What Is Heaven Like?

How will we spend eternity? It depends. Have you noticed that when we are having fun, time passes quickly? It hitches a ride on a snail’s back when we are in pain. Perhaps that is an eternal principle for the blessed and cursed.

How we spend eternity is connected to our choice to worship and serve God or resist and rebel against Him. God “set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV), and we will spend it somewhere. But where?

All people have one of two eternal destinies based on their alignment with or against God the King. Resisting Him on earth is our sin-soaked default setting, with the control lever immovably rusted in place.

That continues forever without God’s intervention. Jesus labels that supernatural action on our behalf the new birth (John 3:3). We cannot enter the Kingdom without it (John 3:5).

We don’t understand how the Holy Spirit creates spiritual life. He unsticks the lever, enabling us to turn from rebellion against God. It is foolish to live in jeopardy of God's judgment and condemnation.

The Spirit empowers us to believe in Jesus as God’s provision for our sins (John 3:6). A supernaturally planted seed germinates; we do not know how. It transforms us from self-promoters to God’s children, who promote His Kingdom (1 Peter 1:23).

 There is one way to heaven. What is heaven like? The Bible says little about how believers will spend eternity. Our lives will be God-centered. Along with angels and all other believers, we will worship Him in a majestic praiseathon, like the best Christian music concert on earth times a trillion (Revelation 5:13, Revelation 7:9-10).

We will feast with the Lord and other Christians (Matthew 8:11, Matthew 26:29). We will see again and fellowship with believing parents, grandparents, friends, etc., who have passed on before us.

We will serve God because we love Him (Revelation 22:3). We will continue to learn about Him and His works forever. We will also get to know one another fully.

We were born on an imperfect earth and learned to love it. That will be true on a perfect new earth to an unimaginably greater extent (2 Peter 3:14).

It will be gloriously beautiful (Revelation 21-22) without death, tears, or pain. We cannot imagine the quality of life we will enjoy (1 Corinthians 2:9). We will see Jesus and have glorified bodies like His resurrected body (1 John 3:2).

The Bible says even less about how those who resisted God on earth will spend eternity. We know they will be in torment in the fiery lake of burning sulfur along with Satan, demons, and all unbelievers (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 19:20). We do not fully understand what that involves.

God does not force Himself on those who want nothing to do with Him. He honors their freedom of choice. But that freedom, exercised irresponsibly, has dire consequences.

They wanted to live their lives without God. Now they have their wish for all eternity, foolish as it is. They will forever be free from God-centered living but not from its disastrous consequences. What is your takeaway? See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.   #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources 

God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,714 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 15,936 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.

Photo: Image Creator (microsoft.com)