Unspeakable

My son often asks what it will be like in heaven. He wants to know if we’ll all own Camaros or if there will be lots of bunnies there (he loves wild jack rabbits). He wonders about athletics in heaven. And my wife and I try to answer as well as we can, but it all comes down to: it’s gonna be awesome—better than anything we can imagine.

This morning, I read a passage of scripture that says a similar thing—or at least refers to how hard it is to explain what heaven will be like.

2 Corinthians 12:1-4
I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

Paul’s acquaintance had experienced heaven, in some way, prior to his death. But he was not able to put that experience into words—it was too wonderful. It defied description.

Camaros and bunnies are not the outstanding characteristic of heaven, I’m sure. The bodily presence of Jesus Christ will be the outstanding characteristic. But I’m also quite sure that transportation will be beyond belief. Imagine technology without the limitations of sin binding it. And I’m sure that animals will be there and will be better than the animals we know now. And the pinnacle of the experience of heaven will be that we—the Church—will be enjoying it with our bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

Oh, how wonderful that will be!