Knowing Our Loved Ones in Heaven
by Paul Richards
The Bible has many
wonderful things to say about heaven, but it does not say explicitly 'Thou
shalt know each other personally in heaven.'
You cannot find a single verse
that stands by itself and proclaims that everyone will know everyone in heaven,
or that you will know your loved ones there. Instead, we have to read and
digest several Bible verses and draw this conclusion implicitly.
Yes, Katie, we will know
our loved ones in heaven. The Bible says so. Here is how the Bible says it.
First, we realize that we are spiritual beings. We have physical
bodies, but we also have God-given spiritual components to our lives.
This is clearly seen in one of the foundational passages in Scripture:
This is clearly seen in one of the foundational passages in Scripture:
Then God said, 'Let
Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over
the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and
over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'
“God created man in
His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created
them. God blessed them; and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and
fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the
birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.' - Genesis 1:26ff [NASB]
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Unlike every other creature
on earth, mankind is made in the image and likeness of God. This gives us a
spiritual component. It is the spiritual component that
allows us to fellowship
with God Himself, and interact with each other on a level deeper than the
physical senses. It is more than mere intelligence and mechanical
communication.
Godly spirituality rests at
the center of our emotions and our thought-life. It gives us moral freedom and
will. It gives us the capability to know and love God, and guide our actions
and subdue our impulses on the basis of reason, and to rule over nature. It is
what distinguishes men and women from animals.
In Genesis chapter 1, the
Bible presents evidence of our spiritual component by noting our prowess over
the animals. In other places, the spiritual aspect of
human life is brought out
in several other ways, including eternal life.
Second, when we die
physically, our spirits live on. In other words, our God-given spiritual
component lives forever. This is eternal life.
According to the Bible, some
people's spirits end up in heaven, while other people's spirits end up in hell.
The well-known Bible verse:
"We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be
present with the Lord." - 2
Corinthians 5:8 [KJV]
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indicates that when our
redeemed
spirits leave our bodies they immediately enter into the presence of
God.
Third, we know and interact
with each other now, on Earth, through our bodies and spirits.
Presumably, without bodies, we will not interact with each other in the same way we do now. This is conjecture, but it seems plausible that to know our loved ones in heaven they way we know them on Earth, bodies are required, not just spirits.
Presumably, without bodies, we will not interact with each other in the same way we do now. This is conjecture, but it seems plausible that to know our loved ones in heaven they way we know them on Earth, bodies are required, not just spirits.
While we know from Luke
20:35 that people in heaven do not marry, the same passage gives evidence of a
great resurrection of the dead when our bodies come back to life.
"Behold,
I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will
sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For
this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on
immortality" - 1
Corinthians 15:51 [NASB]
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1 Corinthians 15 (and other
passages) tell of a great Day when a mighty trumpet blast will usher in a
change to everyone's body. Whether you are dead at
the time, or alive, you get
a new body.
This new body is imperishable, not like our old perishable bodies, and it is equipped for eternal life in heaven. This is a true resurrection day!
This new body is imperishable, not like our old perishable bodies, and it is equipped for eternal life in heaven. This is a true resurrection day!
The life of Jesus gives us
a glimpse into resurrection day in several places.
Remember the account of Mary the mother of Jesus at the tomb on the first resurrection day:
Remember the account of Mary the mother of Jesus at the tomb on the first resurrection day:
"But
Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped
down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting,
the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had
lain.
“And
they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they
have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
“And
when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and
knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?
whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him,
Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I
will take him away.
“Jesus
saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which
is to say, Master." - John
20:11ff [KJV]
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Jesus had His new
imperishable body. Mary did not recognize him at first, but after Jesus called
her by name, Mary knew it was Jesus.
Loved ones were interacting
on a personal level in a heavenly realm, and we take this to mean that the same
thing will happen to all those in heaven some day.
Mary
and Jesus talk at the tomb. This is one example from the Bible of people who
know their loved ones after death. There are several other examples in the
New Testament, such as the Transfiguration in Matthew 17.
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In fact, things in heaven
will be even more full and complete than we can imagine today. Praise the Lord!
"What we
see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What
I know now is only partial; then it will be complete -- as complete as God's
knowledge of me."
- 1
Corinthians 13:12 [GNB]
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Are
you struggling with a big decision or wondering how your eternal future will
play out?
Why
not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work in your behalf?
He
says, “I will instruct you and teach you
the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask
God to show you what to do. Pray the following prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner and my
sins have separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my past sinful
life and begin a new life with You.
Please forgive me. I now receive Your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and
confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus
Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, "Whosoever shall
call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans
10:13).
I believe and confess that Jesus
Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father,
but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to
come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank you that you have given me
eternal life, and according to your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift
of the Holy Spirit that is in me now. I surrender my life to You.
Use me for your glory.
Use me for your glory.
In Jesus Name. Amen.”
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lyrics
As we
worship in your presence there is healing
The
Holy Spirit's gentle touch is flowing
Jesus,
we believe
Jesus,
there's healing in your name
As we
worship in your presence there is healing
The
Holy Spirit's gentle touch is flowing
Jesus,
we believe
Jesus,
there's healing in your name
Almighty
father
we lift
our hands to you
We
receive your power
To heal
as you would do
As we
worship in your presence there is healing
The
Holy Spirit's gentle touch is flowing
Jesus,
we believe
Jesus,
there's healing in your name
Almighty
father
we lift
our hands to you
We
receive your power
To heal
as you would do
Jesus,
we believe
Jesus,
there's healing in your name
“O Lord Your Tenderness”
Graham Kendrick
Graham Kendrick
lyrics
Chorus
O Lord
Your tenderness
Melting
all my bitterness
O Lord
I receive Your love
O Lord
Your loveliness
Changing
all my ugliness
O Lord
I receive Your love
O Lord
I receive Your love
O Lord
I receive Your love
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