The Land of No More

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4 KJV)

In the television program “The Joy of Painting,” Bob Ross would spend about twenty-seven minutes instructing someone how to paint a particular painting. Most of the time he would paint mountain ranges and his famous “happy trees” but he would begin by giving instruction regarding what colors to use and the placement of those colors on the canvas and through the process of the show he would paint a beautiful landscape scene. If we were to begin to paint a picture of heaven, what would that picture look like? I imagine if we were instructed on how to draw a picture of a mountain and trees or pictures would probably look differently, as our imaginations and artistic skill levels are different, but if we want to paint a picture of heaven, our pictures can look the same if we allow the Scriptures to be our guide. As we look at Revelation 21, we see a picture of heaven that is painted for us that describes a “land of no more,” as there is no more separation, no more sickness, and no more sin.

When we think about the eternal home of the soul, one of the comforting thoughts they may cross our minds is the fact that there will be no more separation. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea” (Revelation 21:1 KJV). This statement “no more sea” is a beautiful picture of the reunion that will take place in heaven. Imagine the apostle John, who had been exiled to the isle of Patmos, staring at the Aegean Sea and thinking about his desire to be with his brethren (he would refer to them in his epistles as “my little children”) but knowing that he was separated from them by the sea. Now imagine John having the sea taken out of the way and him now being able to be reunited with them; what a joyous occasion it would have been for him. Now imagine all of the faithful brothers, sisters, family members, loved ones that have passed from this life onto Paradise and us being separated from them. Also, imagine the many times we desire to see the Godhead face to face, and the many times that we have cried out to the Father desiring to be with Him as we await that Great Day that is coming when we are able to hear those words “well done; enter in” and then that day does come and we do hear those words and we are now face to face with the Ones that created us and we are able to bow at His feet and try to find adequate words to be able to thank Jesus for all that He has done to make a way available for us to be here! Heaven will be a land of no more separation from our loved ones. Life is temporary, and just as a person lives, so also, they die, but in heaven there will be no more separation. The father and mother that provided a Christian environment for the children as the raised them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, the spouse that continued to be a faithful Christian and example to their wayward husband/wife but remained faithful to Jesus, the preacher that encouraged us week in and week out, the elder that watched over our souls, the members that exhorted us daily, the body of Christ someday will never be separated but will be together in heaven as we will behold the majesty of God, we will be able to behold the Lamb of God that took away the sin of the world (John 1:29), we will be able to be in the presence of the Spirit of God that gave us the Word in order that we have a guide in our lives to keep us from sin (Psalm 119:11), we will be in the presence of the live that the Godhead possesses (John 3:16) and we will never be told to leave. Do you see the picture of heaven? Do you desire to be there?

Heaven is a place of no more sickness. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4 KJV). On this earth tears are shed, death takes us all, sorrow and pain are very real, but in heaven these things will be no more. We sing about the fact that there will be “no tears in heaven, all will be glory in that land.” On this earth there is plenty to drive one to tears (death, sorrow, depression, pain), but heaven will be a land of never-ending joy and there will be no more sadness of any kind. There will be no more death in heaven. On this earth it is appointed unto man to die (Heb. 9:27), but there is a day that is coming when all that are in the graves will hear the voice of the Great Judge, we will stand before His judgment seat and be judge according to the life that we have lived (John 5:28-29; 2 Cor. 5:10), and those that have been found faithful will have victory over the grave (1 Cor. 15:55-57).In heaven there will be no more sorrow or pain as all of the physical senses of this earth will have ceased and we have taken a “new body” (1 John 3:2; 2 Peter 3:10). All of the reasons for pain and sorrow will be relieved by the Great Physician. Do you see the picture of heaven? Do you desire to be there?

Heaven will be a place of no more sin. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8 KJV). God cannot be associated with sin and will not allow sin to enter into the place where He dwells (Isa. 59:2; Lam. 1:8). Christians are to live their lives as a separated people that are wholly given to God, but those that fail to do such will be eternally separated from the Father in heaven. The true enemies of God and His children will not celebrate victory in eternity but as the war has taken place and the Christ has been victorious in the resurrection and the Great I AM hands down the eternal punishment to the defeated they are taken to the second death. Those that have committed the sinful actions listed in Revelation 21:8 will in no wise be able to face the Judgment in confidence of receiving a reward but will face the dreaded reality of being forever cutoff from the Giver of life and now enter the excruciating pain of the second death. Do you see the picture of heaven? Do you desire to be there?

Do you envision this land of no mores and anticipate that Great Day that is coming or do you envision this land and see a land where you can no more hope for? If you are not a faithful Christian this picture cannot become a reality for you, but if you obey the commands of God you will be able to inherit all things and see this land yourself.