"Heaven is a place, simply as much a place equally is New York or Chicago." ~ Charles Ferguson Ball

Everyone wants to know well-nigh heaven and everyone wants to become there. Recent polls suggest that nearly lxxx% of all Americans believe there is a place chosen heaven. I find that statistic encouraging because information technology tells me that even in this skeptical age there is something deep within the human centre that cries out, "In that location's got to be something more. Something more than the pain and suffering of this life. Something more than 70 or 80 years on planet earth. Something more than beingness built-in, living, dying, and then being buried in the basis.

Sometimes we talk near a "God-shaped vacuum" within the human middle. I believe there is also a "heaven-shaped vacuum," a sense that we were made for something more than this life. Nosotros were made to alive forever somewhere. In a real sense we were made for heaven.

At that place is another fascinating statistic I should mention. Not simply do almost Americans believe in heaven, virtually people wait to go in that location when they die. If you took a microphone to the streets of Chicago and asked, "Do you recall you will become to heaven when you die?" the vast majority of people would answer, "I hope and then," or "I think so," or perhaps "I call back I've got a adept chance. Not very many people would say they aren't going to sky. Mayhap one modest point is in social club. Whenever you talk well-nigh living forever somewhere, information technology would help to know for sure where y'all are going. Later on all, if you lot're wrong about sky, yous're going to exist incorrect for a long, long time.

With that as groundwork, I turn now to consider some of the most frequently-asked questions about heaven. Merely before I jump in, I should make one preliminary bespeak. The only things we tin know for sure about heaven are the things revealed in the Bible. Everything else is just speculation and hearsay. The Bible tells u.s. everything we need to know and I believe it also tells us everything we can know for certain near heaven.

Where is sky?

There are three things I can tell you in respond to this question.

ane. The most of import fact is that heaven is a real identify. Mind to the words of Jesus on the night before he was crucified:

"Practise not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father'southward house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going in that location to prepare a identify for y'all. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and have y'all to be with me that you as well may be where I am" (John 14:i-3).

Twice in 3 verses Jesus calls sky a identify. He ways that sky ("my Begetter'southward business firm") is a existent place, as real as New York, London or Chicago. The identify called heaven is just every bit real as the place you call home. Information technology's a real identify filled with existent people, which is why the Bible sometimes compares heaven to a mansion with many rooms (John 14:1-3) and sometimes to an enormous city teeming with people (Revelation 21).

2. The Bible also tells u.s. that sky is the dwelling place of God. His throne is there, the angels are there, and the Lord Jesus Christ is in heaven. Philippians 3:20 says very apparently that "our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." That's why Jesus told the thief on the Cantankerous, "Today you volition be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

3. Third (and I find this fact fascinating), the Bible hints that heaven is non as far away as we might retrieve. Because heaven is a existent place, nosotros sometimes call up it must exist outside our present universe - which would mean that information technology is billions and billions of light years away. However, it'south very clear that the early Christians understood that they would pass immediately from this life into the presence of Christ in heaven. How can that be possible if heaven is beyond the farthest galaxy?

Hebrews 12:22-24 tells u.s.a. something amazing about what the gospel has done for the states: "But you lot have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the metropolis of the living God. You have come up to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a improve word than the blood of Abel."

The author is here comparing Mt. Sinai with Mt. Zion. Nether the sometime covenant no ane could come up near God except under very strict atmospheric condition. That'southward why the mount shook with thunder and lightning. [Note: three times the writer of Hebrews uses a Greek discussion that means "to come nearly" or "to arroyo closely.] But now in Christ we accept been brought near to heavenly realities. Call up of what he is proverb:

  • We're not that far from sky.
  • We're non that far from the angels.
  • We're non that far from our loved ones in heaven.
  • Nosotros're not that far from God.
  • We're not that far from Jesus himself.
  • Heaven is a existent place, it's where Jesus is right now, and information technology'south non far away from us.

What is heaven like?

I would reply by saying that the Bible doesn't requite us a nifty deal of information. What we have are images and pictures of heaven and comparisons with life on world.

What is sky like? Hither are 7 biblical facts near sky. It is …

-God's domicile place (Psalms 33:13).
-Where Christ is today (Acts 1:11).
-Where Christians become when they die (Philippians ane:21-23).
-The Father's house (John 14:ii).
-A city designed and built by God (Hebrews 11:x).
-A better country (Hebrews eleven:sixteen).
-Paradise (Luke 23:43).

Almost of us have heard that heaven is a place where the streets are paved with gold, the gates are made of pearl, and the walls made of precious jewels. Those images come from Revelation 21, which offers u.s. the most extended picture of sky in the unabridged Bible. If you ask me if I believe those things are literally truthful, the answer is yes and no. Yes, they are literally truthful but no, heaven won't be anything like nosotros imagine. It will be much greater.

