Last time you thought about the after life, how did you picture it? What does heaven look like for you? Clouds and harps? Rolling hills and gentle breezes? Constant football, baseball, and basketball? Probably, most of us have a pretty vague notion about what heaven is like and maybe that’s why many of us aren’t as concerned as we should be whether or not we will be going there. But Christ and the Scriptures are pretty clear about the after life, particularly what things will be like when this universe passes away. At the end of time, says our Christian tradition, there will be a mysterious, wonderful renewal that transforms humanity and the world. Called by Scriptures "a new heaven and a new earth", it will be creation as it is meant to be - totally in harmony with itself and with Christ as its head. God’s Word makes it clear that heaven is the fulfillment of our hopes and longings - it’s not a vague and shadowy place. Heaven is a place you want to be and its going to be familiar but in a perfect sort of way. All the things we love here on earth are perfected in heaven.

The approaching Millennium becomes a time when our longing for this new heaven and new earth is intensified. Some people focus more on the destruction of this world and get people all fearful and apprehensive. But the Church wants us to be optimistic and hopeful, each of us aware that it is worth our while to be faithful to Christ. His promises are real and we don’t want to miss the opportunity to be with Him forever. Though we know neither the day nor the hour of our final transformation, the coming Millennium helps us refocus our priorities and get ready for the day when Christ transforms all creation into that new heaven and new earth. We’re supposed to be there, so live like we deserve a place with Christ and all the saints.