I believe in heaven. Heaven is God’s home, just like you and I have a place we call home. I don’t mean to say that heaven is like my house, or yours, or that God is like me, or you. But I do believe that God is just as particular about who He lets into His domain as we are about who we let into ours.
That is not to say there are certain people God doesn’t want in heaven. If you have ever read the Bible, you probably noticed there are a lot of “whosoevers” in there, and when God says whosoever, I think He means just what He says. I just think that whosoever goes to heaven will already be in agreement with God’s house rules. Because let’s face it, no one wants to let someone into their home (especially for a prolonged period) who is going to mistreat their family, kick the dog, steal their valuables, or say disrespectful things behind their back (or to their face). And I think the same principle applies to God.
I think heaven is a place where everyone loves God very much, and honors and respects Him at all times. Not because they have to, for fear of being thrown out, but because they have come to know how great and how good God is, and how much He cares for them. So heaven is a place where people go to be with God – just because they really “want” to be with Him.
I believe in heaven. As a matter of fact, I’m looking forward to going there. If you believe the Bible, and I do, it says that after the end of this age, God is going to create a new heaven and a new earth that will be so wonderful that no one will even remember the things that existed before (Isaiah 65:17). I don’t think that means that there will be no memory, but that the new will be so glorious that everything that existed before will seem insignificant in comparison. And considering the beauty of our world now, I would say THAT is something to look forward to.
But I realize that some folks don’t agree with me. One guy even quoted from a country music song to impress me with his disdain for such spiritual nonsense. It was the one that says, “If heaven ain’t got no honky-tonks, then I don’t want to go.” Well, I didn’t know what to say right then, because my mind just doesn’t work that fast, but a little later on I could have told him that he doesn’t have to worry because there won’t be anyone forcing him to go to heaven. But unfortunately, I can’t say the same about the only other alternative!
Some people must think heaven is a pretty dull place, full of “goody-two-shoes” who aren’t allowed to have any fun. Actually that’s about what I used to think. But now I realize that the reason I felt that way was because I was in bondage to the sin in my life, and I couldn’t imagine how I could ever be happy without doing all the things I was doing at the time. I was like a person who had spent his whole life at the equator and had never seen snow, or someone who have never seen the ocean. But once I asked Jesus to come into my heart and was freed from my sin, I was suddenly able to enjoy life more than ever before. And as I continued experiencing the joy of walking in the love of God, and the assurance of eternal life, I realized that I had stepped into “a whole new world” which I had never even known was there.
I believe that when this world ends, and God reveals Himself to all of His creation, He will be totally and completely vindicated for everything He has done. There are a lot of people who have fallen for the devil’s lie that God is unfair, which is exactly what Satan used to deceive Adam and Eve. But sometime during or after the judgment of mankind, I think it will become very clear that God has been completely fair, just, kind and loving with each and every person He has created. I don’t know exactly how it will happen, or what means He will use. But let’s just say that He uses the most gigantic movie screen of all time, with triple technicolor and the sound wired directly to you brain. Whatever it is, I don’t think there will be any place to hide, nor any way to deny the truth of the pictures that are brought forth. All of those who say that God didn’t give them a chance to be saved, will not be able to utter a word when the scenes of their lives go floating by. And those who insist that they have lived “a pretty good life,” will fall silent when their every thought, motive and deed is exposed on God’s BIG screen.
I believe in heaven, and I believe the Scripture when it says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is because it did not know him (Jesus). Dear friends, now we are the children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he (Jesus) appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he (Jesus) is pure.” (I John 3:1-3)
Dear friend, do you know Jesus? Do you have this hope of heaven within you, this hope that comes from knowing Him, that purifies your heart day by day? If you’re not sure, you can be. In fact, you are one of the whosoevers God is looking for. In II Peter 3:9, it says that one of the reasons God is holding back the end of the world is because He is waiting – waiting for people like you and me to come to Him – to repent and be saved, because He loves us all so much that He doesn’t want anyone to miss out on all that He has planned for us!
I believe in heaven, and I believe that the time to purchase your ticket may be running out much sooner than many think. But whatever happens, and whenever it does, I’m ready. And I hope that you are too!
“Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” Acts 3:19-21
