What Is Heaven Like?
The casket is lowered into the ground. Ashes to ashes; dust to dust.
Will I ever see my loved one again? What will happen to me five minutes after I die? Where will I spend eternity?
The sobering news from the Bible is that it teaches that for the person who rejects Jesus Christ, death will lead to an eternal separation from God in hell.
But the good news from the Bible is that anyone who has put their faith in Christ as Savior and lived for Him will be promoted into a whole new dimension of living with God in heaven at death.
The Scripture says a great reward awaits the Christian,
Praise be to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade, kept in heaven for you. (1 Peter 1:3, 4)
Yet, many Christians fear death. Some believers are anxious about dying because they've received misinformation about heaven. They've swallowed the myth that they'll have to spend eternity sitting on a cloud, playing a harp, and singing forever. For me, nothing could be more boring.
Some Christians have terrible memories of their childhood home life, and they wrongly believe that heaven will be an extension of their unhappy earthly experiences. A friend of mine, a Christian woman, grew up in a family with an absent father who was rarely home. When he was home, he was usually drunk, belittling, and hitting his children. This remarkable Christ follower could only imagine eternity filled with such suffering! It terrified her to think of dying.
Perhaps this is why Jesus had to reassure even his disciples about heaven,
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am. (John 14:1-3)
If, in fact, Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven, what will it be like? In human terms, perhaps the best way to think of heaven is as an ideal home.
Heaven Is a Real, Literal, Tangible Place
Some people do not believe there is an afterlife. They believe that when you're dead, you're dead. That's it. For these people, all talk about heaven is naïve, wishful thinking. For them, heaven is a fairy tale believed only by uneducated, gullible, or desperate people. Heaven, to them, is nothing more than "high-apple-pie-in-the-sky." It's a "motivational concept" to keep people "acting good," much like the carrot is kept in front of the donkey to reward it for working hard. Many, like Karl Marx, believe that this kind of religion is nothing more than an "opiate of the masses."
The Bible Confirms Heaven Is Real
Jesus Christ referred to heaven as a REAL PLACE. He said,
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:31)
The Greek word for "place" in this text is "topos," which refers to actual places. From the Greek word "topos," we derive words like "topography." Christ specifically mentioned heaven many times, such as in:
Matthew 5:12—Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 10:33— Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
The Bible expands on its description of heaven, saying that
Your eyes will see the king in His beauty and view a land that stretches afar. (Isaiah 33:17)
God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:16)
Thus, heaven is a real place, just like Los Angeles, Chicago, Cleveland, or Pittsburgh.
Where Heaven Is
All we know is that heaven is up and away from earth. Christ said,
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. (John 6:38)
Christ's disciples saw Him go UP. They talked with others, saying,
Men of Galilee, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This Jesus, this same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)
What Heaven Looks Like
The Bible doesn't provide us with numerous details about heaven. It describes heaven in both literal and symbolic language. I agree with theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, who cautioned,
It is unwise of Christians to claim any knowledge of either the furniture of heaven or the temperature of hell.
The Bible simply says,
As it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
The Scriptures describe heaven as:
a CITY (New Jerusalem), a COUNTRY, and a HOME.
Chapters 21 and 22 of The Bible's book of Revelation are good places to look for a brief description of heaven. While heaven is often described in symbolic language, it is, nevertheless, a real place.
Heaven Is a Permanent Home
The Greek word for "mansions" in John 13:2 does not refer to a huge, imposing house with endless rooms. Rather, it means a permanent house. The Greek word "mansions" stems from the word "remain." Therefore, we are promised a remaining, permanent home.
This can be especially comforting and secure when so many families are shattered by divorce, and children must be shifted from one parent's home to the other parent's house. Or, in a time when close to eight percent of Americans move every year, and when so many Americans are losing their homes because of financial problems, or are homeless.
Our BODY is the TEMPORARY HOME for our soul. My soul is the "real me" and encompasses my intelligence, memory, personality, and conscience. The "real me" is temporarily housed in my body. But my soul will live forever.
After I die, my soul, the real me, will have a NEW, PERMANENT home in my resurrection body, abiding in heaven. The Bible states,
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. (2 Corinthians 5:1)
Heaven Is a Happy Home
Heaven will not have any of the hurts and sadness that we experience in life. Emotional and physical pain will no longer exist. The Bible explains,
Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor will there be any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. (Revelation 7:16,17)
He (God) will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Revelation 21:4)
There will be no physical pain or discomfort, no hunger, thirst, hurt, or death. There will be no anxiety, insecurity, depression, divorce, worry, crying, or mourning. There will be no spiritual pain, no sin, or disagreements.
Heaven will be a million times BETTER than the most ideal home situation on earth with all its tender, warm memories.
Heaven Will Be Better Because Christ Will Be There
Loads of Christians experience terrible loneliness. Children and teenagers do at times, when their parents' divorce or when friends let them down. Adults experience aloneness when a loved one dies or a friend moves. Most Christians have gone through spiritual "dry spells" when they do not sense Christ's presence, and this causes lonely feelings and spiritual isolation.
