Let’s Talk About Heaven: Our Life in Heaven

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by Harvest Partners, helping people everywhere know God. If you would like to know how you can become a Harvest Partner, just go to harvest.org.

That's harvest.org. I think some people think Heaven's going to be a long worship service. Coming up, Pastor Greg Laurie points out what we'll be doing in Heaven, influenced by the gratitude and praise that spring up from within us. There will be singing in Heaven, and I think one of the reasons for the unbridled worship in Heaven is because now we know all things, all of our questions are answered, all of our pain is removed, all of our tears are dry. Okay, and that's going to be amazing. Sometimes we just can't hold back the joy.

When our favorite sports team wins the big game, when our young child takes his first steps, when you hear the words, you may kiss your bride. Well, when we get to Heaven, we just may not be able to hold ourselves back from worship. Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us see what we'll be doing in Heaven and what things will be different from this life and what things will largely be the same.

Fascinating insights ahead. Let's answer some often asked questions about the afterlife. Number one, what will our new bodies be like in Heaven? Number two, will we know each other in Heaven? Number three, will we be married in Heaven? Number four, what will we do in Heaven? And fifth and lastly, and this is often asked, do people in Heaven know what's going on with us on earth?

Alright, so let's go question by question. And by the way, in our last message, we discovered, of course, Heaven is an actual place, not a state of mind. It's a real place. Jesus said in John 14, I've gone to prepare a place for you. Jesus tells us and the rest of the Bible tells us, Heaven is a city, Heaven is a country, Heaven is a paradise. Whatever you've experienced on this earth, the best of the best of the best doesn't even come close to the glory of Heaven.

Why? Because earth at its best is a pale imitation of the real thing, which is Heaven. Heaven is not a watered down version of earth, it's kind of the other way around. And so whatever you are thinking, it's going to be far better than you ever imagined. Alright, so what about these new bodies the Bible talks about? What will they be like?

Short answer, amazing. You will be given a new body, but it will still be you, it will just be the radically upgraded version of you. Okay, here's what the Bible says, 1 Corinthians 15. Our bodies now disappoint us, but when they are raised they will be full of glory.

They are weak now, but when they are raised they will be full of power. They are natural bodies now, but when they are raised they will be spiritual bodies. So listen to this, our new bodies that God will give to us later will be both different and at the same time the same as our body here.

By that I mean you are still you, as I have already said, but again a radically upgraded version of you. Okay, so Jesus says in John 14, In My Father's house are many mansions, or dwelling places if it were not so I would have told you. If I go I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am you may be also. In My Father's house are many mansions. So what is this mansion referring to in John 14?

A couple of options. One, it may be our new body that God will give to us. 2 Corinthians 5, 1 in the New Living Translation says, When this earthly tent we live in is taken down, when we die and leave these bodies, we have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God Himself. We will put on the new body like new clothes. Okay, so it could be a description of our new body, but it could be a house. I mean literally a house in heaven.

Why not? The idea is that it is a real place waiting for you. What it is exactly I don't know, but it is going to be amazing. We know that. And you know I will tell you what. The thing is with life as you get older it seems like it goes more quickly. But here is the good news. Though your body is wearing out like a tent, which is not meant to last forever, God is going to resurrect it and your soul will live forever and your body will be resurrected. So now when we are in heaven will we know each other in heaven? Do you think you are going to be more stupid in heaven than you are on earth? Maybe I should ask the question, well do you know each other on earth? Well then you are going to of course know each other in heaven. So I think when you get to heaven, yes we will see each other. Yes we will know one another. We are told in 1 Corinthians 13 we will know as we are known. We will know everything we know on earth except more.

We will know everything we know on earth but with divine perspective now. Sometimes people have this mistaken notion that when you get to heaven you have some kind of a brain wipe. It is almost like heaven is a giant lobotomy or something.

No. I want to know. There are memories of earth in heaven. Oh that can't be true Greg because we would be sorrowful. Well you have perspective.

See I understand things now. How can I be rewarded for something I did on earth if there is not a memory of what I did on earth? So you are going to remember earthly things but now with perspective. There is no break in my love for my loved ones. Death breaks ties on earth but renews them in heaven. The same people we were here. Here is one that sometimes asks will we be married in heaven? Interesting question.

Alright first of all let's take a quick poll. How many of you are married? Raise your hand up. How many of you want to be married in heaven? You want to continue to be married in heaven. How many of you would rather not be married in heaven?

