Talking to God: In Heaven

Matthew 6:9-13 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Last week we began our look at the Lord’s Prayer. We first examined who it is that we pray to. We pray to God, who is our Father. As God’s beloved children, we are enabled to approach God directly, not through someone else, but personally. That God is our Father was a reminder of our unity in Him.

As we discussed the opening phrase in the prayer, I focused on the first two words: Our Father. While we are reminded that God is personal and loves us as a Father, the next two words add more context. God is our Father in Heaven. God is not simply one of us. He is not bound by the rules and limitations of humanity. He is wholly other. So while we pray to a God who loves us, we also pray to a God who is all powerful. He loves us and is able to do all things. 

A New Zealand chief, Tamahana, who visited England a few years ago, was remarkable for the deep spirituality of his mind and his constant delight in the word of God. One day he was taken to see a beautiful mansion—one of the show places near London. The gentleman who took him expected to see him greatly astonished, and much charmed to his surprise, to excite little or no admiration in his mind. Wondering how this could be, he began to point out to him its grandeur, the beauty of its costly furniture brought from all parts of the world, the view from windows, etc.

Tamahana heard all silently; then, looking around upon the walls, replied: “Ah, my Father’s house’s finer than this.” “Your father’s house!” thought the gentleman, who knew his father’s house was but a poor mud cottage. But Tamahana went on: “My Father’s house’s finer than this,” and began to speak in his own expressive, touching strain, of the house above—the house of “many mansions”—the eternal home of the Redeemer.

 Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (pp. 547–548). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

Before Jesus was crucified, he made promises. In John 14:1-4, we read Jesus’ words. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus’ disciples had every reason to be troubled and worried. But Jesus gives them hope. He goes to prepare a place for them. In his Father’s house are many rooms. His Father’s house is a place of security. Of safety. Of prosperity. This is the place where God is. 

Listen to the words of John’s vision in Revelation 21. He hears a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling 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.” (Rev. 21:3-4)

We will have perfect fellowship with God. Notice the intimacy in the picture of God himself wiping every tear from every eye. In heaven, there will be no more suffering or struggling. There will be no more sickness or death. There will be no poor people in heaven - I do not mean that the poor will not make it to Heaven - I mean that when you get to Heaven, you will find you are no longer poor. By having God himself, you will have everything you need and everything you desire.

Some people think of the things they love about this life and they say, “I sure hope Heaven has (fill in the blank).” But the reality is that the greatest things of this world are but a foretaste of Heaven. This is why Bible writers tell of streets of gold and that precious gemstones are plentiful. 

We aren’t there yet, and our world has problems. One problem is a justice problem. If  we look around we will realize this. If a criminal has money and political power, it is highly unlikely that he will ever be punished. Politicians, celebrities, and athletes have more money than they can spend, but at the same time, innocent children die of starvation. Where is the justice?

As Christians, we understand that God’s justice is perfect. So why don’t we see perfect justice here on earth? Why do we see sinful people prosper while righteous people suffer? The answer is, as we look at life on earth, we only see half of the picture. It would be like watching a champion Olympic athlete during training. The athlete is working extremely hard, all day long, every day, week-in, week-out. The athlete rarely takes a break and doesn’t go out and have fun and is often separated from family and friends. But the Olympics is primarily about the competition. All of that training prepares the Olympian for the big day, where she finally gets the glory. The same way, watching the suffering, struggling Christian here on earth may not look good, but that is without heaven.

Here on earth, we see the struggle, but the bigger picture must include Heaven. Heaven will be so great that, as Paul says in Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Or listen to 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 

No matter what you’ve gone through, the glory of Heaven will be enough reward to make it all worthwhile.

So when we pray to our Father in Heaven, we are recognizing that our Father will reward us, even when this life does not. Our Father has better things in store for us. We were made for Heaven, and when we get there, everything will be set right.