However, In heaven, Christ promises to be with us,
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am. (John14:1–3)
Heaven Will Be Happy Because It Will Be Incredibly Beautiful
It will be wonderful, beyond our imagination. The Apostle John was awestruck and could only describe heaven as a place,
Prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband. (Revelation 21:2)
Heaven Will Be Happy Because of the Reunion of Friends and Loved Ones
Heaven will not be some vast place where we'll be lost and lonely and not know anyone. There is plenty of evidence in the Scriptures for a grand reunion and recognition of Christians in heaven.
The Old Testament phrase, which appears repeatedly after a great believer has died. We see this in the case of Abraham:
Then Abraham breathed his last and died at the good old age, an old man and full of years, and he was gathered to his people. (Genesis 25:8)
We see this for Isaac:
Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years, and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. (Genesis 35:29)
King David, whose infant son died, said in positive expectancy of one day seeing his little one again,
But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me. (2 Samuel 12:23)
One day, Jesus was transfigured in front of His closest disciples. There, talking with Him, were Moses and Elijah. Jesus said,
I say to you that many will come from the east and west and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 8:11)
What a wonderful reunion awaits us, one day, as we follow Jesus Christ!
Heaven Will Be Happy Because We Will Have Work to Do
It is fine that the Bible says that there is a "rest for the people of God," but it doesn't refer to a total cessation of all activity. The Bible asserts,
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve him. (Revelation 22:3)
In life, our work often involves pressures, monotonous routines, frustrations, and other challenges. In heaven, we will be given jobs to do, such as special assignments like exploring stars and planets, fixing heavenly chariots, preaching and teaching, creating, building, and other challenging and fulfilling tasks.
Heaven Will Be Happy Because of the Rewards to Be Received
On earth, innumerable Christians labor faithfully, never being recognized or appreciated. Many are persecuted for their faith. Numerous suffer from severe physical, emotional, or spiritual problems, yet are faithful to their Lord.
But one day, the Great Coach will replay the game films of life and will announce,
Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give it to everyone according to what they have done. (Revelation 22:12)
Yes, heaven is a real place, a permanent home, a happy home!
We Christ Followers Will Be Welcomed with Celebration!
This true story gives us a graphic idea of heaven:
During June, July, and August of 1965, a man from Cleveland, Ohio, lived out a dream. Forty-six-year-old Robert Manry purchased a thirty-year-old, thirteen-and-one-half-foot dilapidated boat. He repaired her, christened her "Tinkerbelle," and learned to sail. Then on June 1, 1965, his dream materialized. He set out from Falmouth, Massachusetts, far across the Atlantic for Falmouth, England,
Manry's voyage was to take seventy-eight days, many of them cold, wet, and painful. Hit by storms, confused by hallucinations of hitchhikers and assassins, washed overboard, delayed by winds that were too strong, becalmed by lack of any wind at all, plagued by loneliness, and troubled by saltwater sores, He kept sailing.
Manry expected to sail into Falmouth harbor quietly and let his family know of his arrival, then secure passage for himself and Tinkerbelle to return to the States. It didn't turn out quite that way. Word of his voyage had reached England.
As he neared the coast, Shackleton bombers from the R.A.F.'s forty-second squadron flew over in a special salute. Newspaper teams from both sides of the Atlantic vied for his story. Great ships came alongside with congratulatory messages. During the last miles of his journey, a flotilla of ships and boats sailed out of Falmouth to greet him. Royal Navy helicopters formed an umbrella above. Boats circled and flocked about him, and the people called out:
Good show! Glad you made it, Mate! Well done! Well done!
Nearing the port, he could see crowds of cheering people jamming the ramparts of Pendennis Castle. Manry later wrote:
People were everywhere, standing along the shore, perched on window ledges, leaning out of doorways, crowded onto jetties, thronging the streets, clinging to trees, and cramming the inner harbor in boats of every size and description. The whole place was teeming with humanity. I heard later that 50,000 people were there to see Tinkerbelle and me complete our voyage.
I was dumbfounded, numbed by the enormity of it all, and not a little bewildered. It was just too much to take in all at once. Every boat and ship in the harbor let loose with its horn or whistle, shaking the whole waterfront with a reverberating sound as the crowd yelled.
R.A.F. Shackletons flew overhead in wigwagging salutes and a band—St. Stythians Silver Band—played The Star Spangled Banner and The Stars and Stripes Forever.
Perhaps you think I'm being overly dramatic to say that arriving at heaven will be something like Robert Manry's historic, up-and-down, cross-ocean sailboat journey to reach his life dream: a solo ocean sail and safe port arrival in England.
But I don't think I'm thinking unrealistically. If the angels rejoice at the time of our conversion, what will they do when we finally reach our permanent home in heaven? What a thrill to experience the rejoicing by others who've arrived there before us and have awaited our coming!
It may not be very long before we anchor there. Only God Himself knows when we will depart from this life and enter our new eternal residence.
In the meantime, be absorbed with your life. Live with balance. Take joy with your loved ones and in your work and play— and you will find that the time will pass soon enough.
One day, we will sail out of the fog, out of the storm and smoke of battle, out of the choppy sea and into a harbor of calm, blue waters. The wind will hush, and our sails will drop down, as we glide into a cheering welcome.
We will see His face and hear His reassuring voice saying,
Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will entrust you with many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Well done! (Matthew 25:21)
The battle will be past. The war will be over. We will have won by the blood of the Lamb.
WELCOME HOME, MY CHILD!
When we all reach the end of our earthly journey We will have just begun.
—Billy Graham (1918-2018)