Here'south a delightful fable that makes the bespeak very well:

I beloved the old story of the rich human being who, on his expiry bed, negotiated with God to allow him to bring his earthly treasures with him when he came to heaven. God's reaction was that this was a nigh unusual asking, only since this man had been uncommonly faithful, permission was granted to bring along but one suitcase. The fourth dimension arrived, the man presented himself at the pearly gates, suitcase in hand- BOTH hands, actually, since he had stuffed it with as many bars of gold bullion equally would fit. St. Peter said, "Sorry, yous know the rules-you tin can't take it with you." But the man protested, "God said I could … one suitcase." St. Peter checked, found out that this one would exist an exception, prepared to let the homo enter, then said, "OK, but I will have to examine the contents before you laissez passer." He took the suitcase, opened information technology, saw the gold bars and asked quizzically, "You brought PAVEMENT?" [Annotation: This story is from the sermon "Heaven" by Dr. David Leininger, March thirty, 1997]

When John writes nearly a street paved with gold, I do not doubt his words. He simply reports what he saw in his vision. Thus his words are literally true. They are also meant to tell the states that the things we value then highly in this life will be used to pave the roads in heaven.

Who is in sky right now?

This question is not difficult to answer. God is in heaven considering sky is his dwelling place. The Lord Jesus has been in heaven ever since he ascended from the earth shortly after his resurrection (Acts 1:9-11). The Bible tells u.s. that angels are in heaven. In fact there are myriads of angels-uncountable numbers of heavenly beings-all of them serving the Lord in various ways.

And the saints of God who died on this earth are in heaven. [Note: I hateful past this that heaven includes the Old Attestation Saints who by faith trusted in God's Word and looked forward to God'due south redemption at Calvary (which they did not fully sympathize). It likewise includes every true laic from every continent and every denomination. Everyone who has genuinely trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior will be there. I also think that children who died before the "historic period of accountability get to heaven and I would also include those born with such mental limitaitons that they cannot understand the gospel.] The Bible teaches that the moment we die we go direct into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul spoke of this in ii Corinthians 5:7-8 and Philippians ane:21-23.

Simply I practise not desire to be ambiguous on this betoken. Not everyone is in heaven at present. Some people won't make information technology. The Bible speaks of the saved and the lost. The saved are those who trust Jesus Christ as their eternal Savior. The lost are those who do not trust Christ as Savior. This is the keen dividing line of humanity-you are either saved or you are lost. And there is no center category. You will either spend eternity in sky or eternity in hell.

I simply want you to know what God has said about heaven and who volition become at that place. The saved of all the ages will exist there - and that vast throng will no incertitude include many people who would surprise us if we knew information technology at present. Certainly heaven will exist more wonderful than our imagination and information technology'due south population more various than nosotros expect.

Only I am certain of this one truth. No one volition go to heaven except by the grace of God and through the merits of the claret of Jesus Christ. If a man says "No" to Jesus, he has no hope of heaven.

My home is in heaven, Billy Graham quote

Photo credit: Crosscards.com

Volition we know each other in heaven?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions about sky. I would like to share an answer given past a Bible teacher of some other generation - a man named William Pettingill. [Notation: run across the volume 1001 Bible Questions Answered, William Pettingill and R.A. Torrey, Inspirational Printing, 1997, p. 157. This is a reprint in one book of 2 books offset published many years ago. I highly recommend it every bit a handy reference tool for Bible students and Lord's day Schoolhouse teachers.] He said, "We may be certain that nosotros shall not know less in heaven than nosotros know here."

In proof he quotes ane Corinthians 13:12, "Now nosotros meet but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall run across face to face. At present I know in part; so I shall know fully, fifty-fifty as I am fully known." How does God know us? Reply: He knows united states completely, intimately, thoroughly, inside and out, with nil hidden but everything seen as it really is (Psalms 139:i-4; Hebrews iv:12). When we get to heaven we'll know each other as God knows us because all the imperfections of this life will be removed. In this life sin causes us to embrace ourselves-not only physically but emotionally and spiritually. But when sin is finally lifted from united states of america, then we tin be ourselves with no shame, no pain, no embarrassment, and no covering up.

Dr. Pettingill concludes that in heaven we will know every person in sky and all of them will be friends and loved ones to us.

In his very helpful book on heaven, W.A. Criswell makes the boosted betoken that individual personality survives into eternity. I'll be the same person and then that I am now-merely with all the imperfections and limitations of sin finally removed. This is a wonderful thought-that the essence of who we are will remain throughout eternity-nonetheless vastly improved by God'due south grace. [Notation: Westward.A. Criswell and Paige Patterson, Heaven, Tyndale Business firm Publishers, 1991, pp. 33-38. He likewise says that in heaven we can eat all nosotros want and not go fat. I certainly promise he's right about that.]

That helps me think about a related question that people sometimes ask: How old will nosotros be in heaven? I in one case heard a preacher say that we will all be 33 years old because that's approximately how quondam Jesus was when he died. Of course in that location is no scriptural support for that statement. The truth is, there won't be any age in heaven in the sense nosotros speak of age on the earth. Growing old is a function of the decaying effects of sin. I do not believe that babies who die in infancy will be babies for eternity nor practise I believe that people who waste matter away of cancer will appear emaciated in heaven. It will be something else entirely - which I can barely explain and certainly practise not empathise.