There are a few hands going up. And some of you are not totally committed in that other question. Kelly. Well my wife is next to me. I do. Liars.

No. Ok. You will be married in heaven. Now let me return to that and I will explain it in a moment.

You will be married in heaven. Ok so one day a group of people called the Sadducees came to Jesus. Now the Sadducees were different than the Pharisees. The Sadducees did not believe in life beyond the grave.

The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection of the body. The Sadducees had a pretty bleak outlook. In fact their name said it all. Sad. You see.

Right. Because that is a sad way to see life. So they thought they were going to trap Jesus with a question.

Ok Jesus we have a question for you. There is this woman who was married and her husband died. And then she married the guy's brother and he died. And then she married another brother and he died. And it went on seven times in the resurrection whose wife is she. I would have asked what is this woman cooking and feeding these men?

What is going on? The point of that is they thought you know if you are going to be together in the afterlife who is going to be married to this person? And now Jesus sets the record straight and he says in Matthew 22 You are mistaken not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. In the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage.

You are like the angels of God in heaven. So they neither marry or are given in marriage. Ok so let's say you have a really close marriage. And you can't bear the thought of not being married to your spouse anymore. Well in heaven you will not have the same kind of relationship but it will be better.

It will be stronger. It will be closer but you will not marry or be given in marriage in heaven. But you will have the fully realized version of everything that marriage points to.

So you say well you are contradicting yourself. You just told me we won't be married in heaven but earlier you said we will be married in heaven. You will be married in heaven.

Not to each other. You are the bride married to Jesus Christ who is the bridegroom. So you are married in heaven. Of all the things God could have chosen to show His love for the church and the church's love for Him God chose marriage.

And of all the witnesses God could have chosen to a lost world He chose marriage effectively saying, hey nonbelievers check this out. See how this Christian husband loves his wife. That's how I love my church.

Hey check this out. You see how this wife loves her husband. That's how my church loves me. So marriage is a beautiful symbol that will be fully realized in heaven.

It will be different than it is now but trust me it will be better. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. We send these daily studies out via radio, satellite and over the internet.

And we don't always know how these messages are touching lives. But when we hear the stories of our listeners it really is encouraging to us. Hi Pastor Greg.

You share the same birthday as my dad. Thank you for the online videos of your sermons. I was a prodigal child and I stumbled across your videos and decided to recommit my life to the Lord.

I've never felt better. You have brought me back in my faith and now I want to live right and serve the Lord. One of your videos about prayer helped me learn how to pray. I hope one day when this pandemic is over that I can visit your church in person.

Thank you. Do you have a story to tell of how Pastor Greg's teaching has impacted you? If so why not email him at Greg at harvest dot org.

Again that's Greg at harvest dot org. Well today Pastor Greg is presenting the answers to five common questions people ask about heaven. All centered on how different life will be there than it is here. Let's continue.

Number four. What will we do in heaven? I think some people think heaven is going to be super boring. Well we know we will be worshipping and that's of course why I exist to bring glory to God. But Revelation 15 says I saw a glass scene mixed with fire and there stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast.

That would be the antichrist and his image and the number representing his name. They were holding harps. So there are harps in heaven. And God had given them and they were singing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb.

So there will be singing in heaven. And I think one of the reasons for the unbridled worship in heaven is because now we know all things. All of our questions are answered. All of our pain is removed.

All of our tears are dried. Don't misunderstand. This doesn't mean heaven is going to be a long worship service. Because oh it's going to be like a church service forever. No you're going to do other stuff. Okay. But you're going to be doing a lot of worshipping.

Okay. And it's going to be amazing. But here's something else you're going to do in heaven. I guarantee this.

You're going to be eating amazing food in heaven. Come on. You want that.

Don't you? Well where do you get that? From the Bible. The only authoritative source in heaven. Revelation 19, 19. Then the angel said, blessed are those who were invited to the wedding supper.

Let's remind it. We're the bride of Christ. The wedding supper of the Lamb.

These are the two words of God. I like the word supper. In the south they call dinner supper. And I was raised by my grandparents for many years of my life. Stella and Charles McDaniel. I called my grandmother Mama Stella. And I called my grandfather Daddy Charles. And then when my mom was running around with all of her guys and getting divorced and getting drunk and all that crazy stuff she sent me to live with my grandparents.

And so there with them it was a very stable home. It was almost like being raised from someone from another century actually. My grandfather was quite a strict disciplinarian I have to say. But my grandmother was an amazing cook. She made everything from scratch.

