By Contributing Writer, Molly Evert
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (1 Cor 13:12)
Heaven will change many things, all for the better. In this passage, we learn it will change our perspective. We will think differently about the trappings of this life—both the things we treasure as well as the things we fear.
Many of the things which we currently cherish will not have the same value to us in glory.
Charles Spurgeon thought this passage demonstrates that our value system will be completely rearranged when we get to heaven. He taught:
“Our spiritual manhood in heaven will discard many things which we now count precious, as a full grown man discards the treasures of his childhood….though we delighted in them, and they pleased our eyes while sojourning on earth, they will pass away as a dream when one awaketh; we shall never see them again, and never want to see them; for our eyes in clearer light, anointed with eye-salve, shall see brighter visions, and we shall never regret what we have lost, in the presence of fairer scenes we shall have found.”
This is not to say that the lawful pursuits of this life are sinful, just that we will not miss them.
My father was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He went to be with the Lord three months before they became what ESPN called “the most improbable World Series champions who ever lived.” Did he miss out? Was he in glory looking down and rooting for his beloved team?
No. He is with his Beloved.
Russell Moore recently echoed this as well, aptly noting that “too many Christians see the hope of resurrection life as a capstone on their lives now. We implicitly assume that our focus in the new creation is a backward focus on our lives as they are now.”
The world, the flesh, and the devil paint our eternal future as but a dim, dull dream. Conversely, they insist that this world is permanent and “real”.
The truth is quite the opposite, dear friends. When we see the Lord face to face, it is this world which will grow dim in that Light.
Our perspective will also change in another way.
In this life there is much we do not understand about how our Lord deals with us in His providences, especially when they seem dark. This will not always be.
The Bible tells us that “for those who love God, all things work together for good.” (Romans 8:28) We believe this. We trust that it is true. But we don’t always know it as an empirical fact, especially when the things that are happening don’t seem good to our eyes. We don’t see how the threads of sickness, pain, loss, and death will become part of the tapestry of victory and joy which He is weaving for our good and His glory.
Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, articulated it best:
“I suppose it will be amongst our greatest surprises, the discovery of how the Lord dealt with us. ‘Why,’ we shall some of us say, ‘we prayed against those very circumstances which were the best that could have been appointed for us.’ ‘Ah!’ another will say, ‘I have fretted and troubled myself over what was, after all, the richest mercy the Lord ever sent.’ It must come out right in the long run; it must be well; every part and portion must work together with a unity of design to promote God’s glory and the saint’s good.
We shall see it there! And we shall lift up our song with new zest and joy, as fresh displays of the wisdom and goodness of God, whose ways are past finding out, are unfolded to our admiring view.”
About Molly
This was beautiful, Molly. Have you read Heaven by Randy Alcorn? You would love it.