Ed Jones, Pastor
Obviously, I can’t cover a topic that broad in a few hundred words. But, we can hit the high points.
Everyone wants to know about heaven (Greek: Paradeisos) and everyone wants to go there. Polls suggest that nearly 80 percent of Americans believe there is a heaven. Amazing! Even in this skeptical age there is something inside the human heart that cries out, “There’s got to be something more than the pain and suffering of this life. Something more than 70 or 80 years on planet earth. Something more than being born, living, dying, and then being buried. There is indeed a “God-shaped vacuum” inside the human heart.
Not only do most Americans believe in heaven, most expect to go there when they die. Perhaps one modest point is in order. Whenever you talk about living forever somewhere, it would help to know for sure where you are going. After all, if you’re wrong about heaven, you’re going to be wrong for a long, long time.
Without citing each Scripture referred to or quoted, I’ve listed some truths about our future home. Heaven is a place freed from the fears and insecurities that plague and haunt us in the present life. Billy Graham writes: “No energy crisis there … Free from the economic and financial pressures that burden us down here. Free from the fear of personal and physical harm … No fear of personal failure … Our relationship with Him will be intimate and direct. I’m looking forward to that glorious day of going to heaven.”
We know that there will be no night, no death, no disease, no sorrow, no tears, no ignorance, no disappointment, and no war. It will be filled with happiness, worship, love, and perfection. However, scripture seems to point out that we will have activity that glorifies Him and satisfies us. We will also eat and commune with one another.
Heaven will be a place to challenge the creative genius of the unfettered mind of redeemed man.” Revelation 21:4 says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
However, the Bible makes clear that there is only one way to heaven, and that is through repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ who said, “I am the way…” (John 14:6). Jesus paid for our sins through His death on the cross. God offers us the free gift of friendship with Him in this life and eternal life in heaven when we die if we will but turn from sin and trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:30).
Ed Jones pastors Fellowship at the Ranch Church at Robson Ranch. This nondenominational church meets at the Robson Clubhouse on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Visit Fellowship’s website at www.fellowshipattheranchchurch.com for information.