By the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Far away in heaven the inhabitants are free from our earthly creature comforts. They have no need of new clothing, for their white robes never wear out, nor will they ever get dirty or stained. They have no need of medicine to heal diseases, for “No one living in Zion will say, ‘I am ill’ ” (Isa. 33:24). They do not need sleep to refresh their bodies; they rest neither day nor night, but untiringly praise the Lord in His temple. They do not need any social relationships to minister comfort to them, and whatever enjoyment they derive from their friends is not essential to their happiness, for their fellowship with the Lord is enough to meet their greatest desires. No doubt they discuss the things of God with one another, but they need no teachers, for the Lord Himself instructs them.

Today we receive alms at the King’s gate, but they feast at the King’s table itself. Here we lean on a friend’s arm, but there they lean on their Beloved and Him alone. Here we must have the help of our friends, but there they find all they want in Christ Jesus. Here we look to meat that spoils for nourishment and to clothing that is eaten by moths for covering, but there they find everything in God. Here we use a bucket to fetch water from the well, but there they drink living water directly from the Source of the fountain. Angels bring us blessings here, but there they need no messengers from heaven. They need no Gabriels to bring them love notes from God, for there they see Him “face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12).

Oh, what a blessed time that will be when we will have risen above every meaningless earthly cause and will rest upon the arm of God alone! What a glorious hour it will be when God and not His creatures, when the Lord and not His works will be our daily joy! Only then will our souls have attained the perfection of happiness.

By the pen of Jim Reimann:

Today we have looked at the difference between our lives here on earth and the lives of the saints who have gone before us to heaven. But is there really any comparison? Can we really understand what awaits us in heaven? Is it possible for our finite minds to fully comprehend the infinity of eternity ahead?

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2 – 3). Later Paul said, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9). Yet the Lord has given us some insight into what’s ahead, for Paul goes on to say, “But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10).

And, of course, others such as Daniel and John were taken to the future to offer glimpses of what we will someday see in person. Yet when it comes to comparing today with our eternal future, always keep in mind: “Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).