Then the Angel showed me Water-of-Life River, crystal bright. It flowed from the Throne of God and the Lamb, right down the middle of the street. The Tree of Life was planted on each side of the River, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a ripe fruit each month. The leaves of the Tree are for healing the nations. Never again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His servants will offer God service—worshiping, they’ll look on his face, their foreheads mirroring God. Never again will there be any night. No one will need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone needs. And they will rule with him age after age after age.   Revelation 22:1-5 (The Message)
I like The Message paraphrase to read sometimes because it reads like a novel. In this passage, it makes it easy for me to imagine what John saw. The beauty that he tried to describe about a place that I will someday see.
Do you look forward to Heaven? I do. And the more events that happen here in this world, the more I look forward to my real home. I feel more and more like I don’t belong here. That I am a stranger in a strange land. That I am a alien here.
“But you’ll have to die to get there, Jody!†That is true unless the Father decides it is time for Jesus to come back before He decides it’s time for my temporary body to die. But I have been very blessed to attend the death of many people who were Believers and it was a holy experience. In many cases there was a discernible glow in the room. I knew that God was there to take His child home. There was peace. There was joy because there was no longer any separation.
I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and so had the sea. Then I saw New Jerusalem, that holy city, coming down from God in heaven. It was like a bride dressed in her wedding gown and ready to meet her husband.
I heard a loud voice shout from the throne:
God’s home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people. He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever.†  Revelation 21:1-4 (CEV)
I was reading this passage to my son as he lay dying. As I repeated the words that there would be no tears or suffering or pain, he smiled a little and his eyes got real big like he saw something spectacular. And closed his eyes and stopped breathing. He had left. I believe he moved toward what he saw.
When someone we love dies, it is so very hard to let them go. But our time apart is so very small when counted against eternity. 30, 40, even 50 years is nothing compared to time that never ends. And when we are together again there will be no tears, no suffering, no crying or pain – no death! Have you looked at a sunrise? Have you stood at the ocean? Have you climbed a mountain and looked out? Have you bent to sniff an opening rose? These are all just glimpses into what is waiting for us at home with all our family who also love our LORD.
Heaven is a Wonderful Place from Kids Praise I with Psalty & the gang
