Will we know each other when we get to heaven?
September 25th, 2008 Posted in encouragement, family, questionsThis question is asked quite often, and it seems to me that the answer is yes, we will know one another in heaven.
Why is it that we think we would know less in heaven than we do now on earth? You remember how on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus stood–shining like the sun–with Moses and Elijah on each side. Observing this were Jesus’ disciples, Peter, James, and John.
Somehow, they knew it was Moses the great lawgiver and Elijah the miracle-working prophet with their Lord. But how? They were not wearing little name tags like one does when invited to a “meet and greet” gathering (“Hi, my name is Moses!”). Moses and Elijah had been in glory, but had been brought back temporarily for this special appearance with Christ.
The answer is that, even in a glorified state, these two men were still Moses and Elijah. In the same way, when we get to heaven, we will still be us!
We will be the same people we were on Earth. We will have the same thoughts, feelings, and desires, but all perfected.
Know this–you will be you in heaven! After Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to His disciples, He said, “It is I Myself!” (Luke 24:39 NKJV)
In heaven, we will know more, not less
We are told by experts that we only use 5% of our minds. In heaven, we shall surely be restored to a full 100% of it, if not more.
The Bible tells us we shall “know fully” even as we are known (1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV). In heaven, we will know just like we do on Earth, except more. We will know more in heaven, but the desire to sin will be gone.
You will still love your family and friends. In fact, it will be a stronger, sweeter, purer love. There will be no more a break in our love than there is a break in our thoughts. Death breaks ties on Earth, but renews them in heaven.
As Erwin Lutzer says in his book One Minute After You Die: “Think of the purest joy on Earth, then multiply that many times, and you might catch a glimpse of heaven’s euphoria. Even in the Old Testament, David knew enough to write, ‘In Your Presence is fullness of Joy, and on your right hand pleasures for evermore.’ Heaven is the perfecting of the highest moments of our present Christian experiences.”
What will our new bodies be like?
You will have a new body in heaven, but it will not be in the same state as now. The Bible says, “Our earthly bodies, which die and decay, will be different when they are resurrected, for they will never die. 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” (1 Corinthians 15:42-43 NLT).
So if you were disabled on Earth, you won’t be in heaven. If your body has cancer, or is just worn out with age, it won’t be in heaven.
We often talk about the differences there will be when we make our transition from Earth to heaven. But there are some similarities too. Heaven is the earthly life of the believer glorified and perfected.
“I can’t find my car!”
I have been having more of these “senior moments” of late.
For instance, I keep losing my car! If my wife and I go to a mall and park in one of those multi-level parking garages, we will come out and wonder, “Where did we park that car?” So I will walk around, holding up my key and pressing the alarm button, hoping my car will alert me to its whereabouts.
When it does start honking, I usually find it two levels down from the one I am on. Right, I parked on a different level. Sigh.
I know quite a few people in heaven
When we pass over to the other side, our minds and our memories will be clearer than ever before.
My son Christopher is there. So is my mom and my stepfather Oscar, who adopted me. Both of my grandparents are there too. And more and more of my friends. I will be there one day as well.
And the best thing of all is that Jesus Christ is there. I am looking forward to it.
What about you?
two of my sons are waiting for me among others that i loved
i have one son still living of my three and he is prodigal
i ask for prayer for Theo so that when this life is over he will be ready to join us
Greg,
My husband’s 1 year anniversary is approaching soon the 27th of Oct to be exact, and this question came up the other day, and I did not know how to answer it, only that I had hoped it was true, but did not have any biblical truths to back it up, until now. I was feeling sad, and alone… you know how the enemy tries to take your eyes off the Lord? Well,I was feeling like I was drowning in my grief. I am so thankful for your faithfulness to all of us, even in your time of grief, I bet the Lord is showing you new and greater things now that you are drawn to Him. That is my desire, to know Him more, I tell Him in my thoughts, that if I am going through this grief, He has to be faithful to keep me close to him. Please pray for my 2 sons Ayden 6 yrs and Jonah 4 yrs. They miss him so much, I hate to see them hurting, that is not what we as parents intended for our children, but I know that God is in control, and what the devil intended for bad, the Lord turns it around for good for His glory.
Thank you.
