[A talk given at Grace Church Haywards Heath on 14 May 2017 with extended notes and Bible references added ]
Why this matters
In speaking of the Christian life, Jonathan Edwards – the
great American theologian calls us to: “Labor
to get a sense of the vanity of this world, and labor to be much acquainted
with heaven.”
Thinking about what happens
after death matters. It gives us perspective. It keeps us from living too much
for things of this world – which are so fleeting, and helps us live for what
will endure.
It encourages godliness. Seeing the wonder of what we will be, we want to live
that way now. It encourages sacrifice. Seeing the wonder of what we will
have, we are ready to give up what we have now. It encourages perseverance.
Seeing, the wonder of what we will one day experience, we are ready to keep
going until then. And it encourages urgency. Seeing, the wonder we could
enter at any moment, we seek to ensure that we and others are ready – knowing
that every breath we breathe could be our last.
Two ships
docked off shore
So…what can you expect if
your next breath IS your last? The answer, if you are Christians is simple: You
can expect to go to heaven.
Most likely, Luke 16 records
a story Jesus has crafted to make a point. So we can’t take every detail as
fact. For example – there’s no sense anywhere else that those in heaven can see
and talk to those who aren’t there. But we can learn from the details here that
are reaffirmed in other passages. And what we see is that on death, every
individual will head to one of two destinations: Heaven – or Hades, as the
underworld was called in Greek.
Read Luke 16v19-26
Now what we see here, is
something theologians term the “intermediate state.” Heaven and Hades are not
final destinations – but a foretaste of what will be experienced after Jesus
returns and judges everyone.
So we can think of heaven
like a glorious cruise liner docked off the shore of this world, and gathering
passengers to one day disembark when it is renewed. And Hades? Well it is like
an offshore prison ship – gathering prisoners tragically destined for hell.
Now we are going to spend our
time thinking about heaven. But before we do, we have to pause and take the
alternative in. Verse 26: There is no chance of change after death. We will be
on one boat or the other. And what we see is Jesus warning that those who do
not look to him will experience two things he underlines elsewhere: a terrible
unending torment under the burning anger of God and the despair of being locked
out of his kingdom.
It’s truly sobering isn’t it?
But as Hebrews 5v9 puts it: “We
are convinced of better things in your case – the things that have to do with
salvation.” So – let’s think about heaven.
Enhancing
the picture
Now, do you know what it is
to enhance a photo when you edit it? It puts a sort of filter on that makes its
colours more brilliant and its outlines more sharp.
In trying to describe heaven,
I am very aware that I cannot do any justice to it with words. So can I ask you
to hear everything through a picture enhancer? Whatever I say, try and
contemplate what that might be like unimaginably more colourful and sharp. Then
recognize that even that is to only see dully and darkley the wonders of what
is in store for us.
First, some quick questions
and answers:
(1) What exactly is
heaven?
I’ve tried to define it this way: “It
is a real and parallel, spatial, dimension to our universe, where
God, Christ and their angels live, and where the spirits of dead believers
await Christ’s return, the resurrection of their bodies and an even fuller life
then on the renewed earth.”
Cosmology is throwing up a lot about our universe we don’t
really understand: Worm holes. Folding space. Unseen dark matter. It helps us see
there’s much about our universe we are yet to understand.
So believing in heaven is not somehow irrational. And we see
in scripture that it is not another universe, but part of this one. The
one creation comprises heaven and earth (Ps 115v15-16). And it is parallel
not far away. So just before he died in Acts 7v55, Stephen “gazed into
heaven” and saw Jesus standing there. What that means is that heaven is
spatial too. It’s not just something in the mind of God. Jesus ascended in
his resurrection body. So heaven is a place where touchable tangible things can
exist.
(2) When do we go to heaven?
Luke 16v22: We go the moment we die. You may know that Roman
Catholics believe in purgatory - that beyond death those who are saved still have
to suffer for a time in punishment for lesser sins, and to sort of purge away
any defilement that remains.
Can I respectfully say this has no place in the teaching of
the Bible or of Jesus. If we lose loved ones in the faith, we can be sure their
next conscious moment is in heaven – or at least on the way there.
(3) How do we get to heaven?
Verse 22 suggests angels may help. Perhaps the first thing
we will experience, is the presence of a mighty and glorious being with us,
keeping us safe.
