Pastor Chris Karuhije
6 Amazing Facts About Heaven
“Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.” How true was that statement in 1861 when Thomas Moore wrote them, and how true it is now 160 years later. Since Moore penned those words, there has been two world wars (with numerous intermittent regional wars in between), epidemics and pandemics, economic recessions and depressions, and countless environmental disasters.
Yet while Jesus predicted that these disasters would take place because of sin’s entrance in our world, He also encouraged us to take heart and find courage, for He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33). And while we can expect victory on Earth because of the redemptive work of Jesus and His defeat over sin, we also take heart knowing that we have a heavenly home waiting for us far beyond the reaches of this world’s trials and troubles.
In this past weekend’s message, Pastor Dave spoke of the wonder and reality of Heaven, that incredible place awaiting all those have placed their trust in Jesus. So, what is Heaven really like? Let me share with you six facts. You’ll want to make sure you catch Fact #5!
Fact #1: Heaven is a Physical Place
It can be easy to view Heaven as a strictly spiritual or immaterial place, but that is not the picture that scripture paints. The apostle Peter wrote about “the new heaven and Earth” God would create, which, according to Revelations, contains physical things such as horses, trees, a temple, and a glorious city—the New Jerusalem (Rev. 12:22, Rev. 15:8, Rev. 19:14, Rev. 22:2).
Fact #2: Heaven is Diverse
I am so proud of the cultural and ethnic diversity of our church. With over 60 nations represented in our worship services, Coastal Church is incredibly diverse. Yet we have not even begun to see true diversity to the degree that we will see in Heaven.
The Bible says that we were ransomed from “every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:8 ESV). If you’ve ever attended a multicultural worship service, you caught a glimpse of the beauty that awaits us in heaven where a “great multitude… from every nation, tribe, people, and language” will worship together (Revelation 7:9 NIV).
Fact #3: Heaven Becomes our Home Immediately After Death
The Bible teaches us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:8). Once we die, we go, immediately, to one of two places—heaven, where we’ll remain with Christ forever; or hell, where we’ll spend eternity separated from Him. I have been with and read about men and women during their last moments on Earth, and there is a marked difference between the parting of someone who knows Jesus and one who does not. One is filled with hopeful expectation and a peace beyond their current suffering, and the other is a fear and a railing against the unknown.
Fact #4: We will have Physical Bodies
According to movies and film, heaven is filled with spirits and ghost-like people. While that is the first thought that comes up when people think of Heaven, it is not scripture based The Bible teaches that Jesus is the “firstborn of the dead” (Revelation 1:4) and “the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). In Ancient Greece, first fruits referred to an early sampling of a crop that revealed the crop to come. This means that through Jesus’ resurrected body, we see a preview of what our bodies will be like.
When Jesus resurrected, He had a physical body that the disciples were able to see and touch. Not only that, but He ate food! Which leads us to one of my favorite facts about Heaven.
Facts #5: There is Food in Heaven!
There are no hunger pains and starvation in heaven, but there is food! God gave Adam and Eve food to eat in the garden before they sinned. Like Adam and Eve, we will enjoy wonderful food in heaven forever (see Revelations 22:2). Our new bodies will also be able to consume this food as Jesus did after His resurrection (John 20:27, 21:15).
Facts #6: Heaven has an Entrance Fee
The good news is that fee has already been paid in Jesus. While we, as humans, were unable to pay our way there, Jesus willingly gave His life that we might have a share in the Heavenly hope that awaits us. To redeem that fee, all we have to do is believe because, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 NIV).
We can help with that! To accept Jesus as Savior, you can say the prayer and Jesus will be your Lord! After you have prayed, reach out to one of our pastors HERE. We would love to help you with the next steps!
Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). I am calling on You. I pray and ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life according to Romans 10:9-10: ” if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” I do that now. I confess that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead.