Bulletin Article for May 21, 2006

Heaven, A Prepared Place For A Prepared People

by Micky Galloway

I doubt that the full story of the beauty and glory of heaven has been told. In fact, when Paul was caught up into the third heaven, the place of God's abode, he “heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (II Corinthians 12:4). These “unspeakable words” indicate that what Paul heard was incapable of translation into human, earthly terminology. Paul was privileged to experience things otherwise unseen by human eye, unheard by human ear, and unfelt by human heart this side of heaven. Yet, those who yet wait to “inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34) sing, “HOW BEAUTIFUL HEAVEN MUST BE” not because we have been there, but because of Paul's experience and the added glimpses we get throughout the scriptures of that wonderful home of the soul.

Heaven is real. Jesus said, “Great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:12; cf Matthew 6:19ff). Peter wrote of “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (I Peter 1:4). Paul spoke of “the hope which is laid up for you in heaven” (Colossians 1:5). He further said, “For our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20).

What is heaven like? Truths about heaven are presented through beautiful pictures. Descriptions of heaven's beauty are presented to our minds through physical objects that are familiar to us … Gems, precious stones, trees, flowers and fruits, fountains, streams and rivers, are of frequent use in the Bible pictures of the future life. These images that are used to describe heaven do not make heaven any less real.

Heaven is described as a place of paradise. Jesus promised that all who overcome shall eat of the tree of life in the paradise of God (Revelation 2:7; 3:22). The picture of “the city foursquare” in Revelation 21:1-22:5 presents a picture of a beautiful place. There God shall dwell among His people and “He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4). There will be no slum section in heaven; no hunger or thirst (Revelation 7:16-17). There will be no sin in this paradise of God. John wrote in Revelation 21:27 that “Nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall come into it.”

Heaven is described as the permanent home of the soul. Our mortal bodies wear away, and the old home place for many is no more. But death of the body is not the end. It is merely the gateway into something far better, for Jesus says, “the righteous (enter) into ETERNAL life” (Matthew 25:46). Paul said, “and so shall we EVER be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:18). Abraham “looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Paul looked for a “tabernacle made without hands, ETERNAL in the heavens” (II Corinthians 5:1f).

Heaven is a place of fellowship. To have this close fellowship with God throughout eternity is an honor. “And they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4). John said, “Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is” (I John 3:2). In addition to this, heaven affords the company of great men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jeremiah, Paul, Luke, John and Timothy, and great women like Sarah, Deborah, Ruth, Mary, Elizabeth, Dorcas, Eunice and Lois. Of Old Testament worthies Jesus says, “And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west , and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11).

Heaven is a place of worship and service. If you find no joy or happiness in worshiping God and in serving Him now, you would be miserable in heaven because you would have to do for eternity what you did not like to do here. John wrote, “Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them” … “And there shall be no curse any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants shall serve him” (Revelation 7:15; Revelation 22:3).

Heaven is a place of rest from our labors. John wrote in Revelation 14:13, “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth, Yea, saith the Spirit, That they rest from their labors, for their works follow with them.” “Rest from their labors” indicates the wearisome toil in doing good, in defending the truth and teaching the lost. Paul said, “Let us not be weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9). Their “works” follow them. These are those things we have done in Christ which will not be forgotten by others, nor by the Lord in the day of judgment (I Corinthians 15:58; cf Hebrews 6:10-12). At the end of the way as Paul looked back over the course of his life, he saw that his assurance rested on just such toil. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness…” (II Timothy 4:6-8).

Who is going to heaven? The Lord indicated that many are NOT going to heaven (cf Matthew 7:13-14; 21-23). No one will be there accidentally. It is according to God's eternal purpose to save all who WILL come unto him through Jesus Christ. Many will stumble into Hell, but no one will blindly, by chance, enter heaven. Only those who seek to go to heaven will be there. Jesus said, “Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24). God will give eternal life “to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption” (Romans 2:7). Only those who remain faithful will go to heaven. James taught, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which (the Lord) promised to them that love him” (James 1:12). Paul said that the crown of righteousness was not laid up for him alone, but “also to all them that have loved his appearing” (II Timothy 4:8; cf Revelation 2:10).

You don't have to miss heaven; no one need miss that holy city. If you miss it, it will be your own fault. Jesus has provided the way and invites us to come and partake of rest (Matthew 11:28). Truly, heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people! In that last day, the great day of all days, Jesus will say to some, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). To the rest He will say, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). Jesus said, “And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). What will Jesus say to you?