When was the last experience you had that exceeded your expectations? Perhaps you visited a new restaurant that far exceeded your expectations. Perhaps you ordered a new piece of clothing online that was even better in person. I love these experiences when things turn out to be far better than we imagined. On an infinitely larger scale, this will be the case when we are in Heaven. Try as we might to imagine what it will be like, Heaven will be infinitely better than we could ever think or imagine.
Paul wrote about the glory of what God has planned for His people in 1 Corinthians 2. In this passage of Scripture, he explained that when he taught mature believers, he spoke with wisdom that came from God. This wisdom, he explained, was all about God’s plan to rescue His people. (verses 6-7). As he described God’s rescue plan for His people, he quoted part of Isaiah 64:4, saying, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (verse 9). Heaven, according to Scripture, will be unlike anything we have ever seen or heard. Even the beauty and splendor of this earth fall short of what Heaven will be like. The most beautiful melody we will hear on earth will not compare to what we will hear in Heaven. Even more, we cannot even imagine in our minds the splendor and glory of Heaven. It will be that glorious and spectacular.
My friends, one day, when Christ returns and we spend eternity with Him, we will discover that Heaven is far greater and far grander than anything we could have imagined in our minds. After all, God is a spectacular creator. What He has planned for us is infinitely better than anything we could plan for ourselves. If God is grander, greater, and more glorious than our minds can fathom, and He is, it stands to reason that His plans and eternity with Him will reflect His power, greatness, and glory. As the prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 64:4, “For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for Him.” There is no one like our God. Nothing compares to Him. When we spend eternity with Him forever, we will discover how the new Heaven and new earth reflect his splendor and glory.
The reality of Heaven and the truth that it will be far greater than we can think or imagine is something to celebrate. It should lead us to worship God. Make plans to worship God at one of our weekend services and praise Him for the reality of Heaven, which will be better than our wildest imaginations. We can’t wait to see you there!
1When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”
10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For,
“Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to teach him?”
But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