Ever Mateo
I was very saddened to hear of your loss. Having lost a son myself I know sadnesss. It seems that there are no right words that I wanted to hear at the time other than “I’m sorry.” Thanks for putting into words my feelings on how to treat people, and what to say and NOT say! I guess that’s why I’ve put this post off this long. I didn’t want to say anything hurtful.
You nailed it on the head about the emotional roller coaster ride. One moment I could laugh at a joke. The next I was finding a corner to cry in so I didn’t make anyone else feel uncomfortable seeing me. “How are you?” was a rough question to answer.
Trying to figure out a ‘why’ was exhausting. Years later I decided to give up wondering. Some questions are never answered. God has the final say, the best path, and I had to come to peace with His decision. I am at peace . As I type my eyes are welling up. I guess I can feel both sadness and peace at the same time. Maybe you do too.
I enjoy listening to you, and reading your devotions via the internet. I turn the volume up on my day off and clean. You can even make nasty housework bearable!
I enjoy coming to Harvest one Sunday a year when I fly in. Keep up the good work. You are a blessing to so many.
I am sorry, very sorry, for what you and your family are going through.
Karen
Pastor Greg,
I’ve listened to you on the radio since 1995, and have and attended many of the Harvest Crusades in Anaheim, CA. Although I have never met you personally, I feel you are part of my family.
My heart has truly ached for you every day since Christopher went home to be with the Lord. I ask God to give you the comfort that only He can give, for I know the pain is very deep and some times unbearable.
I wanted to let you know that through this unexpected tragedy in the Laurie family, my two prodigal daughters have returned to the Lord and now attend Harvest Christian Fellowship. Also, one of my co-workers, who was raised Catholic, received the Lord on 7/28/08 at Harvest Christian Fellowship and made a profession of faith when you gave the invitation.
She now reads your blog every day just to see how you are doing, but at the same time you are ministering to her. She even watched The Passion of the Christ, and your messages and the movie have been teaching her a lot about the hope we as Christians carry when we leave this world. Sometimes she wants to write you, but says she doesn’t know what to say as her heart also aches for your loss and cries for you.
I will continue to pray for you.
Pastor Greg,
Thank you for your thoughts, I do enjoy reading them. You have a gift with your words, no doubt.
Looking forward to heaven as well….
Becky
Greetings from Philadelphia!(I guess I should prepare you and say “Yo…How you doing?”) We are eagerly awaiting the crusade next weekend. All over the Philly and South Jersey area your picture and crusade message about heavan have raised some eyebrows as well as a few questions. I am praying for my friends and family to accompany me over the weekend.
I wonder when we get to heaven if the people that have passed before us will be as forgiving as our Father will be to us? Although I try to live the right way, when I veer off track I think of my mom and grandparents who helped raise me and wonder what they are thinking. I hope my mom doesn’t bring out the “stink eye”. That was her weapon of choice when she was either mad or disappointed in me. I am also wondering if my dad will know me. He died when I was four in an auto accident and I have no active memories of him, other than pictures. He was 22 when he passed so in my eyes he will always be young and handsome. I hoping when we finally get to meet he’ll give me that crooked smile that are in so many of his pictures.
I also want to thank you Pastor Greg. My own children are 24, 26 and 29 and out on their own. Life gets busy and days pass and we have no contact. Since your son passed, and reading your blogs, I realize we have to take time to slow down and pick up the phone, shot off and e-mail/text or pop in for a visit. You have made it crystal clear that we are here on God’s time table and there may be no tomorrow. I now take the time to contact them, if for no other reason, than just to say “I love you”. My oldest is overseas in the military, so I always send up and extra prayer for his safety as well.
See you next weekend!
Pastor Greg,
My husband and I lost our 6 year old daughter in a fatal car accident on July 23rd,2008. I know that Christopher went to be with the Lord the very next day. I heard about him through our church members when they came to grieve with us. I was taking my daughter to the park when a truck hit us and she [Hannah] died on the spot. I came out of the accident without even a scratch. It was amazing to go through Hannah’s stuff the next day and find a letter addressed to Jesus in which she wrote down the sinners prayer.