In sky we will know each other intimately. That's why Peter, James and John recognized Moses and Elijah, fifty-fifty though they had been expressionless for hundreds of years, on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9). I don't think they had nametags on. I call back at that place was something about those two men that made Peter, James and John recognize them even though they had never seen them before.

That's why a wife whose husband died when she was young will be able to pick her husband out of a crowd of billions of people, even though she hasn't seen him for fifty years since he died on the earth. In heaven she will say, "Sweetheart! I knew it was you." And he will know her.

How this can be I do not know, simply I believe it to exist truthful. In sky there will be no strangers.

What volition we do in heaven?

Once more, the Bible doesn't tell us everything nosotros would like to know, but of this we can be certain: Heaven won't be tedious and information technology will be more fun than the best party you ever attended.

Then what will nosotros do for all eternity? The answer is, we're going to assist God run the universe. Do you call up the story Jesus told about the man of noble nascence who gave his servants money to invest? I servant had doubled his coin and so the human being said, "You volition rule over x cities." The next servant had seen a 50% increase and so his master said, "Rule over 5 cities." And the human being who hid his money had fifty-fifty that corporeality taken from him in punishment (Luke xix:11-27). The story is a moving picture of what sky will exist like. We volition use our gifts to administer the new sky and the new earth. Bakers will bake, teachers will teach, singers will sing, and I suppose that preachers will preach. For all I know, soldiers may march off to battle and quarterbacks volition throw passes. Think of the flowers the botanists will study. Gifted astronomers will go from galaxy to milky way studying the wonders of God'southward creation.

I can guarantee yous this: No i will be sitting around on a deject eating grapes and polishing his halo. No, nosotros'll all be too busy for that.

Here are five things that will occupy us in heaven. We will …

  1. Worship without distraction.
  2. Serve without burnout.
  3. Fellowship without fear.
  4. Learn without fatigue.
  5. Residuum without boredom.

[Note: this is not original with me. I found this list in a sermon past David Burns, Minister at the Homer Church building of Christ, chosen "Sky is a Wonderful Place," Feburary 25, 1996.]

The all-time part of heaven will be seeing Jesus himself face to face up. We will worship the Son of God and gloat his great victory over sin while the countless ages of eternity curlicue on and on. The best music yous've ever heard will pale compared to the music of heaven. The nearly awesome worship you've experienced on earth is only a dim reflection of the praise we volition render around the throne of God.

How can I be sure I am going to heaven?

This is the nearly of import question of all. Here is a wonderful truth: God has made it like shooting fish in a barrel for you lot to go to heaven. He did the hard function when he sent his Son to dice on the Cross for yous. He paid the price for your sins and so that yous could ane mean solar day stand before God in heaven. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No ane comes to the Begetter except through me" (John xiv:half dozen). He also said, "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved" (John x:9, NASB). Jesus is not only the way to heaven, he is also the door to sky. If you want to go to heaven, you lot've got to go through the door marked "Jesus Christ." At that place is no other entrance.

Suppose you were to die and found yourself standing at the door of heaven. If God were to say, 'Why should I let you into heaven?' what answer would you requite?

Motion-picture show the scene. You are standing at the very gates of heaven. Information technology'southward more beautiful than you ever dreamed possible. This is where yous want to spend eternity. This is where you lot belong. Just before you enter, the Lord himself asks what possible reason you have to claim access. Y'all pause, knowing that all eternity hangs on your answer. What will you say?

Let me brand this very personal. If you were to die this night, do y'all know for certain that you would go to sky? I've already said that this is too important to say "I recall so" or "I hope so." If you're wrong, you're going to be incorrect for a long, long time.

What we need is solid basis on which to stand. And we have information technology in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our entire hope of heaven is wrapped up in what Jesus did when he died on the cantankerous for the sins of the globe and rose from the expressionless on Easter Sunday morning time.

One of our most beloved hymns puts it this way:

My hope is congenital on nada less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' proper noun.
On Christ the solid stone I stand up;
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other footing is sinking sand.

That says it all. If you want to get to sky, you lot must base your hope on the solid stone of Jesus' blood and righteousness. Are you lot standing on the Rock this morning? Are yous wholly leaning on Jesus' proper noun?

No one goes to heaven by blow. Heaven is God's prepared place for prepared people. We prepare for heaven so God prepares heaven for us. I've already told you lot that virtually people believe in heaven and most people think they are going there. But are they on the correct road? Are they building their lives on Jesus Christ-the solid rock? Too many, I fearfulness, are standing on sinking sand and practice not know information technology.

What is your hope for heaven? Mine is Jesus Christ. I've staked everything I accept on him. If he tin't take me to sky, then I'm not going there. What about you? When the dark nighttime falls, the lights go out, and the waters of death swirl around yous, what will happen to you then? If y'all know Jesus, you lot have null to fright. Put your trust in Jesus. Run to the Cross. Stand with your full weight on the Solid Stone of our salvation. May God assistance you to trust in Jesus Christ and him alone for your conservancy. And may God grant that we will all meet i solar day in sky.

Safe at home. In heaven at last. I'll exist there. What about yous?

Photo credit: Unsplash/Davide Cantelli

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