There’s got to be something more

"Heaven is a place, just as much a place as is New York or Chicago.” even in this skeptical age there is something deep inside the human heart that cries out, There’s got to be something more. Something more than the pain and suffering of this life. Something more than 70 or 80 years on planet earth, something more than being born, living, dying, and then being buried in the ground. You were made to live forever somewhere. In a real sense you were made for heaven. Whenever you talk about living forever somewhere, it would help to know for sure where you are going. After all, if you’re wrong about heaven, you’re going to be wrong for a long, long time.

The Bible tells you that heaven is the dwelling place of God. His throne is there, the angels are there, and the Lord Jesus Christ is in heaven. Philippians 3:20 says very plainly that “your citizenship is in heaven. And you can eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” That’s why Jesus told the thief on the Cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).  (And here is a fascinating fact), the Bible hints that heaven is not as far away as you might think.

 You’re not that far from heaven. You’re not that far from the angels. You’re not that far from your loved ones in heaven. You’re not that far from God. You’re not that far from Jesus himself. Heaven is a real place, it’s where Jesus is right now, and it’s not far away from you.

What is heaven like?

In Scripture you have images and pictures of heaven and comparisons with life on earth. What is heaven like? Here are some biblical facts about heaven. It is … God’s dwelling place (Psalm 33:13). Where Christ is today (Acts 1:11). Where Christians go when they die (Philippians 1:21-23). The Father’s house (John 14:2). A city designed and built by God (Hebrews 11:10). A better country (Hebrews 11:16). Paradise (Luke 23:43).

Heaven is a place where the streets are paved with gold, the gates are made of pearl, and the walls made of precious jewels. Revelation 21-22. When John writes about the streets paved with gold, He simply reports what he saw in his vision. Thus his words are meant to tell you that the things you value so highly in this life will be used to pave the roads in heaven.

A City Built By God. What would such a city look like? It would be a city with … No pollution for the skies would always be crystal clear. No crime or violence for no criminals would ever enter. No greedy politicians, no drug pushers, no child molesters. No potholes and no power outages either. It would be filled with abundant parks, rivers, rolling meadows, and flowing streams. Lining the streets would be flowers in constant bloom, fruit trees of every kind, every species of plant life growing free from pestilence and disease.

The gates would be made of pearl, the walls of jasper, and streets of gold. Precious stones would lie on the ground like playthings emeralds, rubies, and diamonds galore. Everywhere there would be children laughing, bright conversation, and music floating from every direction.

 In the city that God builds, there are no tears, there is no sorrow … no regret … no remorse. Bitterness gone forever, failure left far behind, suffering redeemed and rewarded. There are no eyeglasses, no braces, no wheelchairs, no false teeth, no bald heads, no hearing aids, and no crutches. There are no more hospitals, no more nursing homes, no Doctors, paramedics or CPR. Aspirin gone, accidents over, cancer disappeared, heart attacks banished, AIDS a distant memory. In heaven no one grows old and feeble.

There is one other thing you won’t find in heaven. There are no cemeteries in the city God builds. Why? There are no funerals … for in that glad city no one ever dies.

Once you’ve made it to the city, you live forever, never to die again. Either you believe in heaven or you don’t. It’s either a real place or it isn’t. This is heaven-where all your best dreams finally come true.