Unimaginable

“But, as it is written,
‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love Him’

—1 Corinthians 2:9

Heaven is our home, our destination. But for whatever reason, we don’t think of heaven much. We are too busy thinking of the things of earth and what is going on in the here and now.

Because our understanding of heaven is so limited, the only imagery of heaven we seem to entertain consists of a crude ethereal destination where clouds of white surround everyone and elevator music fills the air. Such images of heaven are entirely wrong. Heaven is so much greater, filled with color, the culmination of joy and delight, of which the experiences of this world are simply foretastes. I envision smells that evoke fond memories and pleasurable feelings of time and joys gone by. Touches reminiscent of past embraces long since forgotten trigger pleasurable sensations reverberating throughout the body. Sounds of heaven far beyond what any earthly voice could replicate fill the air. Memories of songs, joyful reminisces of soaring notes send chills cascading from the ear drums to the back and into the heart reminding one that the voice was created by the divine.

And then the sights! Oh, to be able to see the full palate of God’s color wheel! Colors never seen before overwhelm the eyes and captivate the mind in a dizzying array of shades and hues unknown and unimagined by the greatest and most skilled artists of earth. And the tastes! Eating at the table of the divine chef and creator of our mystical palate! Tastes rooted in regions and countries known for their sweet delicacies fade away at the table of God’s delectable delights. These speculations are perhaps as close as an earthly human can conceive of, for Heaven is truly unimaginable!

But what is it that truly makes heaven heaven? The answer is simple, it's Jesus. Jesus is the one who makes heaven delightful, because He, ultimately, is our greatest treasure and heart’s desire. Without Him, it’s not heaven. It’s just a place far away in dreams and fairytales. But with Jesus, heaven is intensely and unquestionably real. His life testifies to the fact because heaven is where He came from and where He returned (John 6:38, John 16:28, Acts 1:11).

Do you long for heaven? Is it real to you? Heaven was so real that Paul could say, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better”—Philippians 1:21-23.

Is heaven your home? Do you look forward to it? Do you long for the day when you will be in the presence of Him who is your Savior, Lord, King, Creator, and God? He makes heaven what it is—and for those who love Him, He will make heaven unimaginable. Amen.