Listen to Nancy’s answer recorded live on Moody radio’s own Mornings with Kelli and Steve.
Heaven is a real place described in the Bible. The word “heaven” is found 276 times in the New Testament alone.
- It is a place where God manifests His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control at all times in abundance beyond our imagination. Upon death, people’s souls, who have made Jesus as their Lord and Savior, immediately go “home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).
- The heavenly city is filled with the brilliance of costly stones and crystal clear jasper. The city was pure gold, like clear glass. The paradise of the Garden of Eden is restored: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit (Revelation 22:1-2).
- Heaven is a place of “no mores.”
Revelation 21:1-5 – “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ 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.’”
It is good for all of us to reflect on heaven, especially during times of trouble. Our time on earth is temporary and heaven is forever. It should encourage us to know that suffering is temporary encouraging us to persevere.
Understanding what heaven is going to be like should encourage us to share Jesus to all those whom God has put into our journey of life.