Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation!
ISAIAH 65:17–18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:18
The full moon had reached its zenith in the night sky, transforming my backyard into a magical wonderland of shadow and light. It was a perfect setting for the wondrous revelations my angel had just provided about death and life. “This journey of ours has revealed so many things I never completely understood, Margaret,” I said. “I am truly amazed to learn how many times the heavenly realm has intersected with my life.”
Margaret flashed me her lovely smile. “Heaven wants to intersect with you, child. You were not created to go through the human experience alone—heaven wants to walk alongside you, providing wisdom, help, and hope.” Then she gave me a knowing look. “You had a special visit with your friend after she returned to her heavenly home, didn’t you?”
“I sure did,” I answered. I leaned my head back and gazed up at the moon and began to tell her about an intriguing dream visit I’d had with Carol a month after she died.
I approach a charming, white, cottage-style house with a large, inviting front porch. The air is pleasant and warm. As I begin climbing the steps to the front door, the screen door opens and there stands my friend Carol, wearing a cheerful red-and-white apron. Her curly, near–shoulder-length white hair dances slightly in the breeze, and her cheeks are a rosy pink. She has a fresh-baked-cookie smell about her. She looks wonderful and happy. She gives me a big smile and comes out to greet me. “Jennifer!” she says, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I am so glad you came to see me! I have so much to tell you. Heaven is not what I expected—it is so much more.”
Carol tells me that heaven is not just a remote place away from earth. Heaven is everywhere—an unseen world that exists alongside ours. It surrounds us and moves with us each and every day of our existence on earth, yet we are separated by a barrier put in place by God. She tells me that Jesus can cross over to earth any time he is needed. His angels can do the same. Their bodies are able to cross the barrier between heaven and earth, whereas humans, by nature of our sinful flesh, cannot. When we are set free in death, we can then cross the barrier into our heavenly home. Even more glorious is the fact that there is a steady, continuous merging occurring between earth and the realm of heaven, as if the barrier is slowly thinning. God is establishing his kingdom in the hearts of believers—throughout the ages, one at a time.
I listen in amazement to all that Carol is telling me, and it resonates inside me as a mind-boggling truth. As I stand there on the porch, the images begin to fade and I awaken.
As I finished describing this dream, I marveled that heaven was intersecting my real world in powerful ways . . . realms colliding, Jesus appearing, angelic interventions . . .
Breaking my reverie, Margaret quietly asked, “What are your impressions of this dream visit you had with Carol?”
“Honestly,” I replied, shaking my head slowly, “I feel truly blessed by what she shared with me. To begin with, since I knew Carol was now Home, in my mind’s eye I saw her in the charming setting of a cottage-style home with a large veranda-like front porch, a type of home that is particularly appealing and comforting to me. And when she came out onto the porch to greet me, she was so happy and excited to share something that gave her great delight. As she shared her thoughts with me, I began to understand them with a clarity I had not experienced before.
“Carol told me that heaven is everywhere, all around us. It makes me immediately think of that moment you and I had here in the back of the yard when we embraced heaven together.”
Margaret beamed, her eyes sparkling, and I continued.
“It makes sense to me, Margaret. I used to think of heaven as somewhere ‘up there,’ far, far away. In the very first chapter of Genesis it states that heaven and earth are separate, separated by a barrier put in place by God. And that is true. We cannot see heaven, and we cannot go there until we are set free from our earthly bodies. I still think of heaven as ‘up’ since anything not on earth is above. But I do not believe that heaven is far away. Especially after all I have learned from you.”
Margaret gave me a delighted smile. “When you consider that heaven, though separate from earth, is everywhere, it can help you understand that God is everywhere. He sees your actions, and he knows what is in your hearts and minds. He is with you all the time. And when you choose to be in a relationship with him, he sends his Spirit across the barrier to live within you, to guide you, to be your advocate and comforter.”
