11-02-2025 Will We Know Our Loved Ones in Heaven?

Text: I Peter 1:3-5; I Thessalonians 4:13-18

                   All Christians have been given a promise that we will live eternally in Heaven.  Just what is it that makes this promise so precious?  Because of what will happen to us the moment we close our eyes in death and are transferred to our eternal life with Jesus.  II Corinthians 5:8 tells us that we will be with Jesus immediately upon our death.  Revelation 21:1-6 tells us that there will be no more sickness, sorrow, or death when we get there.  John 14:1-3 tells us that Jesus will be there, and I Peter 1:4 tells us that it is where our inheritance will be.  And, we will be reunited with our loved ones who have gone before us.  Finally that separation will be over because we will see them and we will know them. 

                   How do we know this is true?  Our first text this morning is from I Peter 1:3-5 where Peter wrote:  “(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a likely hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead  (4) to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, received in Heaven for you, (5) who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  Peter is giving us joy and hope in times of trouble, and he bases his confidence on what God has done for us through Christ Jesus.  We’re called into a living hope (a promise) of eternal life.  Even more, our inheritance - eternal life – begins the moment we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior and join God’s family.  God will help us remain true to our faith through whatever difficult times we must face.  The ‘last time’ is the Judgment Day of Christ as described in Romans 14;10 and Revelation 20:11-15.  No matter what trials or persecution we may face, our soul can never be harmed if we have accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation.  We will be protected by His power and receive the promised rewards.

                   Heaven isn’t a place of darkness.  Revelation 21:23-27 tells us it’s a place of light.  John 8:12 tells us Jesus was the Light of the World while on earth.  Many found Him to be the Light of their life then and many today are finding that He is the Light of their life today.  In Heaven there won’t be any night.  Matthew 8:12 tells us that Hell is the place of darkness.  But in Heaven there will be more light than we ever had in our earthly lives.

                   Paul tells us in I Corinthians 13:12 that many on earth are blind.  Some are physically blind but many more are spiritually blind.  Jesus came to open the eyes of those who are blind – physically and spiritually – because when we receive Him into our hearts He bring spiritual sight.  When we get to Heaven we will know more than we ever knew while on earth.  We’ll know the saints of all the ages – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, Moses, Joshua, to name a few.  And we will know Jesus.  If we will be able to know these giants of faith we have studied about in our Bible, of course we will know those we loved most who have gone before us.  We will also have a full understanding and appreciation for one another as unique expressions of God’s infinite creativity.  We will use our differences as a reason to praise God.  Based on that perspective, we should treat each other with the same love, respect, and unity that we will one day share in Heaven.

                   Heaven is a place where Jesus makes things right.  In our second text this morning Paul give us a message of comfort when he wrote in I Thessalonians 4:13-18:  “ (13) But I would not have you to be ignorant brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.  (15) For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  (16) For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God:  and the dead in Christ shall rise first; (17) then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 

                   This entire passage speaks of reunion and fellowship.  Knowing exactly when the dead will be raised in relation to the other events that will occur at the Second Coming isn’t as important as knowing why Paul wrote them.  This passage is meant to challenge believers to comfort and encourage one another when loved ones die with the promise of seeing them again.  This passage is a great comfort when any believer dies.  The same love that unites believers in this life will unite them when Jesus returns and reigns for eternity.  We will know our loved ones and will enjoy Heaven with them.

                   As we prepare to celebrate communion on this first Sunday of the month, we should all take time to be thankful that Jesus willing came to this world to suffer agony and die in unbelievable pain so that He could pay the price owed by us because of our sin.  Through His death, we have been redeemed and can now return to the family of God our Father.  We can be grateful that, as part of the family of God through our acceptance of Him into our life by faith, we will be reunited with those who have left us never to be separated again.  This is the promise that has been given to all believers because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

                   Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.