Heaven! Will You Be There?

Sometimes I take a break from writing and other activities simply to watch videos that may be interesting or fun. I ended up watching one that talked about preparations for astronauts living on the moon. Already there are potential sites on the lunar surface. Much research has been done dealing with moon dust, pressurized vehicles, and infrastructure. One video I watched ended by saying, “ The future of humanity as a multiplanetary species is being built right now one step at a time.”

There is another place that has been under preparation for over 2000 years. It is called heaven. It is recorded in John 14:2-3 that Jesus said “ I will prepare a place for you. I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am, you may be also.” Heaven has become a very popular subject as of late.

What is heaven? It is the throne room of God as expressed in Revelation 4:2. The apostle John said in a vision, “At once, I was in the spirit and behold a throne stood in heaven with one seated on the throne.” Acts 7:55-56 records the Apostle Peter before being stoned, “but he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Heaven is the presence and authority of God.

Where is Heaven? In II Corinthians 12:2-4, “I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago was caught up to the third heaven-weather in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-and he heard things that cannot be told which man may not utter.” The first heaven is our atmosphere. The second heaven is the sun, moon, stars, and planets. The third heaven is somewhere beyond that, possibly in a different dimension.

What is heaven made of? It is a city whose builder and maker is God, with a high wall and 12 gates. It consists of the glory of God and his radiance. A river will flow from God‘s throne. It will have a tree of life, similar to the one in the garden of Eden. Read Revelation 22-22 for a more comprehensive description of heaven. Life in heaven will not depend on technology or human ingenuity like on the moon. No life support will be necessary. It will be sustained by God.

How will a person get to heaven? There will be no training involved. In fact, there is nothing a person can do to earn their way to heaven. Billy Graham wrote, “My friend, there is a heavenly GPS that will bring you safely to your eternal destination in heaven. It is called the Gospel Plan of Salvation.” (1) However, “He is not preparing a place in heaven for unrepentant sinners. While we have contributed nothing to God’s free gift of salvation, there is a condition to possessing it-we must confess our sin, turn from it, and receive Christ on his terms” (2).

How much does it cost to go to Heaven? Jesus already paid the price by dying for your sins. Only the righteous can go there, but Jesus has declared righteous those who have called upon His name for their salvation. They will get a free ride into the presence of God and his eternal home in heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9).

1. Billy Graham, Where I Am, Heaven, Eternity, and Our Life Beyond, Thomas Nelson, 2015, pg 73

2. Ibid, pg xv