is, that doesn't really matter right now. We know God is the perfect, loving Father towards His children and that whatever He has planned for us is much more than we deserve.
It is by the grace of God and only by the grace of God that we have any hope at all. Knowing that makes me realize just how important it is to use this time here on earth to glorify and perpetuate His Kingdom. I know that I want to strive for perfection while I'm still here, and to reflect God's love towards others as He has shown towards me.
When we look at those around us we should try to remember the awesome glory that has yet to be revealed in them. We may see them as imperfect now but The Lord sees them as they will be once liberated from these earthly bodies, perfect and glorious beyond imagination. We still have time, but each minute that passes is a minute closer to the King's return, let's use it wisely!