John 14:2-3 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. (NKJV).

Heaven! We don’t hear that much about it. How often do we think about it though, in our own quiet moments? There are times when it is foremost in our thoughts, and one of those times is a funeral. It was my privilege to conduct the funeral of a relative of mine recently. We had the knowledge that she had made her peace with God and was ready to meet Him, so that made the grieving easier.

Jesus came to earth, lived, died, rose and ascended to be the way, to bring us to the Father. (See John 14:6). That’s why He came. His mission was to provide access to a Holy God, to BE the way to our heavenly Father. We get so involved in our earthly life that we forget our heavenly one, purchased for us at the price of the Son’s blood. God the Father loves us and wants us to live with Him, forever, in Heaven!

The Bible speaks of Heaven hundreds of times. It speaks of a new heaven and a new earth. The Bible story begins in a garden and ends in a city! And all the way through points us to Jesus Christ! Why? Because He is the way, to the Father! The Bible begins with God creating the heavens and the earth. It ends with God creating a New Heaven and a New Earth. Everything that Adam lost in the Garden of Eden, will be restored AND MUCH MORE!

What will Heaven be like? That has been the discussion of thousands over the years. But the Bible gives the clearest description of what it will be like. Here’s just a few.

i. It is the New Jerusalem.

Rev 21:2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (NKJV).

John sees a New City coming down from the skyline, and he immediately recognises it – Jerusalem! Jerusalem was full of significance in the Bible story; this was the place where God came down to meet with His people when the cloud of His glory filled the temple! It speaks of His dwelling place, where He will meet His people. Wow!

The old city HAD a holy place where the presence of God came down. The new city IS a holy place where God’s presence will remain. In the old Jerusalem, ONE ROOM was filled with His glory! In the New Jerusalem, the WHOLE CITY will be filled with His glory, and a vast crowd of men and women, more than can be numbered will live in God’s presence.

ii. It is a New Garden – Paradise Restored.

Rev 22:1-2 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (NKJV).

John now sees a garden! And what a garden! The Bible story began in a garden, and now at the end of the Bible story, this garden paradise is restored! But note: there is no “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” in God’s New Garden City – only the “Tree of Life”. This garden, this New City, this place of God’s absolute presence, is now not only free from the presence of evil, but even from its possibility! (Remember Satan’s fall. See Isaiah 14:13-15).

In the New Garden, God’s people have access to the “Tree of Life”, which bears 12 different kinds of fruit, every month! This speaks of the riches of life, continually replenished in the presence of God. The pleasures of God’s New Garden and the provision and the abundance we enjoy, will far surpass anything Adam knew in the Garden of Eden. You will taste fruits Adam never tasted and enjoy pleasures Adam never knew.

God drove them out of the first garden and protected the way to the tree, (See Genesis 3:24), so that they could not eat of it and live forever apart from God. Now, though, we have free access to the tree of life! Because God has legally, legitimately and rightfully (through Christ’s work) made it possible for us to be with Him sin-free!

iii. It is free from all pain and sorrow!

Rev 21:4 “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.” (NKJV).

In Heaven there’s no more tears, no more human suffering. Wow! Your life will be ordered, your work will be fulfilled, and your relationships whole.

Be encouraged! I hope you’re looking forward to Heaven! It is where we’ll be forever! It is where we’ll worship and sing and serve and praise God like nothing we’ve ever known. God’s presence is there. No wonder He did so much to get us there! It has been said that time is the probation of man, and eternity is the rewarding of man. Heaven then is the dwelling place of the redeemed, and hell the dwelling place of the unredeemed.

I hope also you know you’ll be going to Heaven when you die (should Jesus tarry)? Why not make sure by pausing for a moment amidst the busyness of our earthly life, and reconnect if necessary with Christ the Saviour, to secure our Heavenly life. Ask Him to forgive you of any sins, invite Him into your life! Begin, re-establish, or strengthen a relationship with Him! Then we can say with Paul; Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (NKJV).

Life Is But A Stopping Place

Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what’s to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.

We all have different journeys.
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay…

Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey’s quicker,
For some the journey’s slow.

And when the journey finally ends,
We’ll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the lord.
(Source unknown).