“The way you explain it sounds so simple, Margaret,” I said thoughtfully, “and yet it seems heaven is such a difficult concept for people to grasp. Or maybe grasp isn’t the right word—maybe it’s just hard to believe. It is hard to believe in something you can’t see.”
“Ah, yes,” said Margaret with a wistful smile. “You cannot believe in something until you give yourself permission to believe. That, child, is true freedom.”
“I love that!” I exclaimed. “It gives me the freedom to believe that anything is possible when it comes to the things of God.”
“Hold on to that belief, dear girl,” laughed Margaret. “Let’s get back to your visit with Carol. What else did she say that enlightened you?”
“Well,” I answered, “Carol did not mention it specifically, but one of her revelations stirred a more profound awareness in me regarding the essential nature of prayer. She told me our Lord can cross over to earth anytime he is needed. It’s as if God provided his children with a powerful lifeline to heaven . . . a way to communicate with him—through prayer—across the barrier between earth and heaven. When we cry out to him, he can respond in an instant.”
With a nod of approval, Margaret’s tone became serious. “Communication is crucial to the success of any relationship, Jennifer, both here on earth and in heaven. Our beloved Heavenly Prince was in constant prayer during his time on earth. He knew the value of and necessity of prayer, because it was his lifeline to his Father and his true home. My child, even though God is all-seeing, he still wants to hear from you. He wants to know about the desires, joys, and concerns of your heart, and he wants you to ask him for help, for blessings, for spiritual gifts. Because when you do so, you are choosing to have a relationship with him; you are choosing to grow closer to him and to put your trust in the one who has loved you since the very beginning. That is what brings our Father immeasurable joy.”
“I can’t imagine not talking to God,” I said. “I talk to him all the time. I told you earlier how Billy Graham encouraged me to talk to God and how that changed my life. Throughout the years, as I have grown into my relationship with him, I have experienced spine-tingling examples of the Divine nature of prayer.”
“Can you share one of those examples with me?” asked Margaret.
“Sure,” I said. “This was an experience I will never forget. I was working for a hospital system in Ohio when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed. It was a homegrown terrorist attack, and it left the nation reeling. Our faith-based hospital had a sister hospital in Oklahoma City where many of the injured were being treated and many of the dead had been taken. In an effort to express our love and concern for our counterparts who were caring for the victims and their families, we posted a huge banner in our lobby to provide a way for our employees, patients, and visitors to share their thoughts and prayers. The long banner hung for a week, and every inch was filled with written prayers. It was beautiful and breathtaking. One short prayer particularly touched my heart: ‘May God wrap your hospital, and all who are within its walls, in his loving embrace.’
“Finally, the banner was carefully taken down and rolled up, ready for its journey to Oklahoma City. I was asked by our administrator to take the banner over to the other hospital in our system where it would be shipped from. My job frequently took me to this other hospital, and I planned to go over later in the day. I carried the banner back to my office and set it in the corner up against the wall behind my desk.
“As I sat down and got back to work, I was continually distracted by the feeling of a presence in the room. It was so strong that several times I swung around in my chair and looked toward the wall. I could see nothing but the scroll of prayers standing silently there, where I had placed it. But each time I turned my back to it, the little hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Someone or something unseen was there in the room with me. It was then that I realized that prayers truly have a life of their own. They are not just words written down on paper, or words casually spoken. Prayers are like living bursts of energy and are carried straight to the throne of heaven. And it’s my guess that angels help carry our requests to the throne of the Most High. I don’t know that for sure, but I do know that for the rest of the afternoon I was in the presence of something holy. And I have a feeling that God heard every single one of those loving petitions.”
Margaret nodded and said reverently, “Prayers are precious offerings, Jennifer, and you can be assured that they are indeed carried by the heavenly host to the throne room of God. Listen to this moment in scripture from Revelation: ‘Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.’ Not only does God hear the petitions of his beloved, he directs all under his authority to act on them.”
Now my spine tingled again! “I believe that, Margaret. In my dream, Carol said the same thing—when we are in need and cry out to him, God hears and he acts. A close friend of mine told me a wonderful true story about three friends—Jenny, Margie, and Gina—that is a good example of this.”
“Do tell,” encouraged Margaret.
“Jenny suffered from a serious chronic lung disorder. One Friday night she was hospitalized and became comatose. Her daughter was advised that if things did not improve overnight, the family should be called in. More than eight hundred miles away that same Friday night and early Saturday morning, Margie had been deep in prayer for her friend Jenny. She intended to wait until a little later in the morning to call Jenny’s daughter for an update on her condition. Meanwhile, early Saturday morning, Gina, another friend, decided to stop in to visit Jenny in the hospital. Gina was a believer, but was without a church home and at a point in her life where she longed for a deeper relationship with God; she needed to take her faith to another level.
“When Gina entered the hospital room, several miracles occurred at once. As she approached Jenny’s bed, she was amazed to see an angel sitting at the head of the bed, stroking Jenny’s hair! Gina knew instinctively that, no matter what happened, Jenny was going to be okay. At this same moment, many miles away, a worried Margie couldn’t wait any longer and decided to call Jenny’s daughter a little earlier than she’d planned for an update. When she placed her hand on the phone to make the call, Margie was overtaken with joy and a revelation that Jenny was going to recover. Laughing and with a relieved smile on her face, she placed the call to Jenny’s daughter and told her that she already knew Jenny was going to be fine. And she was right! Jenny did indeed recover.”
“That is a wonderful story, because you can see how our Heavenly Father ministered to each of these three women in a single instant! He answered Margie’s prayer, and he sent his messenger to comfort Jenny and to enrich Gina’s faith. And think about Gina—God opened her eyes so that she could see. Imagine the leap her faith took in that very moment. Oh, that is just the tip of the iceberg, my sweet child,” Margaret exclaimed, the radiance around her growing suddenly brighter. “The Almighty is so powerful and so generous with his grace that he can respond all over the world in an instant.”
I sighed and tipped my head back in my chair. What Margaret just said was pretty mind-boggling. I couldn’t help but feel God’s presence as I gazed up at the great expanse of moon and stars, knowing he created all of it. And as vast as the universe is, God cares enough to be available whenever we need him. Margaret’s very presence sitting next to me here in my backyard was proof of that.
“A penny for your thoughts?” Margaret’s question brought me back from my reverie.
“I am feeling overwhelmed by God’s love and care for us, Margaret. When I visited with Carol in my dream, she had the same sense of excitement and anticipation about her that I have sensed in others I have had visits from. She knows that much more is going to happen in God’s plan for us and for those in heaven. It is so exciting to know we are part of a plan that is still unfolding, a plan that holds many wonders for us. Remember that feeling of excited anticipation I felt in my dream about being on a journey? That is the kind of feeling I am experiencing now, but this time I am not dreaming.”
Margaret laughed. “Believe it or not, Jenn, all of us in heaven are experiencing the same kind of excitement you describe.”
I sighed, gazing up at the twinkling universe. “I wish I had a telescope that would enable me to see much further into God’s creation—to see galaxies and far-off worlds. When I recall what Carol told me about God establishing his kingdom in the hearts of believers, I imagine watching two worlds slowly merging together, like pictures I have seen from the Hubble Space Telescope. That would be amazing to watch!”
“We are watching it happen, dear one,” said Margaret with a mysterious smile.
I got goose bumps again.
Margaret continued. “Jenn, when Jesus made the statement ‘the kingdom of heaven is at hand,’ he was speaking a profound truth. Jesus is that place where the two realms meet . . . the exact center of the intersection of heaven and earth. God is, at this very moment, establishing the heirs of his Kingdom through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, who dwell in the hearts of all believers. And, as an heir to the King, you, dear girl, are a princess of his royal household! It is a great privilege that carries with it great responsibility.”
