Are These Heavenly Connections Possible?

I think every one of us who has loved ones in heaven longs for the day when we will all be reunited.  Honestly, it’s one of the thoughts that keeps me moving forward.  I’ve pondered these reunions ever since I started losing grandparents when I was a young girl.  And they’ve only become more powerful as the years pass and my list of loved ones in heaven grows.

So, there’s really nothing that unusual about those hopes and desires.  Of course we long for those powerful reunions.  Who doesn’t?

But since Dale’s death, my mind has wandered into some new, unchartered territory.  It simultaneously surprises me and comforts me. As this ministry brings me into contact with more and more people grieving deep losses, I have a brand-new heavenly speculation.

It’s this: I picture Dale making a connection with anyone and everyone who enters heaven leaving behind someone that I’ve connected with here on earth.  But it’s not just a bunch of widows’ husbands getting together to watch football or go fishing.  Although, that’s a cool thought, too.

Oh no, my thoughts include ANYONE who has passed on to heaven – husbands, wives, parents, siblings, children, friends.  No exclusions.  The number of connections is exponential!  And every one of them makes me smile.

Now before we go too far down this “imagination road,” I want to emphasize that the Bible does NOT tell us that these kinds of connections are promised to us.  It doesn’t even hint at this. There is some support for seeing our loved ones again, but even that takes a distant second place to the primary hope of heaven.  JESUS!  Yes, that’s ultimately who we will most want to see when God calls us home.  More on that in a bit.

So I want to strongly emphasize that whatever the Bible specifically says about any heavenly reunions eclipses any ponderings of mine and should put them in the proper perspective.

But back to imagination road.  One of my favorite and oft-read books is Randy Alcorn’s “Heaven.”  Much of what he writes about has solid biblical support.  But he does a fair bit of speculation as well.  He is crystal clear about when he takes those rabbit trails, to avoid misleading his readers.

I enjoy his speculations because they cause me to think bigger and broader and loftier thoughts about heaven.  Whenever he emphasizes that these are strictly the result of his imagination, he often ends with this sentiment, “Wouldn’t it be just like God to do that?”  To which I reply, “Yes.  Yes, it would!”

It would be just like God to do these things because of what we know about his character.  He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).  He loves to give us “perfect gifts” (James 1:17).  He wants to bless us with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3).  The Bible is full of examples such as this which assure us of God’s everlasting love and the resulting indescribable perfection of heaven.

So meanwhile, back on earth…  I find comfort in my speculation about Dale and others connecting in heaven even if I have no idea if it’s true.  I know I’m not alone.  I have a friend who pictures her grandmother in heaven holding her two unborn babies.  Isn’t that a precious, glorious picture?  What about you?  Have you ever gone down this road?

I don’t believe it’s wrong for us to ponder those “what ifs” as long as we hold them loosely, knowing that whatever God has planned for us will dwarf our pitiful little thoughts with the magnificence of his heavenly reality.

So back to our true Hope in heaven.  Oh sure, it’s fun and comforting to imagine these types of things, but let me be clear about what we DO know.  Every relationship we’ve had on this earth, regardless of how amazing it was, won’t even register on the “great relationship scale” in heaven because nothing can possibly come close to what our relationships will look like.

And the simple answer behind the perfection of these relationships is the fact that our source of this fullness is…Jesus.  Period.  We need nothing else.

So to answer the title question, “Are these heavenly connections possible?”  Sure.  God can do anything.  If they make you smile AND cause you to think loftier thoughts of God, then I say go for it!  Time will reveal all truths when we step into the glory of heaven.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above,

 where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Colossians 3:1-2