What Will Heaven Really Be Like?
- Monica
- Mar 31
- 8 min read
Ever since I learned about Heaven and Hell as a child, I knew I wanted to go to Heaven. Turns out, torment and fire are not really my thing. But if I’m being honest, for the longest time, I wasn’t really excited about Heaven. It sounded boring and monotonous. But the more I grew in my relationship with God, and the more I learned about Him and Heaven, the more I realized those feelings and beliefs stemmed from misconceptions and a lack of knowledge. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but not many preachers preach about Heaven. Which is unfortunate, because it has honestly become one of my most favorite things to learn about and to talk about. According to Colossians 3:2, thinking about the things above, the heavenly things, is exactly what we’re supposed to be doing, regularly. Remember, this world is not our home. If you are a believer in Christ, your home is with Him, in Heaven. And it’s time we get to know the truth, about our forever home.
Everyone Will Not Go to Heaven
The first thing we need to address before we take a deeper look at Heaven, is the fact that many will not go to Heaven.
Many people will choose a way of life, that is contrary to the ways of God. To be clear, Heaven is an eternal destination for individuals who place their faith in Jesus Christ and recognize Him as Lord and Savior. These individuals, also known as Christians, believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. They believe that Jesus was born into the world through a virgin birth and lived a completely sinless life; and that He died on the cross for their sins, paying their sin debt in full; freeing them from eternal punishment and separation from God. These individuals also believe that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and is now seated in Heaven at the right hand of God the Father. They understand, believe, and submit to the truth, that Jesus is the only way to Heaven (John 14:6). These individuals know that you can’t do enough good deeds to earn your way into Heaven. That salvation is a free gift, and it is only free to us, because Jesus paid the high cost of Salvation for us, through His death on the cross:
It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! ...Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! (Ephesians 1-8).
If you don’t believe these truths, and you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are not currently Heaven bound.
But the good news is, that can change!
I encourage you to stop right now and invite Jesus into your life. Acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior, and acknowledge His sacrifice on the cross, to save you from your sins, and the penalty that stemmed from it. Choose today, to live for God, by confessing that the way you have been living, is not the right way, that God’s way is the right way. Through the Holy Spirit convicting you of your sins and teaching you what is right, through reading the Bible, you will begin to learn what pleases God and what is displeasing to God.
Some people, for various reasons, will never do this. They will choose a life apart from Jesus, and they will not be in Heaven with us. If you know someone who is currently living apart from Jesus, I encourage you to pray for them. I also encourage you to share the Gospel with them. Share the good news!
You Will Have a Physical Body
When you imagine Heaven, do you see a bunch of bodiless spirits floating around? Maybe this is what someone told you Heaven would be like, or that’s how you saw it portrayed on television. Either way, that visual is not completely accurate. Let me explain…
First, listen to what Paul wrote in Philippians: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (3:20-21).
When believers of Jesus Christ die, our bodies go into the grave temporarily, and our spirits are immediately with Jesus. Please let me stress again, our bodies temporarily go into the grave, not your soul and spirit, the essence of who you are! At the rapture (which I will have a post on soon!), when Jesus comes back for those who have placed their faith in Him, all believers both dead and still alive on earth, will receive their new glorified bodies, that Paul wrote about.
So yes, you will have a physical, new and improved body. Remember, Jesus is our prototype. If you want a sneak peek into how a glorious body operates, you need to take a look at Jesus’ body, after His resurrection.
After Jesus’ resurrection from His death on the cross, He was alive on the earth for forty days before ascending into Heaven. At that time, He had His glorified body, also known as His resurrected body. He was not a floating spirit. Jesus walked; He had feet (Luke 24:15). Jesus talked; He held conversations (Luke 24:17). Jesus had a physical body to touch (Luke 24:39). Jesus ate food (Luke 24:41-43). Jesus did everything you and I do now, and more; because apparently Jesus could also be sitting at the table with you, and then suddenly disappear (Luke 24:31). To be clear, the Bible doesn’t give an explanation for this, but some theologians and pastors believe Jesus was able to move from one place to the next, by simply thinking of it. How cool would it be, to be able to do that! Imagine being in California and wanting to go to New York, and all you have to do is think about it and you’re there. It makes me wonder, what other exciting things does God have in store for us, with our new glorified bodies.
Heaven Will Not Be Boring
It’s amazing how fast we forget that God created this earth, created adventure, created fun, created celebration, created beauty, but for some reason we doubt He can create an enjoyable Heaven. We somehow get it into our heads that where we are, is better than where He is. And to a point that’s understandable. We’re simply used to what we know, what we’re familiar with. But if you are a believer in Christ Jesus, it’s time to get excited about your forever home. So, let’s see what the Bible shares with us about what awaits us in Heaven:
· There are rewards to look forward to in Heaven: “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven (Matt 5:11-12a).
· There will be celebrations in Heaven: And from the throne came a voice that said, “Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.” Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God” (Revelation 19:5-9).
· You will continue to have work, purpose, and learning in Heaven: Never again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His servants will offer God service… and they will rule with him age after age after age (Revelation 22:3-5msg).
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12).
· You will have friendships in Heaven: Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. (Luke 16:9).
Imagine a place, where the throne of God and The Lamb, sits among the people. Where there will be no more death, no more mourning, no more crying, and no more pain. A place filled with beauty far greater than anything we’ve ever seen on earth. A place consumed with life, light, and love. Every day in this place, is infinitely better than your very best day in this world. The great news is, this imaginative place isn’t imaginative at all. It’s Heaven. It’s the eternal home that awaits anyone who confesses that Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9).
So, have you confessed, and do you believe?
Do you have questions about Heaven, about salvation? Or would you like to share your testimony as a new believer in Christ? If so, please fill out the contact form on the contact page.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:8-12).
Jesus is Lord, and Jesus is the only door to salvation.
Now, let's go and pursue peace.
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