by John Hampton

All of us ache for a better world. Would you agree? Every day we see headlines about suffering, senseless violence, and oppression. There is a restlessness in every human heart that instinctively longs for something more.

C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity,

Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger; there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim; there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire; there is such a thing as sex . . . . If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.

The “other world” Lewis writes about is the “new order of things” John the apostle reveals in Revelation 21.

Who Are You?

The most frequent question I have been asked about Heaven over the years is, “Will we know each other in heaven?” W.A. Criswell, the famous preacher of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, answered this well when he said: “We won’t really know each other until we get to Heaven.”

Clearing Things Up

A former staff member once told me he wanted the old Johnny Nash song, “I Can See Clearly Now” played at his funeral. I laughed at first, but every time I’ve listened to the song since and thought about its lyrics, the more I like his idea.

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone; I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind;

It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun-shiny day. 

I think I can make it now, the pain is gone.  All of the bad feelings have disappeared. Here is the rainbow I’ve been prayin’ for.

It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun-shiny day.

The lyrics echo John’s description of life in Heaven. Old order realities give way to new world rejoicing backed by the assurance of the only one who can make it happen: He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

Let it be so soon, Lord. Let it be so soon.

John Hampton is the lead minister at Journey Christian Church in Apopka, Florida. John and his wife Melinda have two daughters, Anna (24) and Rachel (19). John is vice-president of the 2011 North American Convention to be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 5-8.