No More

No More

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. –Revelation 21:1, 4

Outside on our back patio, looking up into the sky, I said through tears, “I know you are in heaven, but heaven feels so far away from me.” It is the separation that hurts, I thought, remembering what Anne Graham Lotz had said at Hope’s memorial service, in her description of Hope’s new home in heaven. She told how she was at first disappointed by one aspect of the description of heaven given in Revelation 21, which says there will be no more sea—because Anne loves the beach. Anne looks for any chance she can to steal away for a day in the sun, enjoying the waves and wind. But she said that she realized seas, by their very nature, separate. They separate families and friends and entire continents from each other. In heaven there will be no more separation. There will be nothing that separates us from each other or from God ever again.

Not only will there be no separation, but biblical descriptions of heaven also include a long list of “no mores.” It is almost as if the biblical writers, in their struggle to describe what heaven will be, find that describing what it will not be is more instructive. No more night, no more time, no more sun or moon, no more marriage. But each of these have their element of disappointment too, don’t they? No more breathtaking sunsets or starlit skies? No more romantic evenings with our life’s companion? In reality, however, each “no more” reveals in relief the fullness of heaven.

No more separation—only eternal togetherness with those we love. No more sun or moon, as Jesus will be the only light we will need. No more marriage, as we’ll be forever wed to our Bridegroom, Jesus. No more time, as time will no longer be defined by minutes or hours, but only by the richness of Jesus’ presence. God knows which “no mores” will mean the most to those of us who hurt. No more sorrow. No more crying. No more pain. No more curse. No more death. “No more” encapsulates some of heaven’s sweetest gifts.

Designer of heaven, I can hardly imagine the joy of no more separation, no more sorrow or pain or death. You know what will make up heaven’s perfection and what to wipe away. I cling to your promises of “no more.”

DIGGING DEEPER