When you have had someone close to you die, especially a child, everything changes. You see life much differently. Although it has been one year now since my son Christopher's departure to heaven, the sadness lingers. His absence is very pronounced, perhaps even more so. Like a blanket, it covers everything.
While there are things still very, very hard to deal with, there are blessings as well. I have a much better perspective on life and what really matters. It has made me long for heaven more, and that cannot be a bad thing, because Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21 nkjv). Thinking deeply about heaven helps a lot, and more than ever, I have a great interest in knowing and talking about heaven.
Although heaven is more personal, real and nearer than it has ever been before, I still have questions about heaven. I want to know more about heaven, because it is the future dwelling place of every follower of Christ. In fact, the Bible tells us to give some serious thought to the topic: "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" (Colossians 3:1-2 nlt). Another way to put it is, "Think heaven!" Our feet must be on Earth, but our minds must be in heaven.
Yet sadly, many of us go through an entire day, even a week, without one thought of heaven. As writer and Bible commentator Warren Wiersbe observes in his book, "Be Victorious," "Heaven is more than a destination; it is a motivation."
But how can we be thinking about and seeking heaven? Answer: from the careful study of Scripture. We have heard it said that a person can be so heavenly minded, they are no earthly good. But I would suggest that many people today are so earthly minded, they are no heavenly good. Those who are truly heavenly minded always have done the most for Earth. Think of the relief agencies, universities and schools that have been founded by Christians. In contrast, how many atheist relief agencies are in existence today? Those who think the most of the next world do the most for this one.
Heaven can be hard to wrap our minds around. People can think of heaven in a mystical way, with clouds, more clouds and people floating around. To some, like the science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov, heaven even sounded boring. He said, "I don't believe in an afterlife, so I don't have to spend my whole life fearing hell, or fearing heaven even more. For whatever the tortures of hell, I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse." But that is not a statement a person who knows something about heaven would make.
Heaven is a real place for real people. It helps me to think of heaven in this way, because I live in a place now, and the Bible tells me I will live in another place later. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2 nkjv).
The Bible uses many images, ideas and words to describe heaven. One of those words is "paradise." Jesus told the thief on the cross, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43 nkjv). The apostle Paul, who died, went to heaven, and then came back to life, described heaven using the same word: paradise (see 2 Corinthians 12:4).
Heaven is also described in the Bible as a city: "For [Abraham] waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10 nkjv); and "Here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come" (Hebrews 13:14 nkjv). Cities have buildings, culture, art, music, goods, services and events. So instead of trying to imagine some weird city that is situated on a cloud, think about a city you have visited. Certain cities, like Jerusalem, Rome, Paris and New York City, have unique qualities to them. Heaven will be the best of the best cities you have ever visited, yet so much better.
Another way the Bible describes heaven is as a country: "But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them" (Hebrews 11:16 nkjv).
So heaven is like a paradise, a city and a country. We tend to think of Earth as the real thing and heaven as the surreal thing. But as C. S. Lewis put it, Earth is "The Shadowlands." Lewis was speaking of heaven as the real thing. So Earth is a pale version of heaven, not the other way around. It is all just a taste of better things to come. Heaven is the real deal, the eternal dwelling place, while Earth is the copy, the temporary dwelling place. We start with Earth and reason up toward heaven, when we ought to start with heaven and reason down toward Earth.
Heaven is real, and it is a prepared place for prepared people. Are you prepared? If you want to go to heaven, it is a deliberate decision. It is a choice you make to accept the forgiveness of God and put your faith in Jesus Christ, and him alone, to give you eternal life.
The last thing God wants is for you to spend eternity separated from him. And that is why he paid such a great price by sending his son to die in your place. You can know today, and know with certainty, that you are going to heaven by putting your faith in Jesus Christ. The choice is yours.
