“We read of a place that’s called heaven,
it’s made for
the pure and the free; these truths in God’s Word He has
given, How beautiful
heaven must be.” “This world is not my home,
I’m just a passing through, my
treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue, the angels beckon me
from
heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in
this world anymore.” What
wonderful songs we sing about heaven, which bring radiant joy to our
hearts as
we live upon this earth. I love to think and to meditate on heaven and
the
glory that one day we shall behold. When I think about heaven, it
reminds me
how badly I desire to go home! Truly, how beautiful heaven must be!
Heaven has
been the hope of believers in all ages. Righteous Abraham looked
forward to
heaven (cf. Hebrews 11:10),
and
Moses of the long ago also groped for the beauties therein (cf. Hebrews 11:26). Like the
righteous of old, we too
look forward to heaven! What can we know about this wonderful place to
which we
look forward? What does the Bible have to say about our eternal
dwelling place?
In the first place, the Bible gives us the Promise
of Heaven. Heaven is an eternal dwelling place that is
promised to those
who are faithful. Just prior to His ascension back to heaven, Jesus
comfortingly assured the disciples, “…In my
Father's house are many mansions…”
(John 14:2a). Jesus gave a promise of which we can lay hold. The
promise of
heaven is dear to the redeemed of God! Paul believed in the promise of
heaven
as well (2 Corinthians 5:1). Because of this wonderful promise of
heaven, we
can encouragingly sing, “Earth holds no treasures but perish
with using,
however precious they be, yet there’s a country to which I am
going, Heaven
Holds All To Me!” What a Promise is ours!
In the second place, the Bible gives us the Picture
of Heaven. Heaven is so wonderful, so unspeakable that God
has chosen to
describe its picture by telling us what is not there. We see in the
picture of
heaven a place of no sin (cf. Revelation 21:27). Sin
has turned the world into a
prison wherein mankind often serves as its inmates. However, there will
be no sin
in our eternal dwelling place; just think of a place of no sin, what a picture! We also see in the
picture of heaven a place of no sorrow
(cf. Revelation 21:4).
We live
in this world, which is full of sorrow, tears, death and heartache.
However,
there will be no sorrow, tears or death in our eternal dwelling place;
just
think of a place of no sorrow, what a
picture!
In the third place, the Bible gives us the Populace
of Heaven. The Bible affirms that the Godhead will be in our
eternal
dwelling place. Jesus in the Model Prayer affirmed that the Father is
there (cf.
Matthew 6:9b).
Peter affirmed
that Jesus, “is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of
God; angels and
authorities and powers being made subject unto him” (1 Peter
3:22). Matthew
confirmed that the Holy Spirit was in heaven, “And Jesus,
when he was baptized,
went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened
unto
him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting
upon him”
(Matthew 3:16). We will enjoy the sweet fellowship
of the Godhead in our
eternal home. There will also be obedient angels in our eternal
dwelling place
(cf. Matthew 18:10;
Revelation 3:5).
The populace will also include those
who are born again, converted, children of God, whose names are written
in the Book
of Life (cf. Revelation 5:9;
21:27).
As was said by Gospel preachers of long ago, “Heaven is a
prepared place for a
prepared people!” God’s redeemed children will
inhabit heaven for eternity! What
a populace with which to enjoy the endless ages of eternity!
With the promise we have from inspiration of heaven,
the beautiful picture the Bible paints of heaven and the wonderful
populace
therein, why would anyone want to miss heaven? Dear reader, share in
the
wonderful joys of the spectacular place called heaven by obeying the
Gospel
(cf. John 8:24;
Luke 13:3;
Matthew 10:32;
Acts 2:38,
et al.).
