When I Look at Heaven—'Nikiziangalia Mbingu'
The seasons of Advent and Lent invite us to walk in discipline and prayer, but their meaning goes far beyond preparing us for Christmas and Easter. They point us to the greater reality—the destiny of every believer: Heaven. To truly understand these seasons, we must lift our eyes, as the choir sings in Nikiziangalia Mbingu, and reflect on the mystery of eternal life.
What Heaven Is Not
Too often, we imagine Heaven as a kind of reward—a paradise of earthly pleasures given to “good” people. This idea, inherited from myths, makes eternity feel like it might become dull. But Christian hope is not about escaping.
What Heaven Truly Is
Heaven is first and foremost a relationship—a union with God Himself. Through Christ, we are invited to share in the very life of the Trinity. In Heaven, this union will be perfect: soul-to-soul intimacy with the God who created us, redeemed us, and loves us without end.
God is the fullness of all goodness. He is the mystery we will never tire of discovering. As St. Paul wrote, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Heaven will be beyond our comprehension, yet utterly satisfying.
Perfect Relationships
Scripture tells us that God desires all humanity to be His family. In Heaven, free from sin and selfishness, love will finally be pure and complete. We will experience trust, intimacy, and fellowship in ways we cannot now imagine. Eternity will not be lonely—it will be a joyful communion with God and with one another.
Complete Enjoyment of Every Good
In Heaven, every gift of creation will be perfected. Our glorified bodies, patterned after the risen Christ, will experience joy without corruption. Spiritual goods—truth, beauty, holiness—will be revealed in endless depth. Every experience of Heaven will be a revelation of God’s love. Nothing will be ordinary. Everything will shine with divine meaning.
Imagine enjoying beauty, truth, and even the simplest gifts with full awareness that they are expressions of God’s heart. This is what it means to live forever in His presence.
Eternal Wonder
When the choir sings Nikiziangalia Mbingu, they remind us to lift our hearts to where Christ is. Heaven is not static, nor is it dull. It is a never-ending journey into God’s goodness, a discovery of truth and beauty that will never run out.
The True Vision of Heaven
So let us renew our hope: Heaven is not a shadowy reward, but a kingdom of perfect love. It is intimacy with God, deep communion with others, fullness of joy in created and spiritual goods, and endless exploration of divine truth.
This is the vision that should excite us. This is the reality that stirs our worship. When we look at Heaven, as Nikiziangalia Mbingu proclaims, our hearts are filled with longing—not for a distant paradise, but for the living God who waits for us with open arms.
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