Heaven is My Home!
Have you taken the time to really reflect on the reality of heaven? When we die, we will eternally be with our Creator! Do you get goosebumps just thinking about it? Are you eagerly anticipating the day when this life ends, and you enter God’s presence forever without any of the painful effects of sin? If not, it is time you recaptured a vision for the majesty, beauty, and power of heaven.
Heaven is not merely a lofty idea created to give people comfort amidst the pain of life. Rather, heaven is a real place awaiting Jesus’ believers after their deaths. As Jesus demonstrated in his resurrection, death is not the end but merely a doorway into eternal life.
“We cannot anticipate or desire what we cannot imagine. That is why, I believe, God has given us glimpses of Heaven in the Bible – to fire up our imagination and kindle a desire for Heaven in our hearts.”
Randy Alcorn, Heaven
Colossians 3:1-2 tells us, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth” (NLT).
We are to set our hearts and minds on the things above. This is effectively saying, “Constantly be seeking and thinking about Heaven.”
There was a time in my life when Heaven was all I could think about because my two oldest children had moved up to their home there. I was devouring every written word about their new home. I was allowed to experience a vivid dream about Heaven, and I would like to tell you what I saw.
I was being shown around Heaven by Ryann, my daughter, and the first thing I noticed was that everyone was in white. I then realized that there were children everywhere, and they all seemed to be busy doing things. I remember asking Ryann what was going on. Her reply was, “Everyone had a part up here.” I then asked her where her brother, Richard, was. She told me he was playing football with his friends.
The dream stayed with me all these years because it gave me such comfort, and it seemed so real. The dream ended with all the children singing as if they were performing in a church setting. I awoke with a song on my heart. I remember one line of that song that was,” I flew to Heaven on Angel wings.”
In his immensely helpful book on heaven, W.A. Criswell makes the point that individual personality survives into eternity. I will be the same person then that I am now. All the imperfections and limitations of sin are finally removed, but I will be known as I am known on earth. This is a wonderful thought: the spirit of who we are will remain throughout eternity.
So, what will we do for all eternity? The answer is, we are going to help God run the universe. Do you remember the story Jesus told about the man of noble birth who gave his servants money to invest? One servant had doubled his money, so the man said, “You will rule over ten cities.” The next servant had seen a 50% increase, so his master said, “Rule over five cities.” And the man who hid his money had even that amount taken from him in punishment (Luke 19:11-27).
The story is a picture of what heaven will be like. We will use our gifts to administer the new heaven and the new earth. Teachers will teach, singers will sing, and I suppose that preachers will preach. For all I know, football players will play with their friends. Think of the flowers the botanists will study. Empowered astronomers will go from galaxy to galaxy studying the wonders of God’s creation. (We are just trying to get to Mars!)
I can guarantee you this: You will not be issued a halo, a long flowy robe, and a harp and be assigned to sit on a cloud and strum for all eternity. No, we will each serve the Lord in different capacities. On earth, we fail; we get tired. Heaven will be filled with all ages of people doing all types of work. Rather than dread the thought of labor and suffer the physical pain from exhausting drudgery, we will enjoy our work. The curse will be gone.
I found this list in an article by Dr. Elmer Towns, and I believe it helps us envision our life in Heaven.
Top 7 Things to do in Heaven
1. Learning – 1 Cor. 13:9, 10: “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
2. Singing – Rev.14:3: “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne “
3. Worship – Rev. 19:1: “And after these things I heard a great voice of many people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God.”
4. Serving – Rev. 22:3: “and His servants shall serve Him.”
5. Leading – Rev. 22:5: “…and they will reign forever and ever.”
6. Fellowship with others – 1Thess. 4:17: “We who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
7. Eating – Rev. 19:9: “…Those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb are fortunate!”
Can you imagine eating, enjoying a new heavenly home, and satisfying relationships with people who are full of joy and their best selves are always present?
Can you imagine serving the One you love most, doing the thing you enjoy most, and doing it in a body that is forever energized? That is Heaven! And the ultimate bliss will be seeing Jesus face to face.
“I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, with seeing Your likeness.” (Psalm 17:15)
Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8)
Let me make this very personal. If you were to die tonight, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven? This is too important to say, “I think so” or “I hope so.” If you are wrong, you are going to be spending eternity in hell.
What we need is solid hope on which to stand. And we have it 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 cross for the sins of the world and rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning.
Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for making a way for our salvation from sin. Thank you for the promise of spending eternity in Heaven. Thank you that our loved ones are in Your presence enjoying their time. Help us show others Your love and mercy. We look forward to seeing You face to face and hearing You say,” well done my good and faithful servant.” In Jesus’ name. Amen and amen!
Rebekah Marsh
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#rebekahmarshblogs