We know she is in heaven right now, so is your son. Just wanted to let you know we are thinking of you very much, since we are travelling the same valley as you are. God keep you in peace.
In Christ,
Raichel.
As a fellower family who lost a child and Praises to the Lord for His unending goodness and mercy.. Our son Matthew died 5 years ago.
ALl his questions were answered in Jesus,and we found a freedom beyond our human understanding. I understand your longing for heaven and more of Jesus everyday… and others to know HIM and the peace that passes all understanding.
Greg and family continue on,as we are all in agreement with your blog and Jesus is with us comforting us.
I can hardly wait to bow before Him and thank Him but I do everyday in my Praise to Him for who He is. Lord bless you and family big hug from Missouri
greetings to you Laurie family,grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ our Lord and Precious Savior.Thank you so much for the teaching on heaven.I look so forward to going to heaven after learning how beautiful and glorious it will be.Like you said besides being able to see our loved ones there, Jesus our Savior will be there forever.I pray for your family Greg may our beautiful Lord be with you all as you grieve your beautiful son Topher.I really enjoy looking at photos of Topher and the photos he took.Thank you for your blogs .Love in Jesus,
Pastor Greg – I’m looking forward to seeing my Jesus, my Mom and a lot of other’s that I miss. And Senior moments should be given to anyone who has kids of any age, forget the age we are!
Thank you for being so open about your grief and healing. The pastor at the church I grew up in had a saying of “we are Blessed to be a Blessing” and you and yours are truly that.
Hi Pastor Greg,
I wanted to share with you, my Miranda’s (she’s 8) take on Matthew 18:2-3.
We were having a discussion on heaven a few months back…what we thought it would be like, if animals would be there (she says yes) and if we would sound the same..just little thoughts we had. I tried to tell her how incredible it will be and she got all excited and said she knew! I asked what she meant and she said that the Bible says you have to be a kid to go to heaven, so she can only imagine how much fun it will be there and can’t wait! From her perspective, I bet your son is the life of the party there…he sounded like a very fun-loving guy.
Praying your smiles outweigh the tears today…
Hugs & Blessings,
Amy and Miranda
Pastor Greg
My husband and I moved to Columbus, GA to plant a Calvary Chapel 5 years ago..we are the same age as Christopher and Brittany. I am a young mom of 4 children…please know and pass onto Brittany that I am holding her up in prayer as a young mommy and mommy-to-be.
We are holding your and Cathe’s arms up in prayer!
Thank you for being faithful to praise our Father through the pain.
Serving Jesus
mark and amber Swift
Pastor Greg,
I enjoy your messages and started visiting here periodically after your son died. I am sorry for your loss, but I know that, like me, you have a personal walk with my dear Jesus and you know that Christopher’s faith is now sight.
I have an aunt who has just been given 6months to live, but she and I both know that whether God fulfills this “determination” given to her by man or whether He brings glory to HImself by healing her…that either way she wins. While it hurts to think of her gone and the grief it will bring to my mom and my grandparents, there is a part of me that is almost jealous to know that she may soon walk in glory with our Lord. I pray that God will continue to give you peace and comfort as you imagine the joys inexpressible that Christopher experiences eternally now.
God bless you,Pastor.
Hi Pastor Greg, Cathe, Jonathan, Brittany and Stella,
We love you and appreciate you so much!
We continue to uphold you in our prayers. You are all such an inspiration and testimony. God bless you for your faithfulness to Him and to us, your congregation.
Tom, Lisa and Johnny
Pastor Greg,
I am sending hugs & kisses to the Laurie Family. I enjoy all you have shared with us. Thank you, for your faithfulness to our Lord Jesus. I have truly enjoyed the studies. My prayers will be with you and your family.
oh dear, dear Greg, how I have enjoyed reading your blog since your son left for heaven. I’ve smiled and cried and been so encouraged by your strength which of course, I know comes from the Lord. Anyway, thanks so much for sharing this very difficult experience with all those who love you and your family. The comfort you are receiving you are sharing with so many others and it is greatly appreciated!!
Thank you Pastor Greg….can’t wait to be a gardener in the Garden of my King!
Also, just to let you know, my birthday is April 1st….I feel very special to know that Christopher’s birthday was the same. I’m looking forward to that day of meeting him.