How would you describe heaven to someone who has never heard about it or read about it in God’s Word?
Sometimes when I want to paint a picture of what heaven will be like—especially for those who don’t believe in God—I borrow the words of the prophet Isaiah, letting him set the scene.
On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and finest of wines.
(Isa.25:6)
When I have read that verse from the Bible to people—particularly non-Christians—they look at me and say, “Huh?” Never in their lives have they heard such a thing. Their idea of heaven was a bunch of ghostly looking saints sitting around on clouds surrounded by angels plucking harps. They never thought heaven could be so…earthy.
Or is it heavenly?
The point Isaiah is trying to make is that heaven is rock-solid real. Much more than anything we can see, touch, or taste on this earth.
It’s not just meat, it’s the best of meats.
It’s not just wine, it’s the best of wines.
Everything will be far better than anything we ever experienced on earth. I tell these unbelievers, “The most beautiful, pleasurable things one could enjoy here on this planet are only hints and whispers, and omens—mere crayon scribbles on a grocery sack—of even greater, more glorious things. Pleasures on earth are just shadows of their realities in heaven.
And then I say, “I will sit down at the wedding supper table of the Lord with Moses, toasting Martin Luther and King David, and giving a hug to the prophet Daniel. And I’ll look up and there walking toward me will be my dad and mother, and before you know it, we’ll break up into laughter and we will wipe our eyes and try to stop, then start laughing again, saying, ‘We’re here…they’re here…you’re here!’ And Jesus Christ will open our eyes to the great fountain of love in His heart for us, beyond all that we ever experienced on earth…and when we finally stop laughing and crying, Jesus Himself really will wipe away every one of our tears. That’s right, every one. (Rev. 21:4)
Then I will say to these unbelievers, “Are you prepared for heaven? Are you ready to meet your Maker? It’s a holy place for holy inhabitants. May I explain how you can get ready?
Heaven’s coming, and it’s real.
And I really want you—and all my friends—to be there.
(Joni Eareckson Tada, “A Place of Healing”)