Mission Venture Ministries

For the believer heaven is a real place described in the Bible and it appears in Scripture over five hundred times. 

Jesus said, “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” (John 14:2-3). Christ chose familiar physical terms (house, rooms) to describe that location. He gave us something tangible to look forward to, an eternal home, where we will live with Him forever. 

The apostle John was privileged to see and write on the heavenly city (Revelation 21:10-27) where all true believers will one day live; and where John witnessed the “glory of God” (Revelation 21:11), the very presence of where God reigns.

We need to understand though, that as eloquent as John was in his description of heaven, the reality of heaven is beyond the ability of finite man to comprehend. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love Him,” and that is a portion of what He revealed to His beloved apostle John while he was in exile at the isle of Patmos.

In heaven there will be no more tears, no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). There will be no more separation, because death will be conquered (Revelation 20:6). As God told Isaiah: “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare” (Isaiah 42:9).

The best thing about heaven is the presence of our Lord and Savior (1 John 3:2). We will be face to face with the Lamb of God who loved us and sacrificed Himself so that we can enjoy His presence in heaven for eternity.

As born again believers Scripture commands us to live as those made alive in Christ and to set our minds on heaven: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2).

Scripture tells us we should be “looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).

God has not abandoned His original design and plan for humanity to rule the earth for His glory. One day, He will reverse the curse and restore what was corrupted by sin. He will come down to dwell with His people on the new earth, bringing His throne, and heaven itself, with Him (Revelation 21:1–4); and there no longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve Him. (Revelation 22:3) 

As we see from God’s word, heaven is indeed a real place. The Bible tells us that heaven is God’s throne (Isaiah 66:1; Acts 7:48-49; Matthew 5:34-35). After Jesus’ resurrection and appearance on earth to His disciples, “He was taken up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). 

When people deny the existence of heaven, they deny not only the written Word of God, but they also deny the innermost longings of their own hearts. Paul addressed this issue in his letter to the Corinthians, encouraging them to cling to the hope of heaven so that they would not lose heart. Although we “groan and sigh” in our earthly state, we have the hope of heaven always before us and are eager to get there (2 Corinthians 5:1-4). 

Paul urged the Corinthians to look forward to their eternal home in heaven, a perspective that would enable them to endure hardships and disappointments in this life. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). 

Since heaven is the abode of a holy and perfect God, sin has no place there, nor can it be tolerated. Fortunately, God has provided for us the key that opens the door of heaven; Jesus Christ (John 14:6). All who believe in Jesus Christ and seek forgiveness for sin will find Him waiting for them.

Heaven is beyond our understanding. But we can rest in the fact that our God is good and what He has prepared for us is good. “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.” (Revelation 21:5-7)

May the future glory of our eternal home motivate us all to serve God faithfully and with all our heart, preserving our faith in His promises, to those who trust, believe and obey. 

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22) 

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to heaven, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him (2 Peter 3:14); being aware that our destiny is to live as redeemed, righteous people on a redeemed, righteous earth with our Redeemer should be a powerful incentive to call upon His strength to live righteously today.

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