But that’s the lesser answer. The greater answer is that
Jesus is how we get there. John 14v6: “I am the way, the truth and the life”
he said. “No-one comes to the Father but through me.”
I have to say I don’t think anyone’s got closer to helping
grasp something of heaven than CS Lewis in his Narnia books. Do you know the
story? Some children stumble across a parallel, spatial dimension to this world
– another world of magical creatures where time moves differently than in our
own. And how do they get there? Through a wardrobe – a wardrobe made from a
tree grown from a Narnian seed, with fruit that can heal.
Well so it is that we enter only through a tree – through
the tree Jesus was nailed to, the cross. It is the only door to the heavenly
ship and the new world it sails too. And that’s why there is no purgatory. In
his death Jesus has already paid for every one of our sins – so there is no
punishment left for us to endure. Like passing through a decontamination
shower, passing through him makes us entirely clean so that we can enter God’s
presence. The book of Revelation therefore pictures us there in white robes
that we have washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7v8).
Ok. Now to the big question.
(4) What will we do in heaven?
There’s so much to consider here. Heaven and hades are each
a sort of lesser, perhaps more contained version of what will be after Jesus
returns. And in terms of heaven, three descriptions consistently pop up in the
New Testament.
1) Heaven is a garden.
What did Jesus say to the thief on the cross (Lk 23v43)?
“Today you will be with me in…?” Paradise . In
Revelation 2v7 he promises that he will grant those who persevere to the end “to
eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” And Paul relates
a vision in which he was caught up to the third heaven, which he described as
“paradise” too (2 Cor 12v3). For Jews, the first heaven was the sky, the second
was the cosmos beyond it, and the third was heaven as we think of it.
Now “Paradise ” was a word
to describe a walled garden. In fact the Greek OT used in the apostles’ day
literally renders Genesis 2v8 “And God planted a paradise in Eden .” This helps us understand how the word would
have been heard and understood. Of course it’s possible Jesus simply meant it
as a metaphor for a joyful place. But why didn’t he just say “today you will be
with me in all joy”? No, the consistency of this description suggests we should
understand heaven to be a real Eden-like experience. As we’ve see, Jesus’ body
means heaven must contain at least some real physical things. Life in heaven
and the new creation are the greater realities to which the things of this
world point. They will feel more real to us not less.
Whatever the case, like Eden the word “paradise” implies three
things: First, safety in being finally free from all suffering
and pain – just as Eden
meant freedom from these things outside the garden. Second, life. No
more death – but everlasting life enjoying the good things God provides just as
Adam and Eve could enjoy the entire garden. Third, rest. Think of
how you feel in the most beautiful garden on a warm day. It is to enjoy the
rest Adam and Eve were to enjoy with God. But now rest from the struggle with
sin, from the strain and stress of life here, from the hostility of the world
towards Christians.
But there’s more.
2) Heaven is a city.
Turn with me to Hebrews 11. Let’s read from verse 9 [R9-10,
and v16]
Again, why say God designs and builds this city? Why say he
has “prepared it” just as Jesus said he would go and prepare a room for us in his
Father’s house (John 14v2). The language implies our souls don’t just arrive in
a reality that is as it has always been. It implies God has done something
there to make it a fit living space – contrasting those we design, build and
prepare on earth. Certainly, in context this includes Christ ascending to heaven
so that it won’t be contaminated when we arrive (Heb 9v23-24, 10v19-22). But
that doesn’t fully do justice to the language of city construction. Why couldn’t
God or his angels prepare a literal city? After all, Jesus was a builder!
Now turn to Hebrews 12. I’m going to read from verse 22.
Just as we’ve seen, the writer says that through Jesus we now live with heaven
alongside us. And so how does he describe us coming to God in worship? Can you
see? [R22-24]
So, three more things this tells us about heaven:
(1) The idea of a city speaks of community. It’s
to be with all God’s people – and his angels. And cities are places of vibrant
life. Verse 22 implies music and singing. But there’s no reason to think heaven
might not include all sorts of activity we get up to when together now.
(2) This assumes continuity. Life in heaven is
a continuance of our lives on earth. Its clear we will recognize each other. Luke
16v22 presents the poor man with Abraham. Jesus promised he would meet up with
his disciples (Matt 26v29). Paul teaches that we will see our loved ones who
have gone before us (1 Thess 4v14-18).
