All I Need To Know

One of my favorite secular songs is a duet between Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt called “Don’t Know Much.”  Their voices blend well, it’s a beautiful melody, and the words are wonderfully crafted.  The “hook” to the song is found in the chorus:  “I don’t know much / but I know I love you / And that may be all I need to know…”

Have you ever noticed that almost every great love song could easily be adapted to be a worship song?  The reason for that is clear – there is a great parallel between the love and adoration expressed for one we adore, whether that is a person or our Lord.  God recognizes this, too, and that is why we, the church, are referred to as the Bride of Christ.  We are His beloved.

In John 14, Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.”  Preparing a place for us was and is a labor of love for Jesus.

Over the years, we’ve all heard a lot of sermons and Bible studies about heaven.  Some of them went to extremes to describe in detail what heaven was going to be like, which always struck me as a little odd since God’s word clearly tells us we cannot possibly comprehend what heaven would be like.  “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (I Corinthians 2:9, NJKV)

When I think about heaven, here’s all I need to know:

I will be there.  Because Jesus is my Lord and Savior, I can know that I have eternal life.  In fact, that was why the Bible was written, that we would have that assurance:  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.  1 John 5:13 (NKJV)

My friends and loved ones who trusted in Christ will be there.  What a great reunion that will be!  And what a comfort it is to know that.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words.  1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NKJV)

Last and most importantly, Jesus will be there.  How wonderful it will be to look on His face!  But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Revelation 21:22-24 (NKJV)

I don’t need to know what the dimensions of heaven are, what the streets are paved with or what the gates are made of.  All I need to know is that I will be there, that my friends and loved ones will be there, and most importantly, that Jesus will be there.

To paraphrase that song, I don’t know much, but I know He loves me… and that may be all I need to know.