It is hard to imagine a world so bright and glorious that even the sun and moon could add nothing to its illumination. But there is such a world. For Christians, it’s the world to come, and it’s called heaven.
As John saw the heavenly city, he described it as a place that “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 21:23-24).
There is something fascinating in that description. God’s glory illuminates heaven. There is no need of sun nor moon. Yet, MORE glory and honor is brought into the city by those who inhabit it. It’s as if, unable to be made more glorious by any physical source of light, heaven is somehow beautified by the light-filled beings who enter in.
Every human being who as ever lived will inhabit eternity…somewhere. Those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus will dwell eternally in heaven (Revelation 5:9). Other beings will be there as well. Angels to be sure, but also innocent children.
When a husband and wife, through the providence of God, conceive a child in this world, an immortal soul has its inception. If the child passes from this life in the womb, or anytime before adulthood, the Scriptures indicate that the child is safe and will enter the heavenly abode — “for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:13-14).
It is a painful and traumatic experience to lose a child; it is an experience that my wife and I have had, and that my parents also went through. But there is comfort in the hope of being with the child in the world to come. When King David’s infant son died, he said, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23).
The desire of a loving parent to spend eternity with an innocent child who has passed on can be very powerful. In fact, it can change the entire trajectory of a person’s life. And ultimately, it changes heaven itself. In the glorious light of God’s presence, the sweet presence of innocent children will surely make heaven all the more extraordinary.
May every adult who has been touched by the loss of a child be inspired to seek the comfort that the child as found in heaven.
— Steve Klein