As we think about Heaven, we tend to have our view tainted by what we think about our lives here. It is hard for us to imagine a life that is perfect. The only place we have ever seen perfection on this earth is in the life of Jesus. He was the only man who never sinned, yet He suffered the consequences of our sin. However, Heaven is perfect, and all who inhabit Heaven will be perfect in their glorified body. A question I have heard all my life concerning Heaven is, “Will we know each other in Heaven?” Since we have never been to Heaven, we must rely on what the Bible says. This book holds the only answers that are valid about Heaven.
In I Corinthians 13:12, Paul writes about the day we will see clearly. Now, we see as if we are looking in a mirror. He uses the word glass, which means mirror. Mirrors in Paul’s time were made of polished metal, so the image, at best, would be a bit obscure. Even today, what we see in a mirror is not always an accurate reflection. There are external factors that affect what it projects. Lighting is a significant factor. There will be no distortions in Heaven, and all will be clear. The light of the world, Jesus, is there, and there will be no shadows or imperfections to obscure our view. Now, we see one another in part. We do not know a person as God knows them. We do not even know ourselves as God knows us. The Bible teaches us we can deceive ourselves. Paul writes in I Corinthians 3:18, “Let no man deceive himself.” In James I:22, he writes, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” If we listen to or read the world but do not obey the word, we have deceived ourselves into believing we are right with God. We all deceive ourselves in some ways because, with our sinful nature, we do not see perfectly.
After speaking of how our vision is imperfect here, Paul turns the corner with two words, but then! These little words indicate a change is about to happen. When we reach Heaven, we will have a complete revelation of Heaven. When I think of this, all I can say is WOW! We will see clearly; we will see as God knows us to be. He knows us thoroughly, inside and out. He knows us intimately as no one else can. We will be seen as we are.
I Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
In Psalm 139:1, the psalmist praises God for His omniscience. This all-knowing power is beyond our comprehension now, but one day, we will know ourselves as God knows us. Praise God, our sinful nature will be gone, and all of our imperfections will be made perfect. Our sin makes us ashamed, so we try to cover it. But then, we will have no need spiritually, emotionally, or physically to hide or cover up who we are.
Psalm 139:1-4 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.”
I do not understand how we will be able to know everyone, even people we have never met, but I know we will. On the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-4 we find Jesus taking Peter, James, and John with Him to witness His transfiguration. While there, Moses and Elijah appeared. Peter, James, and John recognized them. There were no photographs of them, no social media to look them up on, no paintings to portray them, yet they recognized them. These men had been dead for hundreds of years when Peter, James, and John were born. We will recognize others, and they will recognize us. That’s a beautiful truth when you stop and think about all of those you loved that are there now. It is a beautiful thought when you realize we can pick Paul out of a crowd and talk to him.
Matthew 17:1-4 “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.”
It would be enough just to meet Jesus and sit at His feet. He is the first one I want to see and talk to, yet God’s love for us allows us to know and be known by all who are in Heaven. What a day that will be when we are with Jesus, and we will know others, and they will know us.
