Elder, David “Doc” Kenser, shares a devotional reflection.

In Revelation 8:1, we read, “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”  It has been that this is biblical proof that there will be no women in heaven.  I would never say such a sexist, non-politically correct thing, nor would I repeat it.  That sort of thing just isn’t funny.  Well, actually that is kind of funny.  But, I’m still not going to repeat it.  You’ll just have to re-read it for yourself.

Sorry, had to get that out of my system in order to focus on the true meaning of the passage: The awesome glory of God.  A glory that will leave us speechless.  In the song, “I Can Only Imagine,” the question is posed, “will I sing hallelujah or will I be able to speak at all,” and the answer is for a time, we will not be able to speak at all.

I can remember the first time I saw the Rocky Mountains, I was speechless.  The first time I saw the ocean, I stood in silence.  There have been those times in my life and in yours when all we can do is stand there with our bald faces hanging out in silence. When we stand before God, there will be nothing we can say, nothing we can add to the glory of the moment, only quiet reverence will do.

Have you ever been up in the mountains our out in the desert where the night sky can be seen in all its glory?  It’s amazing, it’s breathtakingly wondrous and it is but an indication of the glory of God: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Ps 19:1).

Heaven itself is but a reflection of the unspeakable glory of God: “It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal” (Rev 21:11).  When it comes to His glory, there simply aren’t any words.  To stand in His glory will leave us weak with awe and wonder.  And I believe will require the power of their  Holy Spirit to give us speech.

What will it be like?  I cannot say.  I don’t have the words.  In fact, as the apostle Paul discovered in a vision, there are no words when he “was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things:  (2 Cor 12:4). We can only imagine.  We will have no words.  We just have to be there.  Jus’ Say’n.