5 Ways to Celebrate Heaven Now

Happy Saturday, Friend.

Today I invited Susan Zurcher to share some specific ways we can celebrate and anticipate heaven in our everyday lives. I pray her words encourage you as much as they have encouraged me! -Sarah Koontz

Don’t you love a good party? I know I do.

Scripture is full of feasts and celebrations. Clearly, God loves to gather His people for fellowship and rejoicing.

Whether a birthday, wedding, or Christmas with the family, we were created to celebrate with one another.

God also invites us to celebrate Him through worship, communion, and gratitude for His unspeakable gift of salvation through Christ!

How do we prepare for a celebration? Planning and effort, of course.

I enjoy picking out colors, decorations, food, music, etc. I can just feel the energy and excitement as I anticipate a celebration and the joy it will bring to all in attendance.

As Christians, the ultimate celebration will commence when we see Jesus face to face in heaven.

Can you imagine? I almost can’t think about it because my finite mind cannot imagine such an incredible event.

Even so, there is much we can do right now to prepare ourselves for this particular celebration.

According to Colossians 2:10, we are already complete in our union with Christ.

For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:9-10 NLT

Wow! I am complete in Christ—right now. In the here and now.

Now that is a truth worth celebrating!

The world certainly doesn’t want us to grasp the power of this Scripture; our enemy tries to bury the biblical truth with worldly lies.

He wants us to believe we are incomplete and lacking, so we will always be on the hamster wheel, buying the latest and greatest product promising fulfillment.

Pursuing worldly pleasure causes us to place our value and worth in things, not Christ. Temporal things will always leave us dissatisfied—longing for something more.

Commentator Matthew Henry tells us, “We must be united with Christ by a lively faith.”

Doesn’t that sound like celebrating?

Here are five truths from Colossians 2 to help you live in the excitement and anticipation of the ultimate eternal party:

1 - Receive Jesus Christ as Your Savior (Col 2:2-3).

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, do not put it off any longer!

We all have a sin problem and need a Savior—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

It doesn’t matter what you have done; Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient (1 Jn 1:9). So how can we be made right before a holy God?

Simply put, we must acknowledge our sinful nature and our need for God’s forgiveness (Rm 10:9-10). Then, decide to turn from our sinful ways and live for Him.

2 - Walk in faith (Col 2:6).

We walk by faith just as we receive Christ by faith. Just as the journey brings us closer to our destination, the longer we walk with the Lord, the closer we get to Him.

We are to walk the walk, just not talk the talk.

Our behavior should match our profession of faith and what we know of Him. As Colossians 1:10 says, “We are to walk in a manner worthy of Him.”

3 - Root your life in Christ (Col 2:7).

To establish and strengthen our union with Christ, we must study His Word and learn more about Him.

When we dig down deep and get rooted in His Word, we become more assured of His love for us.

This enables us to trust Him, weather the storms of life, and help others do the same.

4 - Make every effort to grow up in your faith (Col 2:8-10).

Once our roots are established, we can grow strong and bear fruit! As we learn more about the Lord, we can mature on our journey through life with Him.

Maturity does not happen overnight, but continual growth is imperative.

We can grow to be shade, protection, and strength for ourselves and others.

5 - Establish an attitude of gratitude (Col 2:13-14).

Do any of us deserve anything from the Lord? I know I certainly don’t.

The longer I walk with the Lord, the more amazed I am that He saved “a wretch like me.”
Daily Christ showers me with His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion. The only proper response I can muster is gratitude mixed with humility.

As we live in the anticipation and excitement of the ultimate party, there will be many around us who aren't interested in joining our celebratory lifestyle.

Paul warns us not to be deceived by false teaching or distracted by people who want to steal our joy (Col 2:8).

This biblical truth does not prevent us from feeling the pain and sorrow of life here on earth. Rather, it offers us a fresh perspective and the joy of anticipating the eternal perfection God has promised.

I encourage you to be excited about heaven and join me in anticipating the ultimate celebration today!

“Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good reserve for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19 HCSB

- Susan Zurcher