She never served leftovers one time in her life. And we had all that good southern cooking. And if you know the southern cooking you know fried chicken that was just incredible. Black eyed peas. Okra.

Collard greens. You ever try those before? Now these are the things my grandmother would make. But her crowning achievement was her biscuit. I've never had a biscuit anywhere like this. Like if a biscuit could be literally anointed by God. This is what I'm talking about.

It was like so insane. It was a buttermilk biscuit. And when my grandmother was getting older I said to my wife Kathy Watch Mama Stella make the biscuit. Learn the secret of the biscuit. Grasshopper.

You must learn it. And you know she did a pretty good job reproducing them. But no one could quite produce the biscuit that my grandmother Mama Stella made. And I just think you know when we get to heaven I'm hoping to get some of those biscuits again.

I'm going to find Mama Stella. But some of you don't connect to southern cooking. You're into Mexican food.

Ok? So you're thinking enchiladas and tacos and all those things. And then others are going no no no it's Italian food. Italian food. No it's you know the pasta and the pizza. I had pizza today.

Here's my problem. I love all those foods. Everything I love is fattening.

I don't love anything that's not fattening. I don't love kale salad. I don't even know what the point of eating salad is. To me eating salad is like practice. It's just like ok I can chew and swallow. Good. You know someone says I had a nice salad for lunch. I'm like what? It's just nothing. It's just lettuce and stuff you know.

But whatever it is that rings your bell good chance it will be in heaven. And if it isn't there will be something better there. I'm into sushi.

Ok. Sushi then. Whatever you like it's going to be better than what you could ever dream of. And not only will you have that meal but you'll be with people. The whole thing about having a nice meal is having it with someone you like to be with.

Right? Being with friends and family. Enjoying a meal together.

Well check this out. You're going to have some pretty amazing company. Matthew 8 11 says, And that day comes you will take your place at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

How's that for starters? Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to have a meal with. You can sit down at a table with Moses. Moses could you pass the manna? Elijah my meat is a little undercooked.

Could you give it a little more fire? Lot could you pass the salt? Oh Lot you're so sensitive. Get over it. You made it to heaven. Come on man. You have to know the Bible to get these jokes.

Ok. These are insider Bible jokes. But one of the things that I've enjoyed over the years is getting to meet a lot of wonderful men and women of God. And whenever I'm around older people who've known the Lord for many years I pick their brains. You know I've gotten to know people like Chuck Sundahl, David Jeremiah, Dr. Dobson, Alan Redpath, and of course Billy Graham.

I think I drove Billy Graham insane with all of my questions. Because whenever I was with him I wanted to know everything about everyone. Because he was like Mr. History. You know he knew all these people I've read about. He knew Golda Meir the Prime Minister of Israel. He knew Muhammad Ali came over to his house for lunch. He knew every president going back to Truman. Bono from U2 came and visited him and read poetry to his wife Ruth. And his wife Ruth was as amazing as Billy was. She was just a wealth of Bible knowledge.

And it was so wonderful to be with them. He knew C.S. Lewis.

I mean I quote C.S. Lewis. He met C.S.

Lewis for Pete's sake. It's just amazing the people he knew. So I mean thinking of that. Think about meeting people of the Bible. Asking David what was it like to slay Goliath. You know Noah so how did that work being in that ark all that time. Or Moses when you parted the Red Sea.

Give me some details about it. Esther what was it like to save the entire Jewish race. Deborah what was it like to lead all those people into battle. Hey Mary Mary what was it like to carry Jesus in your womb.

And later have him in your heart. You know I mean don't you want to ask those questions. I do because when I'm around godly people I want details. I want information.

I want to learn from them. And you'll have access to all these great men and women of God from the Bible. Who've gone before us to meet the Lord. And but of course it's being reunited with loved ones that we miss. How many of you have someone that was very close to you.

Who has gone to heaven. Right now you have someone and that's pretty much everybody. So you think about those people don't you. And you think about being with them. Because one of the hardest things about death is communication is cut off immediately. And you want to communicate with them.

And it's so hard when you can't. And sometimes people want to try to talk to their loved ones. And they'll go to mediums who will tell them I'm getting messages from your loved one right now. And just understand that is never real.

It's either not real or it's demonic. But that you don't want to go there. You don't want to ever try to communicate with your loved ones in heaven.

