In Luke 23, as Jesus hung battered and beaten on the cross, surrounded by mocking, jeering crowds, one of the criminals beside him did something surprising. He stuck up for Jesus against another condemned criminal who was using His last breath to mock the “King of the Jews.” He asked, “Don’t you fear God, even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he addressed Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  (Luke 23:40-42)

Even during that horrific moment, Jesus’ reply was tender: “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

This short exchange between Jesus and a condemned criminal sums up the great hope which we Christians hang our hat—that because of the perfect sacrifice made by Jesus, our sins can be forgiven, and we can have the hope of eternal life. And not just any eternal life—an eternal life in paradise! 

So what exactly IS paradise? In other words, what is Heaven like? The simple answer is not a satisfying one: We don’t really know. The Bible gives very few details about what Heaven is really like.

Maybe the most detailed description is in Revelation, where John was given a revelation of the new Jerusalem, but even his best efforts to describe what he saw are difficult for us to comprehend. Imagine taking a person from the 17th century, dropping them in modern Times Square in New York City, and having them try to explain what they see. Their description would be woefully inaccurate since they could explain only within the context of what they know! 

So it is for us. We can’t know everything, but there ARE a few things we can deduce from Scripture about what Heaven will be like:

• Heaven is a real place. In John 14, Jesus says He’s going there to prepare a place for those who choose to follow him to live. This is not figurative language. Jesus is describing something concrete and real.
• It will be bright and glorious. In Revelation 22, John says that night will no longer exist because the presence of God will shine everywhere. (While I have no scriptural support for this, I’m thinking sleep will no longer be necessary since blackout curtains probably aren’t an option!)
• We will have work to do. Sorry for those of you who were hoping to sit around in a diaper on a cloud playing a harp. Revelation 22 also says that Jesus’ bondservants (us) will serve and worship Him. Isaiah also suggests we may help build and plant some things—so start working on your green thumb!
• Sorrow and death will disappear. Revelation 21 says the Father himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. 
• Not everyone will go to Heaven. This is a hard one, but it is a crucial truth: While everyone who dies does live in some form forever, not everyone will go to Heaven. Jesus Himself tells the story of the sheep and the goats being divided. Jesus confirmed both the existence of Heaven and the existence of Hell.

There are entire books written about what theologians believe the Bible says about Heaven, and I can’t begin to do it justice here. The main takeaway is whatever you think you know about Heaven pales in comparison to the real thing. We can’t possibly fathom what it’s like. It’s the epitome of the saying, “You just have to be there to understand.” 

What does this mean for us? I like to think of it this way: I imagine myself sitting on a grassy hill somewhere in Heaven, 1,000 years into my eternal life, reminiscing with my brothers and sisters in Christ about our former life. “Remember those 80ish years at the beginning? Remember those things we thought were so tough at the time? That cancer diagnosis? That paralyzing car accident? That time you got sick and made it here before I did? They seemed like such a big deal at the time, but now—it seems like it was hardly any time at all.” 

I look forward to that day, and I hope you will be sitting on that hill with me. 

FINAL WORD:

On his death bed, a rich man negotiated with Got to allow him to bring his earthly treasures with him to Heaven. God’s reaction was that this was a most unusual request, but since this man had been exceptionally faithful, He gave permission to bring along just one suitcase. Sooner rather than later, the time arrived, and the man presented himself at the pearly gates, suitcase in hand. (BOTH hands, actually, since he had stuffed it with as many bars of gold bullion as would fit). St. Peter took one look and said, “Sorry, you know the rules—you can’t take it with you.” But the man protested, “God said I could… one suitcase.” St. Peter checked, found out that this one would be an exception, and prepared to let the man enter. At the last minute, he said, “Could I examine the contents?” He opened the suitcase, and seeing it stuffed with gold bars, he asked quizzically, “You brought PAVEMENT?” [1]

Winston Churchill chose to believe. Churchill arranged his own funeral. There were stately hymns in St. Paul’s Cathedral and an impressive liturgy. But at the end of the service, Churchill had an unusual event planned. When they said the benediction, a bugler high in the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral on one side played Taps, the universal signal that the day is over. There was a long pause. Then a bugler on the other side played Reveille, the military wake-up call.

It was Churchill’s way of communicating that, while we say “Good night” here, it’s “Good morning” up there. Now, why could he do that? Because he believed in Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25) When a man steps out of his own grave, he is anything that he says that he is, and he can do anything that he says he can do.

REFLECT:

Record in your journal, in your own words, why the hope of Heaven changes the way you look at both your life and your death: