the basic message # E86
Matthew 13:44
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
Every now and then, I’ll routinely ask people to describe their concept of Heaven. Almost invariably, I get many blank expressions and few words. And invariably, I’m always surprised at how few people ever consider what Heaven is like. In the parable above, Jesus Christ tells us about a man that learned of treasure hidden in a field, and how the man decided that he absolutely, positively must own that field. Wouldn’t we do the same thing? Sure we would, since we all want treasure. So why don’t we think about Heaven more often? I personally believe that the average Christian spends more time thinking about Hell than Heaven, and that’s sad.
Can we talk for just a minute? Imagine for just one moment if there was no Heaven. Imagine that when we die, we simply cease to exist. Once our heart and central nervous system have stopped functioning, they just bury us and that’s the end of it. No Heaven, no Hell, just dirt. If this scenario were true, would you still be a Christian? Why? What is the benefit? We Christians love Jesus Christ since he’s our Savior, but what if there was no afterlife? Are you living to one day be a citizen of Heaven, living to stay out of Hell, or simply living? What does the Bible say about Heaven? Actually, very little in specific terms, but I like these:
Revelation 7:15-17
Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
1 Corinthians 2:9
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”
I personally believe that these passages are a promise from God that our entry into Heaven is the culmination of our lives as obedient Christians. We have believed in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we have repented of sins and have taken seriously our responsibility as Christians, and then the pay-off arrives. I further believe that immediately after death Christians will instantly realize why they listened to the Great Master, and walked away from the sinful pleasures of Planet Earth. Christians will instantly understand that there was indeed a massive reason to obey God and Christ.
Heaven is a very real, and very wondrous place. If a Christian doesn’t believe in, and think seriously about Heaven, why believe anything else? I want to know what you think Heaven will be like. You don’t need to write a book for me, just in 25 words or so describe what you expect to see, hear and feel. I’ll be looking forward to your email.