HEAVEN AND WHY I WANT TO GO THERE
The subject of heaven should be near and dear to the hearts of every Christian. It is evident that we cannot live here eternally. The writer of the Book of Hebrews had this to say, “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” (Hebrews 13:14). In view of this passage, let’s look at heaven, and why we should want to go there.
HEAVEN IS A REAL PLACE—Often the question is asked, “Where is heaven?’ To which we must honestly answer, “We do not know.” God has not seen fit to advise us of this. All we know for sure is that at the ascension of Jesus, following his resurrection, he was taken up as those present looked upward, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11). Others passages represent heaven as being up (Psalms 14:2; 2 Corinthians 12:2, 6, 7; 1 Thessalonians 4:17). Heaven cannot be seen with the human eye or telescope. It can only be seen through the “eye of faith”. God will let us know its exact location in His good time.
REAL PEOPLE WILL BE THERE—The bodies of those in heaven will not be flesh and blood, but they will be incorruptible, as seen by the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:50, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” The Bible tells us of some who will be there: Jesus (Acts 1:9); Elijah (2 Kings 2:11); Enoch (Genesis 5:24); Stephen (Acts 7:60); all the faithful (Revelation 2:10). As to the type of body that we will have, God has not revealed, except it will be like the body that Jesus has, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2).
SOME REASONS WHY I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN—(1). Heaven is eternal—Revelation 22:5. Those who reach heaven will have access to the tree of life—Revelation 22:14. This will be something that no one can take away from us. (2). There will be no sin there—Revelation 21:27. We need to consider all the lawlessness that we are surrounded with, and think how wonderful it will be to be free from it. (3). It is a beautiful city—Revelation 21:12-27. In this graphic view of heaven we note the reference to the holy city, walls of jasper, clear as crystal, pure gold, sapphire, etc. (4). It is a place of happiness—Revelation 21:4. I am so tired of sorrow, pain, and death. Aren’t you? The landscape of heaven will not be dotted with hospitals and cemeteries. There will be no funerals, no goodbyes, no wreaths on doors, no widows, no widowers, no broken hearted parents, and no children who feel the loss of their parents. Heaven will only be a place of happiness. Won’t that be great? (5). It will be a place of rest—Hebrews 4:9. This life is not a time of rest. It is a time of work (John 9:4; 1 Corinthians 15:58). Heaven will be a wonderful place to “retire” (Revelation 14:13). (6). It will be a place of fellowship. There will be no complaining against brethren. We will not be surrounded with evil people as we are at the present. We will have fellowship with Jesus, Moses, Noah, Paul and Peter. (7). Because I do not want to go to hell. Some think this to be a poor motive. I don’t! Following this life and Judgment, we only have two places for which we will be for eternity, heaven or hell (Matthew 25:46). To me, there is something wrong with the mentality of the person who says they would rather go to hell than heaven.
Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Hell is a prepared place for an unprepared people. If you are not prepared, why not begin to make preparation today?
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