Read: 1 Corinthians 13:8-12
In the book The Weight of Glory, C. S. Lewis tells the story of a woman who gave birth to a son while confined as a prisoner in a dungeon. Since the boy had never seen the outside world, his mother tried to describe it by making pencil drawings. Later when he and his mother were released from prison, those pencil sketches were replaced by the actual images of the beautiful world.
Similarly, the picture the Bible gives us of heaven will someday be replaced by joyful and direct experience. Paul the apostle understood that our perception of heaven is limited until one day in the future when we will be in Christ’s presence. 1 Cor. 13:12 says, “Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” Paul’s confidence in the glorious future gave him strength in the midst of trials. He says in Rom. 8:18 – “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Our present idea of the glories of heaven and eternity is only a rough outline. At the same time, we can be completely confident in Jesus’ claim that He has gone to prepare a place for us (John 14:1-3). Though now we see Jesus in the Bible, one day we will see Him face to face.
