Many Christians wrestle with the thought that heaven may not include all of their friends and family members. The idea that heaven could be “perfect” without certain people we love deeply can be very troubling.
This article will examine what the Bible teaches about heaven and who will be there. We’ll look at God’s perfection, His love, and His justice to help make sense of this difficult topic. Though we may not fully comprehend Gods ways, we can trust His goodness and take comfort in His word.
God’s Perfection
First, we must understand that God and heaven are perfect by nature. Heaven is a holy place where nothing impure can enter (Revelation 21:27). Because God is morally perfect, He cannot allow sin in His presence (Habakkuk 1:13). While we might desire for all people to go to heaven, the Bible tells us that not everyone will be received by God (Matthew 7:21-23). God’s standards are high, and not all are willing to meet those standards.
Still, we struggle with the thought of loved ones being excluded from heaven. How could heaven be perfectly joyful if people we care about aren’t there? We have to remember that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). He sees and understands things on a level we cannot. We also have to trust that in heaven, God Himself will provide unmatched joy and comfort to those who belong to Him. With sin eliminated, we will be able to see God’s perfection and experience true fulfillment in Him alone.
God’s Love
Not only is God perfectly holy, He is also perfectly loving. It is because of His great love that He sent Jesus to die for our sins (John 3:16). His desire is for all people to come to repentance and have eternal life (2 Peter 3:9). No one is excluded from His offer of salvation by grace through faith. He makes salvation available to anyone who trusts in Christ.
Additionally, God loves believers with a very special, very personal kind of love. Jesus said His Father loves His sheep who hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27). As His children, we have the amazing privilege of knowing we are loved by God. This love will be part of the joy and reward believers experience in heaven.
So heaven is made perfect, not just by the absence of sin, but by the very presence of God’s all-surpassing love. We will forever enjoy new depths of His love so wonderful, they make any earthly relationships pale in comparison.
God’s Justice
A third way to understand heaven’s perfection is to recognize that God is absolutely just. His judgments are always right. He will deal fairly with every person, and He will accomplish true and lasting justice (Genesis 18:25; Psalm 89:14).
Sadly, justice often does not prevail in this world. But we can take heart knowing that in eternity, God will make all things right. He knows the full story of every individual’s life – their upbringing, circumstances, opportunities to hear the gospel, etc. His justice exceeds human understanding. Given His omniscience and moral perfection, we can trust Him fully to judge righteously.
There is no need for those in heaven to mourn over perceived injustices. All will recognize God dealt with each person exactly as He saw fit. His reasons may not all be clear to us now, but the perfection of heaven assures us justice will be served in full measure.
What the Bible Says About Heaven
The Bible gives us glimpses of what heaven will be like. It describes it as a place of unmatched joy where there is no more pain, crying, or death (Revelation 21:4). Believers will be comforted, see God face to face, and worship Him forever (Revelation 7:15-17; 22:4). Heaven’s inhabitants will consist of those clothed in Christ’s righteousness (Revelation 19:6-8). There will be no need of sun or lamp, because God Himself will provide light (Revelation 22:5). We will serve Him, reign with Him, and share in the glories of a new creation (Revelation 22:5).
Notice, these passages do not say heaven will fulfill all our earthly desires or answer our limited human ideas of perfection. Rather, they show how God Himself will perfect all things. He will fully satisfy our deepest longings through His glorious presence. We will join in perfect worship with those God has gathered from all nations – not necessarily just those we expect or assume should be there based on earthly relationships.
Our Response
Facing the potential absence of loved ones in heaven prompts several appropriate responses from us:
- We can humbly acknowledge our lack of understanding compared to God’s unlimited knowledge and wisdom.
- We can trust God’s plan is certainly best, regardless of our doubts or perceptions.
- We can rest confidently in God’s promises that heaven will far exceed any expectations.
- We can take comfort knowing God’s judgments are true and righteous altogether.
- We can find motivation to share the gospel so more souls will join us in heaven.
- We can lay our griefs at the cross, recognizing that Christ bore God’s wrath so we could have eternal life.
- We can let go of our personal assumptions of what perfect joy requires and look forward to how God Himself will provide everlasting joy.
Rather than demanding heaven meets our specifications, we can surrender our desires to what we know will be God’s best plan. Even if that means separation from family or friends, we can declare along with the prophet Habakkuk, “yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:18)
Will We Know Our Loved Ones in Heaven?
This article has focused on loved ones being absent from heaven. But what if God graciously allows some of our friends or family to be present through Christ? Will we know them in heaven?
The Bible gives us hope we will recognize fellow believers in heaven, at least in some capacity:
- The disciples recognized Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration (Luke 9:30-33)
- A parable indicates we will be reunited with loved ones who died in Christ (Luke 16:19-31)
- Paul said we will fully know fellow believers in glory, even as we have been fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12)
These passages imply we will have awareness and recognition of some we knew on earth. Our relationships will likely take new shape, centered fully on Christ. But God seems to promise we will continue bonds grounded in Him.
Remaining Questions
Pressing questions may still linger when we consider friends or family who apparently missed salvation. We may be tempted to doubt God’s goodness. In these moments, we must recall His gracious offers of redemption, made to all persons. We can cling to His promise to wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). We must also accept the limitations of our earthly perspective.
In eternity, with sin abolished, we will see things from God’s higher view. “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully” (1 Corinthians 13:12). If we knew all God knows, we would understand completely and declare His judgments flawless. Though that perfect knowledge awaits heaven, we walk by faith today. We trust our Savior who eradicated death and brought life through His victory (2 Timothy 1:10).
Conclusion
The thought of loved ones missing heaven certainly causes grief. But we find hope and comfort in recalling God’s perfection, love, and justice. His plans for heaven are flawlessly and lovingly designed. Even without full understanding during our earthly lives, we can trust Him who holds eternity in His hands.
Heaven’s perfection stems not just from the absence of sin, but from the very presence of our perfect Savior. We can eagerly anticipate infinite joy as we worship Him face to face. The glory of that hope helps temper our sorrow as we spread the gospel and walk in faithful obedience each day.