Heaven: Our Eternal Home and Present Hope
What happens when we die? This question has intrigued humanity for millennia, and even today, it remains one of the most searched queries on the internet. For followers of Jesus, the Bible provides clear insights into both the present and future existence of Heaven. Yet, even with this clarity, questions persist: What will we do there? Who will be there? Will we remember our earthly lives? And perhaps most sentimentally, will our beloved pets join us?
While the Bible doesn't explicitly address every detail about Heaven, it does offer us a beautiful glimpse into our eternal home. Let's explore what Scripture reveals about Heaven and why understanding it is crucial for our lives today.
The Present Heaven
When believers in Christ pass from this life, they immediately enter into the presence of Jesus. As the Apostle Paul wrote, "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far" (Philippians 1:23). This current Heaven is a created place, not merely a state of mind or ethereal existence. It's where Jesus ascended after His resurrection and where He is now in His glorified body.
Those in Heaven now likely have some form of temporary body, though their ultimate resurrected bodies await the final resurrection. Intriguingly, Scripture suggests that those in Heaven remember their earthly lives and are aware, to some degree, of events transpiring on Earth. They pray, worship Jesus, and engage in purposeful activities within the heavenly realm.
The Future Heaven
Revelation 21 paints a breathtaking picture of the ultimate Heaven – a new creation where Heaven and Earth merge. "Then I saw 'a new heaven and a new earth,' for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband" (Revelation 21:1-2).
This eternal Heaven represents the full redemption of all things and the complete healing of everything sin has broken. It's a place where God will dwell directly with His people, wiping away every tear and eliminating death, mourning, crying, and pain forever.
In this New Jerusalem, there will be no need for a temple, "because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Revelation 21:22). The very presence of God and Jesus will permeate every aspect of this renewed creation.
Life in Eternity
Contrary to popular caricatures, Heaven won't be an endless church service or a boring existence on clouds. Instead, it will be a vibrant continuation and perfection of the best aspects of our current lives – minus sin and its effects.
We will work, but without the frustration and fatigue that came with the Fall. We'll have homes, engage in relationships, and continue to create, learn, and grow. While earthly marriage won't exist as we know it (as Jesus taught in Matthew 22:30), our relationships will be transformed and deepened in ways we can't fully comprehend now.
Perhaps most excitingly, we'll be reunited with fellow believers who have gone before us. As Jonathan Edwards beautifully expressed, "There we will talk with the people of Old Testament and New Testament... those whom we only knew by faith. And there, above all, we shall enjoy and dwell with God the Father, whom we have loved with all our hearts on earth; and with Jesus Christ, our beloved Savior... and with the Holy Spirit, our guide and comforter; and we shall all be filled with all the fullness of God forever!"
Why Heaven Matters Now
Understanding Heaven isn't just about satisfying our curiosity about the afterlife. It profoundly impacts how we live today:
1. It reorients our priorities. C.S. Lewis wisely noted, "Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth thrown in. Aim at Earth and you will get neither." When we set our sights on eternity, it puts our earthly pursuits and possessions in proper perspective.
2. It explains our restlessness. We're never fully satisfied here because we're not made to be. Our longing for "something more" points to our true home.
3. It gives us hope in suffering. Knowing that this life is not all there is can sustain us through the darkest valleys.
4. It motivates holy living. The reality of eternity should inspire us to live in a way that pleases God and stores up treasure in Heaven.
5. It deepens our love for Jesus. Heaven's greatest joy isn't streets of gold or reunion with loved ones – it's perfect, unhindered fellowship with our Savior.
Securing Your Place in Heaven
The most crucial question regarding Heaven is this: Are you certain you'll be there? The good news is that you can be. Heaven isn't a reward for living a good life or being religious enough. It's a gift offered through Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul explains, "God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus took our place, bearing the punishment for our sins, so that we could be reconciled to God and have the assurance of eternal life.
To receive this gift, we simply need to put our faith in Jesus – believing that He died for our sins and rose again, and committing our lives to follow Him.
As C.S. Lewis beautifully captured at the end of his Chronicles of Narnia, our earthly lives are just the "cover and title page" of an eternal story. For those who trust in Christ, the best is yet to come.
"Now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read; which goes on forever; in which every chapter is better than the one before."
C.S. Lewis
Heaven is not a reward for living a good life. It's a gift where all sadness will be undone, and the greatest joys we've known on Earth will pale in comparison to the eternal joy that awaits us. Don't miss out on Heaven because you're too focused on chasing temporary earthly pleasures. Set your heart on things above, where Christ is, and let the hope of Heaven transform how you live today.