Choose Life For Your Family | Jentezen Franklin
Why the Hope of Heaven Matters for Your Family
Heaven often feels like a faraway concept, a place we talk about during hard times or in passing at church, but rarely stop to truly consider. Yet, as followers of Jesus, the hope of heaven is not just a distant finish line—it’s a promise that shapes how we live, love, and lead our families today. In this article, we’ll discover why longing for heaven makes a difference not just for ourselves but also for those we love most.
God’s Promise of a New Beginning
Have you ever wished that pain, heartbreak, and grief could be erased forever? Revelation 21:4-5 shares a breathtaking promise: When we step into heaven, God Himself will wipe every tear from our eyes. Gone will be the pain, death, heartache, and mourning that sometimes seem inseparable from earthly life. Everything that wounds and wearies us will be gone for good.
It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of this life, to worry about jobs, bills, schedules, and daily struggles. But as Christians, we’re reminded that our lives are not just about the here and now. We’re headed for an eternity with God—a reality more vivid and alive than anything we experience now. That hope is meant to linger in our hearts, guiding our decisions and offering peace in tumultuous times. Heaven is real. Heaven is the ultimate truth. One day, God will wipe away every tear, and He has promised to make all things new.
Imagine a Place with No More Pain
Try to picture, just for a moment, a place beyond suffering. No more war; no more funerals or goodbyes. There won’t be police sirens, prison walls, or mental hospitals. The burdens that weigh down millions—depression, anxiety, suicide—are nowhere to be found in heaven. The stress, fear, and grief that seep into our relationships and homes will be left behind. In heaven, the problems that keep our hearts heavy—divorce, broken families, deception, theft, and loss—never cross the gates of that city. Instead, true peace reigns because Jesus, the King of kings, is on the throne.
Imagine walking down streets untouched by crime or sorrow, passing by people who have never felt loneliness or hunger. There is no sickness, addiction, or lack. No floods, no fires, no natural disasters. No death, no disease. In God’s presence, not even sin can survive; it will be defeated for all time.
The Beauty of Heaven—Beyond Imagination
Even our greatest joys here are just shadows of what awaits us. The Bible paints a majestic picture: Streets of pure gold. Gates fashioned from single, enormous pearls. The city’s foundation glimmering with every shade of precious stone—colors we’ve yet to see with our earthly eyes. While human eyes can distinguish about one million colors, some rare individuals see even more. And yet, the apostle Paul described the wonders of heaven as sights and sounds no human eye or ear has ever beheld. Heaven exceeds our wildest dreams.
Have you ever stood in awe of a mountain sunrise or the fiery colors of autumn leaves? As breathtaking as those moments are, even they are dimmed by the weight of the curse that still covers this earth. But in heaven, the curse is broken forever. Creation will glow with the fullness of God’s glory: radiant gardens, crystal rivers, and landscapes more vibrant and alive than anything we know. Even the rocks, say ancient rabbis, will shine with God’s presence in the age to come. All creation longs for that day—to return to the innocence and beauty of Eden, to rejoice in God’s presence.
Sights, Sounds, and Harmony Unmatched
Paul also hints that our senses will be sharper and fuller than ever before. Imagine a place where you can see colors you never knew existed—shades and vibrancy intensified beyond our earthly range. In heaven, you won’t just see beauty; you’ll hear it, too. Perfect harmonies will echo from angelic choirs and from believers who, even on earth, used their gifts to glorify God. Picture a celestial orchestra, 144,000 violins playing in unity, with trumpets announcing the reign of Christ. The music of heaven will resonate deep within your soul, unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.
And if you dare, imagine the city itself—New Jerusalem, God’s masterpiece. The Bible says it’s 1,500 miles wide, 1,500 miles long, and 1,500 miles high—so immense it would stretch from New Jersey to Miami and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi, then stack up beyond the clouds and even beyond the orbit of the International Space Station. Twelve foundations—each a precious jewel—uphold a city where no shadow, sickness, or sorrow can enter. This is the homeland God is preparing for His children.
Who Enters This Eternal City?
Heaven isn’t just a beautiful concept; it’s a real place with a real invitation. The Bible is clear: Nothing impure can enter this city. Only those whose names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life will pass through its gates. That’s the hope and challenge for every family—eternity with God is open to all who trust in Jesus and follow Him.
This raises a crucial question for each of us, especially those who lead families, teach children, or influence friends: Are we living in a way that points others to this promise? Our small acts of faithfulness, the example we set, and the love we share—all become the footprints that guide those we love towards eternal life. Heaven’s greatest treasure is not just its streets of gold or the absence of suffering, but the people who join us there.
The Greatest Joy—Seeing Your Family in Heaven
As glorious as the sights and wonders of heaven will be, there’s something that exceeds even that glory: Reuniting with those we love
