09/29/2026
One of our members, Gayle Thorn, recently read Randy Alcorn’s Heaven and shared these reflections with us. We thought you might enjoy reading them as well.
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My Thoughts on Randy Alcorn’s Heaven
by Gayle Thorn
When Pastor Karel asked me if I would write a review of the book, Heaven, by Randy Alcorn, I agreed but asked for a little time. Time to process what I’d read. Time to pray. Time to choose my words carefully. Here are my thoughts on Randy’s book.
Randy Alcorn had a lot to say about heaven. He wrote about the theology of heaven. He wrote about the difference between the current Heaven and Earth and the New Heaven and New Earth. He wrote about what we will see, what we will do, and what we will experience in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Randy also explained that life in the New Heaven and New Earth will be much like life here but without sin and sadness. God will have a place for each of us to live. He will have an assignment for each of us to do. We will spend time in worship as well as time exploring our new world and possibly even the universe. We will have tasks assigned to us by God, much as God gave Adam the job of caring for the Garden of Eden and naming all the animals. We will enjoy things such as reading, music, art, sports, pets and other animals, and much more. Pretty much any good thing you can imagine will be a part of the New Heaven and New Earth. We will enjoy all of these things and, like an earthly parent enjoys seeing his or her child enjoy a gift, our Lord will get joy in seeing us enjoy the things He has given to us.
As a committed believer in Jesus Christ, I was excited to hear many of my own conclusions confirmed, see many of my own imagined dreams about what I will do and see in heaven in print.
At the same time, I was also saddened by the reminder that so many, many people will never experience the perfection, joy, beauty, feasting, and God-glorifying activities that will take place in Heaven – on the New Earth – for all eternity.
Through the years, I have shared the gospel through my own writing and teaching with many, many people. Even so, I know that I only planted seeds. If each of those individuals doesn’t put his or her own faith in Jesus, they will miss out on all of the amazing, wondrous things that Randy wrote about and that Jesus is preparing for us. That saddens me. Randy even addressed this in his book.
One question Pastor Karel asked me about the book was, “Which chapter struck you most?”
I had to think a while to find the answer. I loved the chapter that said that I will likely be surrounded by all of the beloved pets that I have lost and grieved for. I loved thinking that God will have an assignment for me that will use the skills, passions, and abilities He has honed in me through this lifetime – reading, writing, drawing, teaching, and more.
I enjoyed reading that life in the New Heaven and New Earth will be much like life on our current earth, but with only the good things and without all of the bad, evil, painful things.
However, what struck me most (and maybe it’s because of my age) was the very last chapter, “Anticipating the Great Adventure.” This chapter gave me comfort, courage, and strength as I was reminded of the brevity of life here on the current earth. Interestingly, my favorite paragraph in this chapter was one Randy didn’t write. It was a quote from C. S. Lewis who was responding to a letter he received from a woman whose death was drawing near. Lewis wrote, “Can you not see death as a friend and deliverer?…What is there to be afraid of?…Your sins are confessed….Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind….Our Lord says to you, ‘Peace, child, peace. Relax. Let go. I will catch you. Do you trust me so little?…Of course this may not be the end. Then make it a good rehearsal.”
If you haven’t read Heaven, I encourage you to read it. Take your time. Savor it. Bask in all it has to say about the Great Adventure to come for everyone who believes in Jesus and continues in the faith.
If reading the entire book seems too daunting, look through the contents. Select chapters that answer questions that you have about heaven. Read and pray over them. See if you don’t come away excited about what Jesus is preparing for you. Let yourself dream and imagine a perfect life on a perfect earth with Jesus.
