Heaven. It is a land, we are told, more glorious than we can comprehend. It's beauty and peace supersede all our prior experience. In futile attempts to describe heaven's majesty, gospel writers have talked about crowns of glory, living water, rest, and the wiping away of our tears. They have assured us that in heaven, "we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2)

This is all well and good. But, it implies something that often goes unmentioned. Heaven will only be heaven to those that can receive it. In other words, just because on could, in theory, be in heaven, does not mean that they would have the real capacity to be in heaven. The only ones receiving crowns of glory will be those whose heads and necks are strong enough to support them. Those drinking living water will be those that have prepared cups to drink out of. The ones resting will be those that have finished the work God gave them. Only those with faces that won't wither and shrink at the finger of deity will have their tears wiped from their cheeks by loving hands. And only those that have eyes to see will see Him as He is. (Matthew 13:9)

Heaven

Can we, mere mortals, with thick tongues describe it? A place beyond compare?
Or can we only draw our earthly allusions and wish that we were there?
Do we comprehend the glory of heaven pictured by apostles of old?
Can we feign to understand what creatures might live in palaces of ivory and gold?

Rest from the world, Waters that Live, and Crowns of Glory too.
Who will be Resting? Who will be Drinking? Who will be Wearing Crowns? Who?
Not only these, but tears as well, dried by the Finger of Might.
And seeing Him, as he really is - Who can behold such a sight?

The answers are plain, and terrible too, to these questions of vital import.
Those resting and drinking, wearing and seeing will be those of a godly sort.

Those that will rest will be those that can rest, having finished the work they were given,
Safely and happily, tranquilly and peacefully, they'll rest in their restful heaven.

The Drinkers will be those who during this life drank from the waters of life,
And brought with them a cup in which to catch the liquid that never dies.

Crowns of Glory will be placed on the heads of those that have the heads to bear,
A Crown so heavy and shining with power that Heaven has to put it there.

Tears will remain in this glorious realm - Tears both of sorrow and joy,
To be wiped from the faces of those that in life were enlisted in God's employ.

Seen. He'll be seen. And seen as He is. Seen as He truly is.
Seen by eyes. Eyes purified. Heavenly eyes, eyes like His.

Answered. Now answered, these questions stand. These questions of vital import.
The question is now, the question more vital, are you of a godly sort?

Are you doing your work? Are you shaping a cup? Is your head growing strong to support?
When you are seen, will you be seeing? and welcomed as a Heavenly Cohort?

So often in life we ready ourselves for things of no more than a moment.
Why not ready yourself, today, right now, for joy and eternal fulfillment?