How would you describe Paradise? What would it be like? Paul has been there and his experience is described in 2 Cor. 12:2-4 which says,

“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.”

The third heaven is referring to the unseen realm where God dwells. Paul said that somehow, he was taken into the very presence of God and he called it “paradise.” Barclay notes that the word “Paradise”,

“Comes from a Persian word which means a walled-garden. When a Persian king wished to confer a very special honor on someone specially dear to him, he made him a companion of the garden and gave him the right to walk in the royal gardens with him in intimate companionship. In this experience, as never before and never again, Paul had been the companion of God.”

The experience for Paul was so overwhelming he was not allowed to tell what he saw or heard! WOW! Paul was in the presence of God and grasped some of what eternity will be like. He walked with God as his intimate companion. He saw and heard things that we will not experience until we die.

Father, I thank you that the destiny for those who have embraced Jesus as Savior and God is Paradise! Paradise is life in your presence forever as your intimate companion. Our minds cannot even comprehend what that will be like but our hearts long to experience it.

Thank you for being such a great God and someone we long to be near. Help me to live with the boldness of Paul because of our certain destiny.

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff