By Russ Atmore
Moses identified “heaven” as the dwelling place of God (Deuteronomy
26:15). He also tells us in Genesis 1:1, that God made the ‘heavens and
the earth.’ God, Himself, identifies heaven as the place from which He
speaks (2 Chronicles 7:14). The fall of Satan is described as a fall
from heaven (Isaiah 14:12). Isaiah 66:1 tells us that the Lord views
heaven as His throne and earth as His footstool. Jesus teaches us in the
“Lord’s Prayer” that our Father is in heaven (Matthew 6:9). It is
possible for the believer to lay up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20).
Jesus teaches us that church discipline that is carried out on earth is
acknowledged in heaven as being legitimate and carries the approval and
seal of God (Matthew 16:19, 18:18). The Bible teaches that heaven and
earth will pass away, but God’s Word never will (Matthew 24:35). Jesus
said that He had come down from heaven (John 6:38). We know that Jesus
said that He would return in the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:64, Acts
1:11, Revelation 1:7). Stephen saw the Glory of the Lord and Jesus in
Acts 7:55, when he looked up to heaven as they stoned him to death.
The Bible describes heaven
as the final eternal abode of the righteous. Heaven is not the
subjective experience that many conceive it to be. It is not an
experience that people enjoy on earth in the present. We often refer to
a little bit of ‘heaven on earth.’ We don’t understand this to mean
actual heaven. The Bible presents heaven as a definite place. Jesus
ascended to heaven, i.e.; He went from one place to another. John
describes heaven as the place where there are many mansions. It is our
Heavenly Father’s house (John 14:1). John is not describing a condition,
but rather a place. Heaven is described as the place where believers are
“in”, and unbelievers are “out” (Matthew 22:12,13; 25:10-12). Only the
righteous (saved) will inherit heaven (Matthew 5:5; Revelation 21:1-3).
John Calvin said that, “if
we believe heaven to be our country, it is better for us to transmit our
wealth thither, than to retain it here, where we may lose it by a sudden
removal.” Charles Spurgeon said, ”I suspect that every saved soul in
heaven is a great wonder, and that heaven is a vast museum of wonders of
grace and mercy, a palace of miracles, in which everything will surprise
everyone who gets there.”
Of all the wonders of
heaven, there is only one supreme wonder – it is the person of our
Redeemer, who with His own blood purchased for Himself a people, has
gone to His home to prepare a home for them, and will one day come back
to take them there. O, wonder of wonders, that Jesus is building a home
for me. The Christian prefers to be away from the body, and at
home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). We live by faith and not by
sight, while here upon earth. One day, we will see His face, and His
Name will be engraved upon our foreheads (Revelation 22:4).
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