HEAVEN IS OUR ETERNAL HOME
Many questions arise when we consider what Heaven is and what it will be like. Where is Heaven? When will we go to Heaven? Will Heaven be our eternal home?
First, consider the question, "What is Heaven?" Is it a place and where is it located? Jesus answered this question in His discourse with Nicodemus, the Pharisee, a ruler and leader among the Jews, who came to see him at night.
"No one has ever gone up to Heaven, right here on earth: but there is One Who has come down from Heaven, the Son of Man Himself, Who dwells, Whose home is in Heaven." (John 3:13, AMP)
Jesus states that Heaven is "up" above the "earth." It is above the earth which is called "the firmament Heavens" (Genesis 1:8, AMP). This is what God described as "the waters under the heavens...and let the dry land appear...God called the dry land Earth" (Genesis 1:9-10, AMP)
Jesus also said that He "came down from Heaven" (John 3:13, AMP), and "the Son of Man...dwells…whose home is in Heaven" (John 3:13, AMP). So, we find three significant facts that Jesus declared,
Jesus further described to His disciples, before His passion, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension,
"In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places, homes....I am going away to prepare a place for you. And when I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:2-3, AMP)
Although Jesus doesn’t specifically use the term Heaven, He stated that God, His Father, has a house with many dwellings or homes. It was a specific place where He was going and He would prepare it for His disciples. Then, He would return and take them to be with Him.
This promise we can also claim as we place our faith and trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord. This will be our eternal dwelling place with Jesus and God, our Heavenly Father.
Paul the apostle of Jesus Christ describes our citizenship in Heaven, "But we are citizens of the state, commonwealth, homeland which is in Heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, as Savior." (Philippians 3:20, AMP)
Paul clearly identifies our eternal home, which is in Heaven. He continues with his description of our eternal home,
"We have from God a building, a house not made with Hands, eternal in Heaven." (II Corinthians 5:1, NIV)
God reveals that His place is in Heaven,
"Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool." (Isaiah 66:1, AMP)
We also have the dramatic account of Elijah, God’s prophet,
"When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to Heaven....Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven." (II Kings 2:1, 11, AMP)
As we look to the future, we need to consider, What will happen to the present heavens and earth? God declared,
The new heavens and the new earth which I will make... (Isaiah 6:22, AMP)
Jesus also said,
"Heaven and earth will pass away..." (Matthew 24:36, NIV)
The apostle, Peter, declared,
"But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise in which righteousness, right standing with God, is to abide..." (II Peter 3:13, AMP)
John, the apostle, wrote these words,
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed passed away." (Revelation 21:1, NIV)
John then gave a beautiful description,
"And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God, all arrayed like a bride beautified and adorned for her husband. Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne...saying, See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live among them, and they shall be His people and God shall personally be with them and be their God....I am making everything new..." (Revelation 21:2-3, 5, NIV)
In conclusion, from the Gospels and Scriptures we have identified that Heaven is God’s house, where Jesus dwelled before He came to earth and now dwells after His ascension following His death and resurrection. He also promised that Heaven will be our Eternal home in which He is now preparing for us and where He will one day take us to be with Him.
Heaven is a beautiful place, where God Himself with His Son, Jesus Christ will dwell with us in our eternal home.
Jimmy Martin, the Gospel songwriter, wrote these inspiring words about Heaven,
- O Lord, You know, I have no friend like You,
If Heaven is not my home, then Lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world any more.
Charles Wesley also penned this powerful words, in the majestic hymn,
Rejoice in glorious hope! Jesus the Judge shall come,
And take His servants up to their eternal home.
(Rejoice, the Lord is King, Charles Wesley, 1746)