A princess. That made my heart smile. “I think I know what that responsibility is, Margaret,” I said. “As beloved children of the Father, we are to share with others the wonders of a life in Christ, so that they may be heirs to the Kingdom with us.”
“Yes,” affirmed Margaret. “And when his Kingdom comes, what a glorious event that will be. In the book of Revelation, the apostle John frequently refers to the new heaven and the new earth and describes his visions of them. ‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth . . . And I saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God . . . And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.’
“On this day, heaven and earth will be renewed and finally merged together. God himself will dwell among us. We will all dwell together, Jenn.”
That brought a big smile to my face. “I cannot even imagine how wonderful that day will be,” I said. “You, and these dreams about Carol, have taught me so much. As I view my life with this future in mind, it changes my whole perspective of my journey here on earth—why I am here and where I am heading. I believe the single most important action in my life is to develop an intimate, deeply personal relationship with my Father in heaven. And the purpose of my life here on earth is to continue to deepen that relationship at every level of my being, in heart, mind, and spirit; to be a careful and considerate caretaker of God’s creation; to use the spiritual gifts he has given me; to learn right living from the words of his holy scriptures; to teach others about him; to listen to my heart and nurture the things that bring me joy; to serve others and to become a person who reflects his image. Knowing that our future is eternal fills me with hope and a great sense of anticipation. What a magnificent journey we are all on, my angel friend!”
Ah, my girl,” sighed Margaret wistfully, “I am proud of you! You are getting it!” Then she reached over and placed her hand gently on my arm. “How wonderful and how marvelous that God sent these revelations to you through a faithful sister in Christ. Why he chose Carol to speak to you is known only to him. You never know where his next message will come from, but in his mysterious way, it will come in a form that is special and perfect, just for you.
“Listen now, Jenn, to your King’s whisper as he lovingly places his royal robe around your shoulders:
“Open your eyes and see that heaven embraces you, my beloved. I am all around you—so close that before you call, I will answer. The day is coming when we will live together in a glorious Kingdom—a new place, more wonderful than you could ever imagine. Trust in me, for my faithfulness endures forever.”
As I listened, I felt a sudden tingling sensation all over my body. I peered down at my arms and noticed they were glowing just the slightest little bit. Then my clothes began to glow. Startled, I looked over at Margaret. The radiance I had noticed coming from her gown and her body was now spreading over to me!
Margaret laughed and said, “Don’t worry, sweet girl, I thought I would share just a bit of heaven’s glory with you. When I left you for a while today, I spent time with the Almighty in his throne room. The radiance you noticed about me comes from the reflection of the glory of God himself. Everything in heaven, Jennifer, radiates with the reflection of his glory—everything. And when God reunites all of us together in the new heaven and earth, there will be no need for sunlight, because we will be lit by his Almighty presence.”
I smiled and hugged my arms to my chest, soaking in the glory of God that she shared with me. I did not want this moment to end, ever.
But Margaret stood and prepared to leave me for the night.
“It has been a long day for you, dear child,” she said. “It is hard to believe it was just a few hours ago that our angel friends gave you a brief glimpse of the heavenly gateway as they left here to return Home. We’ve covered a lot of ground since then. You must get some rest now.”
Looking back on our day together, I could not believe how much had happened. It was uncanny how being with Margaret made time appear to slow down. Although completely exhilarated from experiencing God’s glory, I realized that, indeed, I was getting very sleepy.
“Okay, Margaret.” I yawned without squeaking. “Will you be here in the morning?”
“Oh, yes,” she replied. “And I am looking forward to it already. I’ve become very fond of our poolside chats. Have the umbrella up for us. I have a feeling it is going to be another warm day. Good night, dear one. May your Heavenly Prince give you a good rest.”
Margaret’s words floated on the air behind her as she moved toward the St. Francis statue and disappeared, her soft, glowing radiance slowly fading into the dark, leaving only the scent of white roses behind.