What is Heaven Like?
What are some of the images that you think of when picturing what Heaven is like? Maybe angels floating around on clouds, playing harps and just hanging around? It is tough to say what Heaven is like exactly, but scripture does provide several clues and insights. Let’s start with the words of Jesus, since his apostles wondered and asked about the same questions (and well, He has been there, He should know.)
Jesus used analogies to describe heaven. He compared it to a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32) as well as rising yeast in bread (Matthew 13:33) in order to point out the importance of faith, a growing faith, that is necessary and intertwined with Heaven itself. He also compared it to pearls (Matthew 13:44-46), and that once we find how wonderful and valuable heaven is, we would do anything to hold on to it. Because heaven is a spiritual place, Jesus talked about spiritual aspects of it.
The bible itself is the story of how God created paradise for us initially, but we sinned and lost it. The rest of the bible is about God’s plan to fix the mess; to bring us back to where we should be. To restore the Garden of Eden, the kingdom of Heaven. So we can look at the first and last books of the bible for more clues about what heaven is like.
In Genesis, the Garden of Eden represents paradise – the environment that God desires for us now and in our future. The garden represents the environment before sin came into the world, and also what heaven will be like once sin is no more. The story of Adam and Even is genius in that everyone can get something out of it, from small children to deep thinking theologians. The wisdom is incredible. We see a place where God walks among his people, communicates directly with him, and all food and material needs are met. (Note also that Adam and Eve still had to work – their job was to tend to the garden). It is a place where mutual love is a choice, the choice represented by the presence of the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge. Here, sin prevailed, but in heaven, it will not – Jesus has already conquered it, and those in heaven have already chosen to place their faith in Him.
In the Book of Revelation, we see vivid imagery not only of the past, but also the future. Some people take this book very literally, while others see it as symbolism. Either way, God is trying to convey a message, and if we read scripture carefully, we can gain insight. A word of caution – much is written about the “end of the world” and Revelation, and though fascinating, it is easy to fall into false interpretations.
Revelation describes heaven as an ornate city, with no night or day, for the glory of God shines through everywhere, and there is no need for artificial light. God’s presence is everywhere in heaven in full glory, and those with him will be surrounded with purity, peace and love in a way that we can’t begin to understand. It is also described as a place where the best of all the nations is brought forth and shared with all – true multi-culturalism, such that we will live together in perfect unity, but in a way that shares our unique cultures, customs and traditions. God celebrates the best that human beings have been able to create. And all this goes on forever.
Heaven is a place where we can be ever growing in love of God, wisdom and knowledge. These things do not stop once we die and leave the earth. Heaven is a dynamic place, it is not static – we will never be bored in heaven, it will never “seem like an eternity”. We will live in the moment and be excited for the future. We will still have our personalities, likes / dislikes, emotions, memories, humor and tendencies – anything that makes us who we are – and one day, a new glorified body.
One of Christianity’s core beliefs is that the followers of Jesus will rise again, physically, just as he rose from the dead. This means that one day we will live physically in Heaven. But our bodies will not be corruptible due to sin, therefore, we will not age, get sick or feel pain in same way we do at the present time. This is interesting to consider, and to see what this might be like, we can look at accounts of Jesus’ glorified state after the resurrection and before his ascension for more clues. In these gospel accounts, we see that Jesus ate, could be touched, was not a ghost and could talk. He also had power over physical constraints, by appearing into locked rooms or disappearing from sight. Sometimes he was not recognizable even to those closest to him, at least until the proper time.
So, what does this mean for us? It is still mysterious, but we will enjoy many of these same attributes. Heaven is a timeless and ageless place, based on relationship. Our relationships are everything, with our families, friends and above all, God. Everything else will pass away. Choose the eternal path and nurture your relationships today and always!
