"He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you....." (1 Peter 1:3-4)
"Joy is the serious business of Heaven." (quote by C.S. Lewis)
Heaven. It is the "out there" or the "what happens next." It is defined differently by different people. It is a mystery. It is a vale that we haven't looked behind. It is the basis for many motion pictures recently.
Is it real enough to live your life in anticipation of? So much of our faith is built on the premise that what comes after must be better. How else do we reconcile suffering. What happens when we pray for someone to get well and it doesn't happen? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do children die? Why do some people grow up seemingly having everything they need and others with not enough from the first day they arrive? What is the meaning of it all. Why did Solomon write Ecclesiastes with a theme of life as a "vapor" and the overriding truth that there is nothing new under the sun?
I think we would all agree that life is marked by loses. Of people and things. Of health and wealth. Even memories fade with the passing of time. I know I sound pessimistic but we live in a fallen world. Everything is in a state of decay in one way or another. What remains? How long does it remain?
The Apostle Paul's life was marked by a focus on the greater reward. Jesus told us to store our treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt. Scripture is marked by words telling us that this present life, in joy and in suffering, does not compare with the greater glory of heaven. Paul even told struggling Christians that we are not like those who have "no hope." What is our hope? How do we place our trust in things unseen? Are we preparing our children for this life or the one to come? When Jesus said, "What doth it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?" He was not just talking about wealth, he was speaking of wisdom, of a knowledge of how to "make it" here. He said it is futile to learn to navigate this world successfully and lose our own soul.
I recently watched the movie on the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She gave up everything to serve the poorest of the poor in one of the poorest countries of the world. She suffered greatly. What makes a person give up everything and adopt a life of suffering? There must be a realization (revelation) that some have received that has eluded many of the rest of us. Mother Teresa had a sure hope in something.
As Facebook has become more and more popular, I often see comments by people (I have made them myself) talking about loved ones being together in Heaven. Some mention that they will join them there. As we are reminded of the certainty of death (from the death of a loved one or through our own lives), heaven and the "hereafter' become more of a focus to us.
How do we grasp so much "there" that it becomes more important than our "here?" That is the question that naturally follows if we say that we believe that there is something greater out there.
Every ancient culture has been marked by basically two approaches to life: either prolong life here in this present realm and make the most of it or invest in what comes after. The premise of this view is that what comes after must be better than this present order of things. Today we still have the group that says, "Let's live it up for tomorrow we die." We also still have those who say to deny everything because this world is not my home."
When I am traveling and about to visit a new place, I get as much information as I can about the place. I read it's history, study it's points of interest, invest time in getting to know the place for which I am headed. Should "what comes after" this world be any different? Shouldn't we learn as much about heaven as possible?
What do we know about heaven? Revelation 21 tells us that the city of New Jerusalem in Heaven is over 1400 miles long, over 1400 miles wide, and over 1400 miles high! That heavenly city is larger than the country of India! The fact that the city is that high means that gravity is obviously not an issue. There are no negatives there. No pain, no tears, no depression, no poverty, no neglect, no abuse, no jealousy, etc. The streets are made of pure gold that is of such quality that it shines like pure glass. The pillars for the gates of that city are each made of a SOLID pearl (imagine a pearl that big). There is no sun or moon because the Father and the Son are the light there! John, in his revelation, says that the things he saw were of such a grand scale, words did not exist to describe them. There is praise to Jesus constantly with no inhibitions! There is no shyness or discomfort. There is a complete understanding of why the residents of heave are there (because of Jesus).
Are there waterfalls there? Are there canyons such as the Grand Canyon? Imagine the most peaceful place on earth to you? What are it's characteristics? Heaven will contain all the elements that were created by God as they were originally intended prior to the entrance of sin and sickness into this present world.
I had someone to ask me one time, "Will there be baseball in heaven?" I don't know the answer to that, but I believe that the emotions and feelings that are generated when your team wins the championship will be constantly available to you. The only difference is that there are no losers in heaven. Everyone is a winner.
This place called heaven is a mystery. It is so grand that we cannot even understand it with the limitations of spoken and written words. Should we learn as much about it as possible? Yes. We need to be reminded that it is more real than our "real" here.
How do we get there? Simple. Jesus. Only Jesus. Accepting what he did on the cross for us. I am not good enough to enter on my own. I will trust Him (Jesus). I accept what Jesus did for me. Will you?
Revelation 21:4 - And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.1 Corinthians 2:9 - But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.John 14:2 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.Revelation 22:1-5 - And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.Hebrews 11:16 - But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.Revelation 21:22-27 - And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Revelation 21:21-25 - And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.John 3:13 - And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.2 Peter 3:13 - Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.Revelation 21:1 - And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.Luke 12:33 - Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.Hebrews 13:14 - For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.Revelation 21:1-5 - And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
When I am traveling and about to visit a new place, I get as much information as I can about the place. I read it's history, study it's points of interest, invest time in getting to know the place for which I am headed. Should "what comes after" this world be any different? Shouldn't we learn as much about heaven as possible?
What do we know about heaven? Revelation 21 tells us that the city of New Jerusalem in Heaven is over 1400 miles long, over 1400 miles wide, and over 1400 miles high! That heavenly city is larger than the country of India! The fact that the city is that high means that gravity is obviously not an issue. There are no negatives there. No pain, no tears, no depression, no poverty, no neglect, no abuse, no jealousy, etc. The streets are made of pure gold that is of such quality that it shines like pure glass. The pillars for the gates of that city are each made of a SOLID pearl (imagine a pearl that big). There is no sun or moon because the Father and the Son are the light there! John, in his revelation, says that the things he saw were of such a grand scale, words did not exist to describe them. There is praise to Jesus constantly with no inhibitions! There is no shyness or discomfort. There is a complete understanding of why the residents of heave are there (because of Jesus).
Are there waterfalls there? Are there canyons such as the Grand Canyon? Imagine the most peaceful place on earth to you? What are it's characteristics? Heaven will contain all the elements that were created by God as they were originally intended prior to the entrance of sin and sickness into this present world.
I had someone to ask me one time, "Will there be baseball in heaven?" I don't know the answer to that, but I believe that the emotions and feelings that are generated when your team wins the championship will be constantly available to you. The only difference is that there are no losers in heaven. Everyone is a winner.
This place called heaven is a mystery. It is so grand that we cannot even understand it with the limitations of spoken and written words. Should we learn as much about it as possible? Yes. We need to be reminded that it is more real than our "real" here.
How do we get there? Simple. Jesus. Only Jesus. Accepting what he did on the cross for us. I am not good enough to enter on my own. I will trust Him (Jesus). I accept what Jesus did for me. Will you?
Revelation 21:4 - And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.1 Corinthians 2:9 - But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.John 14:2 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.Revelation 22:1-5 - And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.Hebrews 11:16 - But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.Revelation 21:22-27 - And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Revelation 21:21-25 - And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.John 3:13 - And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.2 Peter 3:13 - Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.Revelation 21:1 - And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.Luke 12:33 - Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.Hebrews 13:14 - For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.Revelation 21:1-5 - And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
