By Bill Brandstatter
Because of the Corona virus, my granddaughter ended up spending a few days with my wife and me. She and I discussed the subject of heaven. She had an interesting take on what she thought heaven would be like. She thought that there were going to be dogs there. I explained to her the difference between dogs and humans is dogs don’t have souls like humans. She then said there might be pretty gum drops there. I told her to think of the most beautiful thing she could think of and heaven would be even more beautiful than that. She had some interesting ideas. She asked about celebrating birthdays in heaven. She wanted to know if it would be daytime. From the mouths of youngsters come all sorts of interesting ideas and thoughts.
The Bible depicts heaven in words for man to read. Yet even the words on the sacred pages only begin to tell us about the beauty of the home of the soul. My favorite description is in Revelation chapter 21. There in verse 4 we read, “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.” We all want to go to a place of “no more.” How beautiful heaven will be!!!!
The Bible depicts heaven as occupied by church people. In Heb. 12:22,23, the writer notes: innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all to the spirits of just men made perfect.” (NKJV) Then in Rev. 21:2, John writes, “Then, I, John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” If anyone would think of the church as not important, these verses should be considered. Because of the church, how beautiful heaven must be!
The Bible depicts heaven as a real place. The writer of Hebrews describes heaven in very real terms. In Heb. 11:10, we read of Abraham waiting for a “city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God.” In Heb. 11:16, it is described as a “heavenly country.” In Heb. 11:14, it is referred to as a “homeland.” How beautiful heaven must be!
The Bible depicts heaven as a place for prepared people. Jesus told his apostles, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am there you may be also.” (Jn.14:1, 2) Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. How beautiful heaven must be!
The Bible depicts heaven and its occupants. Our Father is in heaven (Mt. 5:16). Jesus is in heaven (Acts 1:11). The Holy Spirit is there (1 Pet. 1:12). Angels are there (Matt. 18:10). God’s children will be there (Phil. 3:20). How beautiful heaven must be!
What is your view of heaven? Think of something beautiful and then know that heaven is even more beautiful. Let us set our minds on heaven (Col. 3:1, 2). The occupants of heaven make it beautiful. The place makes it beautiful. The preparation makes it beautiful. The church makes it beautiful. Are you prepared to go there? How beautiful heaven must be!
Because of the Corona virus, my granddaughter ended up spending a few days with my wife and me. She and I discussed the subject of heaven. She had an interesting take on what she thought heaven would be like. She thought that there were going to be dogs there. I explained to her the difference between dogs and humans is dogs don’t have souls like humans. She then said there might be pretty gum drops there. I told her to think of the most beautiful thing she could think of and heaven would be even more beautiful than that. She had some interesting ideas. She asked about celebrating birthdays in heaven. She wanted to know if it would be daytime. From the mouths of youngsters come all sorts of interesting ideas and thoughts.
The Bible depicts heaven in words for man to read. Yet even the words on the sacred pages only begin to tell us about the beauty of the home of the soul. My favorite description is in Revelation chapter 21. There in verse 4 we read, “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.” We all want to go to a place of “no more.” How beautiful heaven will be!!!!
The Bible depicts heaven as occupied by church people. In Heb. 12:22,23, the writer notes: innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all to the spirits of just men made perfect.” (NKJV) Then in Rev. 21:2, John writes, “Then, I, John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” If anyone would think of the church as not important, these verses should be considered. Because of the church, how beautiful heaven must be!
The Bible depicts heaven as a real place. The writer of Hebrews describes heaven in very real terms. In Heb. 11:10, we read of Abraham waiting for a “city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God.” In Heb. 11:16, it is described as a “heavenly country.” In Heb. 11:14, it is referred to as a “homeland.” How beautiful heaven must be!
The Bible depicts heaven as a place for prepared people. Jesus told his apostles, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am there you may be also.” (Jn.14:1, 2) Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. How beautiful heaven must be!
The Bible depicts heaven and its occupants. Our Father is in heaven (Mt. 5:16). Jesus is in heaven (Acts 1:11). The Holy Spirit is there (1 Pet. 1:12). Angels are there (Matt. 18:10). God’s children will be there (Phil. 3:20). How beautiful heaven must be!
What is your view of heaven? Think of something beautiful and then know that heaven is even more beautiful. Let us set our minds on heaven (Col. 3:1, 2). The occupants of heaven make it beautiful. The place makes it beautiful. The preparation makes it beautiful. The church makes it beautiful. Are you prepared to go there? How beautiful heaven must be!
- Bill
Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in
Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's
website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/
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