Pastor Chris Barney
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     Very often, “What is heaven?” is a dismissed question. The short answer is, “I have no idea, but I know it’s going to be good.” Is that really all the information we have? Did God not reveal more than that? In fact He did, but we haven’t been all that diligent in explaining it clearly. As a result there are some false ideas about heaven. Like what?

     Would it be like floating about in the midst of clouds in uncomfortable flowing robes plucking at a harp? We become angels that don’t even get to do the exciting stuff that we read of angels doing throughout the Bible. Gary Larson, the artist of the Far Side cartoon, drew a picture of a man with angel wings and a halo sitting on a cloud, doing nothing, with no one nearby. He has the expression of someone marooned on a desert island with absolutely nothing to do. A caption shows his inner thoughts: “Wish I’d brought a magazine.” Is that it? We are caught in endless tedium. We float around in the clouds with nothing to do but strum a harp?

     Perhaps you view heaven more like an unending church service with a never ending sing-along in the sky, one great hymn after another, forever, and ever and ever. I love singing. I love worship services. Worshiping God with our voices will be something we do, and it will be better than any song service we have ever been part of previously with hearts that truly understand and voices and expressions that truly mean what we sing. But is that all? You have to admit, it’s sometimes hard to make it through just one hymn if it has 6 stanzas. Our hearts sink if we sing 8.

     This is the great hope? This is that satisfaction and plan of God for eternity? As we grapple with our inner thoughts we feel guilty that we are not more spiritual. We lose heart and go back to finding what joy we can in this present world because the future world seems quite…well… boring and not worth the pursuit and certainly not worth the sacrifice.

     Is it any wonder that such a view of heaven creates a positive view of hell for some, albeit a false view of hell? When speaking of the gospel to unbelievers I’ve heard such arguments. Do I really want to join the ranks of sober-faced, sanctimonious saints who have an other-worldly look on their face and simply float on a cloud, or do I want to be where all the “fun” people are? Hell is often viewed as some great underworld bar with some really rough characters, yes, but also those who really knew how to enjoy life. Yeah, the speech and the actions might be hard to take sometimes, but at least it would be entertaining. If nothing else I could take a booth in the back of the bar and entertain myself by watching this interesting gathering of people.

     Well, needless to say, this a quite a skewed view of hell. Many of you recognized how foolish a view of hell like this is. However, I think we must also recognize how foolish our misconceptions of heaven can be. Honestly, how can you long in your very soul for the life to come if what is to come is something you wouldn’t desire to be a part of anyway? I think these misconceptions are simply due to inattention/imprecision and have caused our longing for a heavenly home to wane. So we simply live for the present, which is a very dangerous goal. Consider these words from a great puritan preacher, “It becomes us to spend this life only as a journey toward heaven…to which we should subordinate all other concerns of life. Why should we labor for or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end and true happiness?” In short, “Should we set our focus and direction toward our final destination which is what we were created for and where we find out greatest happiness?” Can we say it is our greatest happiness? We may have a hard time saying it is because we really don’t know much about it.

     In his 20’s Edwards composed a set of life resolutions. One read, “Resolved to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can.” Should we pursue happiness like this? Well, no, not in the wrong places, but in the places God intends. This serves as the basis of the term coined by John Piper “Christian Hedonism.” It is not this world, but the other world is the God-ordained place to gather happiness. It is living for what God created us for. Not this present world, but the world to come. Once again, one reason we often lack a longing like those expressed, is because we have no view of heaven, a skewed view of heaven, or one other reason, and I hope this isn’t true of anyone here – no desire to know God anyway.

So let’s go to God’s word and try to find out more about this place called heaven.

1. Why does heaven exist?
2. What will it be like?
3. Will I have a body or float around like a spirit?
4. What will be so enjoyable about it?

     Before we answer those questions, I want to begin with the most important question: Why do you care what heaven's like? I’m typically not interested in places that I never intend on visiting. Sure, I may have some curiosities, but not like I do when I know I will be there. I don’t ever remember looking up the Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan. I certainly didn’t know if that airport had wireless internet access. I did this year though. Why? Because I was going to be there for a layover. So, do you really care what heaven is like because you plan on being there? Should we all care because heaven is where everyone goes? Again, when witnessing, if you listen to how most people talk, that would be the assumption.

     We are a pretty optimistic people. Rarely do I find someone who believes he is really going to hell. For each one of these, I talk to many more who believe they’re going to heaven. This overly confident approach seems to contradict what Christ, the actual king of heaven (he would know), says about who is and who is not going (Matthew 7:13-14). The one who actually created heaven sees a really different picture. Do you know what that means? Hell is the default setting for man when he dies. Heaven is the exception. Why is that? What is it about all men that makes hell the automatic destination?

     What all men have in common is sin (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from a relationship with God (Isaiah 59:2). God is too holy and righteous to even allow sin into his presence. If heaven is the abode of God, then sinful people are not allowed. That would be you, me, and everybody. We cannot enter heaven as we are. Unless the problem is resolved, there is only one automatic destination – hell. So as I talk about the joys of heaven, being reunited with loved ones, and overall enjoyment, understand that unless your sin problem gets resolved, none of this applies to you.

1. The most important question is not “What will heaven be like?” but “Will I even be in heaven when I die?” You cannot afford to wait and see. You can’t cross your fingers and hope to end up there. Entrance is on purpose, not by accident. Your sin problem isn’t taken care of by accident.
2. The Good News is that you can know, and you should know before you die which can happen at anytime. You need to know now. James 4:14 – For what is our life? It is but a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”
3. What do we do about sin? You can’t fix it yourself, but God can. Once a transgressor, always a transgressor (Romans 6:23; Romans 5:8; John 3:16).

Why does heaven exist?

1. Why are we headed toward this place called heaven? In order to understand where we are headed, we have to know where we have been. What did God design man to do? To glorify him yes, but in specific function (Genesis 1:28 and Psalm 8:1). We are to glorify God by living out his created purposes which is to have dominion, rule, and authority over God’s creation, the earth. This is God’s plan.
2. This original plan, however, was marred by sin, namely man’s sin. Because of sin, God’s perfect earth was marred and the rulers of it were marred and it all seemed hopeless. This is what makes the foundation of the Bible’s story line. The Almighty creator is faithful to his creation. The entire story of the Bible centers around God’s provision of a Savior for mankind, Jesus Christ, who would bring redemption to man. His sin problem would be taken care of and man could indeed be perfect, not because of his own doing, but because of what God accomplished for him through the Savior Jesus Christ. Sin would be done away with, man would be delivered from the curse, and God would make all things new. A new heaven and earth so that his creation-man-could reign with God over a perfect creation, just like God had intended to do in the first place. Where it all began is where we’re headed, but even better. We are going to see that while there is a difference between heaven and earth, God’s ultimate plan is to bring heaven to earth. Where is that found? Well let’s see how the Bible describes this final work of God.

     Isaiah 60 is a key passage. It is a prophecy about God’s children, Israel. Not only did God promise redemption to all mankind, but also a kingdom to Israel. He tells how he plans to fulfill this promise in a great kingdom called the millennial kingdom. As the passage goes on, however, he shifts from this millennial kingdom to address the ultimate promise he made to all mankind, how that they will reign over all the earth with him forever, in a new heaven and new earth. The new heaven and earth is described in Isaiah 60:18, in Revelation 21:1-3, and in Revelation 22:1-5.

    Consider the Millennium vs. New Heaven, New Earth

1. God will reinstate man’s rule with him over the earth, a new earth and heaven, for ever and ever.
2. Not going up to heaven, but heaven to earth. New heavenly earth if you will. It is a physical and spiritual place where we will reign over the earth in our glorified bodies. Man is not just a spirit, he is body. He was designed to have body. Heaven ultimately is a place. It is the earth, the new earth. God’s heavenly abode has come to earth. Basically unification. We reign with God on earth. Heaven exists, then as the ultimate fulfillment of the promise made by God, a perfect environment for the dwelling of man with Himself. A perfect abode, as Eden.

 What will heaven be like?

1. Let’s define heaven a bit. Do we mean the ultimate scene we just discussed, or do we mean where we go immediately when we die before all this happens? There are two terms to help us see the difference.

• Temporary heaven – intermediate state
• Eternal heaven – new heaven and new earth

     2. Temporary heaven, or intermediate state

• This is primarily a spiritual realm. A person dies and their spirit departs to either heaven or hell.
• The believer goes into the presence of God, his abode. Heaven is where God abides. We will be with God and with His people. The difficulty lies in the fact that it is primarily spiritual, and man was never created to be just a spirit, but body and spirit (Genesis 2:7).
• Therefore, this location of Heaven in the spiritual realm alone is a temporary state until our bodies are resurrected and God establishes a new heaven and new earth.
• Is it still a joyful wonderful place? Yes, but I think much of it is hard for me to grasp because I can’t even fathom life without a body.
• Luke 17 – Even uses a lot of physical expression to discuss the spiritual, but how else could one comprehend? He has to use pictures of what we know to tell even the basic of ideas of what would be impossible to comprehend.
• Revelation 6:9-11 is helpful in giving some insight to those who are in heaven, yet awaiting their bodily resurrection and the new earth and heaven.
  • When they died on earth, they relocated to the spiritual realm of heaven.
  • Their history on earth came with them, data isn’t simply erased. Your identity continues.
  • Cried with a loud voice – able to express themselves audibly. Rational, communicating, and even emotional in their makeup.
  • One loud voice – heaven as a place of unity and shared perspective.
  • They know what is going on back on the earth.
  • They have an audience with God and desire to learn.
  • Apparently, we don’t know everything in heaven, but God does answer questions.
  • Apparently time still exists in heaven in some way. They are waiting.
  • Strong familial ties to those on earth.
  • Aware of sovereign God’s detailed plans – all that will happen on the earth and heaven. 150,000 people are martyred every year, 400 per day. God knows the name and story of each one. They are in his glorious presence awaiting the grand plan of God to take place on the earth wherein they will be vindicated.
  • These are martyrs, yes, but it does give some insight.

     3. Eternal heaven/New heaven and earth

• We already noted that God will establish his abode on the new earth, thus causing a unification of heaven and earth. In essence, the eternal heaven is the eternal abode of God, which is the totally remade earth.
• Our bodies will be resurrected perfectly, and we will reign with God over this perfect earth, the jewel of which will be the Holy City, New Jerusalem.
• It is not just a spiritual place; it is a physical place as well.
• Not just clouds and floating, but an entirely perfect earth to inhabit, to enjoy, and most of all – to be in God’s presence….later.
• What God created for man to be, he can be perfectly.
  • Enjoy his creation by exploring – animals, plants, landscapes, etc.
  • Enjoy the pleasures of human existence:

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         1. Relationships–so perfect that there is no need for marriage (Matthew 22)
         2. Tireless service–wouldn’t that be great!
         3. Meaningful worship–perfect voice, without fatigue, singing with true knowledge of reality
         4. Serving–fulfilled work, not tedious meaninglessness
         5. Feasts
         6. Lost opportunities regained

What will so enjoyable about heaven, why should I long for it?

1. You were created to be in the presence of God, to glorify and enjoy him forever. If you think that sounds boring, then you don’t know God very well. Imagine three people you would love to sit down with, pick their brains, hear their story, what makes them tick.

• Past: Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, and Alexander the Great, the list could go on.
• Present: Itzak Perlman, Jack Nicklaus, D.A. Carson, Fred Coleman, or even Jon Peery.
• Power, prestige, abilities, creativity, faithfulness, intellect, insight all come mind.
• Do you realize we get to be in the presence of the creator of the creative? The faith giver of the faithful, omniscient ruler of the scholarly, the king of kings, the omnipotent of the skilled and powerful, the giver of talents to the talented. This is immensely interesting and worthy of a worship response, not because it is Sunday morning, but because you caught a glimpse of God.
• Worship, singing, but not contrived or scheduled, natural spontaneous reaction to the reality of the greatness of God. It is God Himself, who has supplied redemption through His Son, who has removed the curse, gave you life, made a perfect abode, and completed His plan that is the very source of joy in heaven.

Where we are headed for is a new heaven and new earth. This is a perfect environment where we find perfect enjoyment as perfect people serving our perfect God perfectly amid perfect joys and relationships.

Do you know where you are headed? Is your confidence placed in the work of Jesus Christ in your behalf on the cross? New Heaven and earth is for the redeemed.

Is there some greater hope or enjoyment today that is clouding your enjoyment of heaven to come? What is it that you are longing for today more than the promised hope of God? It could be a person, a personal ambition, an activity, even a sin. Don’t allow the good things of God to take the place of the only enduring hope that comes from God. (Ministry) I hope perhaps a biblical view of heaven will help.

What are you doing today to invest in forever? How do the ideas of enjoying the presence of God and His people strike you? Is that a joy to you? Do you treasure God’s presence and the presence of His people? Tell me how you intend to invest in that today because you know that is where you are headed.

1. How are you investing with other HP members? Do you interact with them with a view towards investing in your mutual eternal joy in mind? What about other believers in this town, this country, this world? I’m not saying there are no disagreements, but are those disagreements held under the idea that you are very conscious you will be sharing in the joy of Christ forever, together? Invest in that today.
2. Spouse – invest in such a way to promote the joys to come even now.
3. Family/Kids
4. Workplace – joy is founded in what is coming.
5. Cultivating your joy with God now.

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