by Miles Togo

Created on: June 14, 2008

If Heaven is not a real place, then what a miserable prospect we have for this life!

We struggle, we suffer, we endure indignity and embarrassment at the hands of others and our own faults. This life is simply a wilderness journey that we pass though on our way to our eternal home. We're born, we grow up, living in difficulty (some in desperation) and then fall into the grave. What sort of existence is that? This life is cursed by sin.

Surely a bleak picture.

However, for those who trust and believe in God's Word, Heaven is the home of God's children.

Are all God's children? Sadly, frighteningly, No. Jesus calls some, the children of the Devil. For these, there is no hope of Heaven, only a certain looking forward to judgement.

But for believers in the true God, there is the wonderful hope and promise of Heaven.

So what is Heaven like? Has anyone been there so that we can have some idea? Jesus has. He came down from Heaven, lived on this earth with all it's miseries and brokenness and gave us a glimpse into the inexpressible wonder of Heaven.

He said "In my Father's house are many mansion . . . . I go to prepare a place for you. If it were not so, I would have told you." "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4

Heaven is not like the TV advertisements portray; a place in the clouds, where all is white and angels in female form float about in a dreamy state.

The Bible draws a picture of a new Heaven and new Earth after this universe is rolled up like a carpet and destroyed. It will be a place like the first garden in Paradise, where Adam and Eve began their existence. There is work to do. Not work like we do now, work that has little reward and burdened with drudgery. It will be glorious work that we perform out of adoration and love for our Creator and Saviour. It will be our delight to do as our gentle Master asks. Everything we apply our labour to, will prosper. The curse of sin and its consequences has no place here.

We will rule over this new creation, because we are heirs to the Lord of lords, and King of kings. We will rule in perfect wisdom and knowledge. No more mistakes, environmental destruction or waste. Our days will be filled with joy and blessing. Our whole existence will be devoted to serving our God, not ourselves.

There will be animals too, animals recreated after losing their existence through extinction and human expansion. Imagine a place with dinosaurs, lions, bears, snakes, spiders, scorpions, lambs and rabbits, all living in harmony and peace. No more ripping, tearing of tooth and claw.

Is Heaven a state of being or a place?

For believers, it's our only home. We see it with the eye of faith and live in certain hope. If it's not a place, we are of all earthly men, most miserable. A life of resistance to sin, self-denial, prayer and self-sacrifice is not much of a life if our only hope is for this world. Here we are travellers in a foreign country.

Heaven is a real place. We're on our way.

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