And I'll hear people say well I sense my loved one who died is with me. And they spoke to me the other day. Can I be blunt with you? No they didn't. They didn't speak to you. They're not guiding you. And they're not involved in your life right now. They aren't.

Okay I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you they were. I wish I could tell you that they're you know helping you right now.

No they aren't. They're in the other side. As David said of his son who died. He cannot come to me but I will go to him.

So they're not talking to you. They're not coming to you. But one day you will go to them. You will be reunited with them if they died in faith. Biblical truth today on matters of eternity from Pastor Greg Laurie.

The only information we can count on about the hereafter comes from the Lord Himself. And Pastor Greg will have more insight as he continues this message here on A New Beginning. You can hear a replay of today's study by going to harvest.org. Just look for the title Let's Talk About Heaven Part 2. Download an MP3 for later if you'd like. Or for a copy on CD call 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300. Pastor Greg many of us I think have been on sort of a news diet. You know watching the news can just cause so much stress and disappointment. The world is a mess. Yes. It sure seems like God may be up to something. You think? Yes.

I sure pray and hope so because I'll tell you what. Our nation needs a healing. I cannot remember a time when we've been more divided. The only parallel would be late 60s with all the riots and racial division and issues of that time. I would say it's as bad today. I would say it's maybe even a little bit worse today.

Because you know what Dave? Back in the late 60s we didn't have social media. We didn't have Twitter.

We didn't have all these platforms where fuel could be thrown onto pre-existing flames. And I think everybody just needs to step back. And I'm talking now primarily to Christians. And we need to live and behave as followers of Jesus Christ.

Because really we should seek to be bridge builders not bridge burners. We need to be peacemakers not troublemakers. And I think we need to really pray that God would heal our land. Now I know I've quoted this verse many times.

But man it is so clear and really gives us the prescription for the healing of a nation. And it of course is 2 Chronicles 7 14 where the Lord says, If my people, notice he points his finger at his people. When a nation is in trouble God doesn't point his finger at the government. He points his finger at his people. He says, If my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face. And turn from their wicked ways. Then God promises I'll hear from heaven forgive their sin and heal their land. We need a healing.

And it's happened before and it can happen again. The last great spiritual awakening in American history was known as the Jesus movement or the Jesus revolution. Some historians believe not only was it the last great revival. Some even believe it was the greatest of all the revivals.

Here's what I do know. I came to Christ in 1970. I walked into the epicenter of the Jesus movement.

And I saw amazing things. And my life was impacted. And a whole generation was impacted.

The nation was impacted. And I wrote a book about it. And the title of that book is Jesus Revolution. And I might also add that I co-wrote it with a lady named Ellen Vaughan. Ellen Vaughan was also the co-author of my autobiography called Lost Boy. A very gifted writer in her own right. And she helped me put this book together.

She did extensive research so you can understand the backdrop of the Jesus revolution. And I think as you read this book you're going to say, wow, this reminds me of right now. And so here's what we're saying, Lord do it again. As scripture says, will you not revive us again that your people may praise you. So we need another spiritual awakening. I don't think we can organize it. But I think we can agonize for it in prayer.

And I don't think we can make it happen. But I think we can prepare the ground for the work of the Spirit. And I think reading this book will inspire you. Because you know it's been said, the fame of revival spreads the flame of revival. So learn about the fame of revival. Learn about what God did in the last great spiritual awakening in America.

And let's pray that it'll happen again. I want to send you this book, Jesus Revolution, at no cost. All I ask of you is that you would send a gift to help us continue to preach the gospel and teach the word of God. So for your gift of any size, I'll rush you a copy of my book, Jesus Revolution.

Yeah, that's right. It's an inspiring look at what happened during the 60s and 70s and how it can happen again. In fact, the subtitle of the book is How God Transformed an Unlikely Generation and How He Can Do It Again Today.

And along with the book, we'll even include the brand new study guide that helps you dive even deeper into the insights Pastor Greg presents. So to thank you for your generous donation right now, we hope you'll ask for Jesus Revolution. And we won't be mentioning this much longer, so contact us soon. You can write us at A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514. Or call us anytime 24 hours a day at 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300. Or go online to Harvest.org. Well, next time, hope you'll join us as Pastor Greg brings us important insights to help us share the hope of Christ. It's a timely Easter message next time on A New Beginning with Pastor Greg Laurie. The preceding message from Greg Laurie was made possible by Harvest Partners, helping people everywhere know God. Sign up for Pastor Greg's free daily email devotions at harvest.org.