Shall We Know One Another in Heaven? — J. C. Ryle
I pity that man who never thinks about Heaven. I use that word in the broadest and most popular sense. I mean by “Heaven” the future dwelling-place of all true Christians, when the dead are raised, and the world has passed away. Cold and unfeeling must that heart be, which never gives a thought to that dwelling-place! Dull and earthly must that mind be, which never considers “Heaven!”
We may die any day. “In the midst of life, we are in death.” We must all die sooner or later. The youngest, the fairest, the strongest, the cleverest — all must go down one day before the scythe of the King of Terrors. This world shall not go on for ever as it does now. Its affairs shall at last be wound up. The King of kings will come, and take his great power, and reign over all. The judgment shall be set, the books shall be opened, the dead shall be raised, and the living shall be changed.
And where do we all hope to go then? Why, if we know anything of true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ — then we hope to go to “Heaven.” Surely there is nothing unreasonable in asking men to consider the subject of Heaven.
Now, what will Heaven be like? The question, no doubt, is a deep one, but there is nothing presumptuous in looking at it. The man who is about to sail for Australia or New Zealand as a settler, is naturally anxious to know something about his future home, its climate, its employments, its inhabitants, its ways, and its customs. All these are subjects of deep interest to him.
In the same way, you are leaving the land of your nativity — and you are going to spend the rest of your life in a new world. It would be strange indeed if you did not desire information about your new abode.
Now surely, if we hope to dwell for ever in that “better country, even a heavenly one” — then we ought to seek all the knowledge we can get about it. Before we go to our eternal home — we should try to become acquainted with it.
There are many things about Heaven revealed in Scripture which I purposely pass over. That it is a prepared place for a prepared people; that all who are found there will be of one mind and of one experience: chosen by the same Father, washed in the same blood of atonement, and renewed by the same Spirit; that universal and perfect holiness, love, and knowledge will be the eternal law of the kingdom — all these are ancient things, and I do not mean to dwell on them. Suffice it to say that Heaven is the eternal presence of everything that can make a saint happy — and the eternal absence of everything that can cause sorrow. Sickness, and pain, and disease, and death, and poverty, and labor, and money, and care, and ignorance, and misunderstanding, and slander, and lying, and strife, and contention, and quarrels, and envies, and jealousies, and bad tempers, and infidelity, and skepticism, and wickedness, and superstition, and heresy, and schism, and wars, and fightings, and bloodshed, and murders, and law-suits — all, all these things shall have no place in Heaven. On earth, in this present time, they may live and flourish. In Heaven even their footprints shall not be known.
Hear what the inspired apostle John says:
“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life!” Revelation 21:27
“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 22:5
“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:16-17
“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.” Revelation 21:3-4
Hear what that glorious dreamer, John Bunyan, says, though writing with an uninspired pen: “Now I saw in my dream that these two men went in at the gate. And behold! as they entered, they were transfigured, and they were arrayed with clothing which shone like gold. Some met them with harps and crowns, which were given to the Pilgrims. The harps were given for worship — and the crowns were given as a token of honor.
Then I heard in my dream that all the bells in the City rang again for joy, and that it was said to the Pilgrims, “Enter into the joy of your Lord!”
I also heard Christian and Hopeful themselves singing with a loud voice, saying, “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power — be unto Him who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, forever and ever!”