Perspectives

What is out there … way out there in outer space? Why can I not just zoom into outer space free from the earth’s gravity and go wherever I want to go? If my mind could propel or thrust me into another universe instantly, I would travel to the outermost reaches of the known universe; possibly heaven itself. But where is heaven? Or maybe I should ask the question … What is heaven? Can it be a place? Perhaps it is a spiritual life form? Is it possible that it is a different dimension of living? Is it far away or close at hand? How can I as a human-being enter heaven? These are valid questions which we ought to have open and honest answers too.

Everyday people, in every corner of the world have been, or are struggling with the thought of going to heaven. Or what heaven is like. People today have so much information at their finger tips. We have the Bible, spiritual literature, books that cover every possible area of Christian debate; and yet I become silent during the discussion about what heaven is like. Many times I must admit that I am far too vague in my ideas about certain spiritual realities, spiritual truths. If God is in heaven; you would think that we should know something about heaven.

Scripture describes three very different thoughts regarding heaven on a level that you and I can understand: Look at … Isaiah 55:10…  “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater. Here the prophet Isaiah shows that what you and I call the first heaven is the sky above us. The earth’s atmosphere is mentioned many times in Scripture. We know that it surrounds the earth with the air we breathe; it changes our climate. There is rain, snow, and hail, all which come down from heaven above.

Secondly, the Psalmist talks about the second heaven by referring to, outer space … Psalm 19:1-2,6 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. The Psalmist talks about the sun, our moon, countless number of stars and galaxies and the depth of the universe now not fully understood by the human mind. It is said astronomers have discovered countless number of stars as far away as 13.7 billion light years from this earth of ours.

What is heaven like? Paul talks about the third heaven as being the kingdom of God; a special place for the children of God … 2 Cor. 12:2-4… 2) I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3) And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4) was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. Wow, no wonder our minds are flooded with questions as we do our utmost to understand. The Bible assures us that God our Heavenly Father is in heaven. God can be in the atmosphere, in outer space, in heaven it self. God is Spirit and He can be anywhere and everywhere all at the same time.

John 15:13 … Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. This verse is quoted often during Remembrance Day services; rightfully so. Perhaps Jesus wants us to understand that He gave his life for the human race. He came to open the gate so to say to another place called Heaven. He reminds us that all we have to do to enter heaven is acknowledge our sin condition and ask for His forgiveness; after which He will provide us with indescribable freedom. He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can manage. When our life on earth is done and we enter heaven, we will feel at home in heaven where Christ and our Heavenly Father live. 

Where is heaven? It is a place where God our Heavenly Father lives. It is a place of eternal rest. No more death, No more blame. It is a place far greater than I could even attempt to describe in so few words as this column. It is a place where we will accept by faith what God in His Word says it is. He gave us His Word and His Words are our assurance that we shall someday share Heaven with Him.

Would you pray this prayer with me … “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have the peace in my heart that I yearn for. I really want that peace, joy and happiness that fulfills my hearts desire. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will honour Your Name.” Amen