Heaven, Glorious Heaven

Fear of punishment is often used in scripture to motivate sinners to obedience and faith. However, fear is only an effective motivation for those lacking or weak in faith. Fear cannot move anyone to deep devotion or spiritual maturity. To achieve those deeper levels of spiritual development we need to draw upon the deeper motivation of our eternal rewards.

Visualizing Heaven

I'm convinced Christians need to think of the glories of heaven on a regular basis. Rather than present my reasons I'd just like to describe what scripture has to say about heaven.

Consider,

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our dwelling-place out of Heaven; if indeed in being clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened; inasmuch as we do not wish to be unclothed, but to be clothed, so that the mortal might be swallowed up by the life.

2 Corinthians 5:1-5

But someone will say, How are the dead raised up, and with what body do they come? So also the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. Behold, I speak a mystery to you; we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed; in a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet. For a trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:35,42-44,51-53

Imagine having a resurrected, eternal body. Imagine a body free of pain and disease. You'll never have aches or pains; never another stiff neck or another knot in your back. Imagine having a glorious and beautiful body. Your body will never grow old or deteriorate. You'll never sag, wrinkle or put on weight. Imagine having a body that is completely free from the infirmities and limitations of the flesh.

Consider,

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And the sea no longer is. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband. And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away. And He sitting on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and faithful. And He said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who thirsts I will give of the fountain of the Water of Life freely. He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.
Revelation 21:1-7

Imagine a place of unimaginable and eternal beauty. Imagine a place where there is no pain or suffering, no death or sorrow, no sin or cruelty. Imagine a place where this is no gossip, no pettiness, no back-biting, no envy, no malice, no hatred, and no strife.

Imagine being surrounded by individuals who are filled with the qualities you most admire -- individuals who are kind, humble, faithful, harmless, unselfish, and of uncompromising integrity. Everywhere you look you see people who are diligent workers, who love the truth, who love people, and who love the Lord. Imagine that these individuals not only possess these qualities, but they are filled with them to an amazing extent. Not only that, but you are one of these people. You are among them, having these qualities yourself, being freed from the weaknesses, limitations and lusts of your mortal body. At last, you are free to live and serve God completely without sin!

Imagine dwelling among all the faithful saints throughout the ages. Imagine meeting and talking with Abraham, Elijah, Moses, Noah and the prophets of the Old Testament. Imagine spending time with Peter, Paul and the Christians of the first century. Imagine being reunited with faithful family and friends who have departed this life. And even as you consider the great honor you have to be in their presence, imagine the wonder you experience as you come to realize that you are not just a spectator. You belong among them. Just as they, you have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. You have lived faithfully unto death.

Finally and most significantly, imagine standing in the presence of God. Imagine the wonder and awe of seeing God face to face, yet without fear. Imagine standing in His presence and feeling His welcome and approval. Imagine hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Imagine experiencing the greatest joy or thrill you’ve ever experienced, only far greater still. And, instead of getting old and fading, the thrill and the joy and the wonder only grow deeper and stronger the longer you spend in God’s presence. Heaven is not heaven because of the “streets of gold”. Heaven is heaven because God is there!

I’m sure that heaven is all these things and much, much more. Now, who wants to go there?

There is only one way to get there. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me” (John 14:6). Peter said, “Neither is there any other name by which we may be saved” (Acts 4:12). The only way to get to heaven is by placing your obedient faith in Christ Jesus and striving to live each day as a citizen of heaven here on earth.

-PG