Now this is something we don’t think about enough. Hebrews
12v23 tells us there we will be spirits. It seems we won’t have bodies in the
physical sense. We will not receive our resurrection bodies until Jesus
returns. But…that doesn’t mean we will be invisible in heaven.
Remember Moses and Elijah meeting Jesus on the Mount of
Transfiguration (Lk 9v29-31). Hundreds of years after they died and coming from
heaven, they had bodily shape. They were visible – recognizable – able to
converse together, and shining with the brilliance of heaven, suggesting we
might too.
So we will interact meaningfully and properly in heaven. I
don’t know whether children will take their adult form or somehow grow up there.
But if you’ve lost children, you will be able to meet them there.
Now we need to pause to consider what this all presumes. It
presumes our memories must continue into heaven too. Revelation 6 verse 10
pictures souls in heaven praying for justice towards those who killed them, and
19v1-2 shows all believers praising God for avenging them. Clearly we must
therefore remember what has been done on earth. In fact, memory will only add
to the joy when we all meet up. God’s great purpose in salvation is that he is
praised for his glorious grace (Eph 1v6-14). It is only by remembering that we
will celebrate the grace God gave us in life, appreciate how undeserved it was,
and forever contrast how much better things are in heaven.
Of course a key question follows: Does this mean that we’ll
experience sadness and grief over the bad of this life? Well, it is when Jesus
returns and removes all evil that we’re told every tear will be wiped away (Rev
21v4). Until then, there may be some sense of godly grief we share with Christ
over the continuance of evil on earth.
But in terms of our own sin – isn’t it true that from a
distance we can already remember things that are sad from our pasts without
being sad? No, in heaven we will be so caught up with the wonder of it all that
these things will fade. More than that, remembering what was, will only enhance
our joy in what we will be experiencing.
But there’s more. What follows is this: If we keep our
memories, then we will carry over our knowledge and skills and interests as
well. After all, they are kept in our memories. The point is this: God
doesn’t give us a brain wipe and start again. It will still be us – with the
personalities God has given us. So don’t be surprised if the gifts God has
given you now continue to be gifts that you can use in heaven. There’s no
suggestion we will all be the same.
(3) What will mark all this is perfection. Hebrews
12v23: Heaven is the place of “the righteous made perfect.” Our
interactions there will be utterly selfless and pure – no gossiping, no
manipulation, no argument, no seediness, no bitterness. As Jonathan Edwards put
it: “A world of pure love.”
And the wonderful thing in that is that we will finally be
able to properly please Jesus. There will be no frustration at having failed
again. Just delight in giving him delight in all we do.
And that brings us to
our final word or image.
3) Heaven is a temple.
We see that in the worship of Hebrews 12v22-24. But Hebrews
9v5 gives us more. It tells us the instructions God gave for Israel ’s
earthly tabernacle were to make it a scale model of heaven as God’s temple. It was
God’s way of helping people understand what heaven was like. And it is striking
to see these things portrayed in John’s vision (Rev 4-5).
So the ark with the mercy seat ontop of it pictured God’s
throne in heaven. The two winged cherubim that flanked it, seem to have pictured
the creatures around God’s throne. The cherubim woven into the tabernacle
curtains pictured the presence of angels more generally. And the different
qualities to the layers of material showed the need for greater holiness the
closer one gets to the presence of God. As for people in heaven: The lampstand
pictured God’s presence lighting up his people; its almond blossom design, the
paradise they will enjoy; the altar of incense, their prayers coming to his
throne; and the great bowl of water or “sea,” the need for cleansing in
approaching him.
But there is one key element lacking in heaven that was part
of the tabernacle design: the veil that separated the place of God’s presence
from the priesthood.
In Israel ,
if you wanted to go to where God was, you went to the temple. But the veil was
the reason you could never actually see him. Yet that has now changed. Christ
has achieved access for us.
In the Hobbit, Thorin Oakshield says his goodbyes to Bilbo: “'Farewell, good thief,' he says. 'I go now to the halls of waiting to sit
beside my fathers, until the world is renewed.”
We’ve seen that’s a picture of
heaven. But that’s often all people imagine it to be - a wonderful place where
we’re with our loved ones. But that’s not the primary thing. No, the primary
thing is not heaven’s paradise-garden or city. It is to see God! We are not
looking forward to being in heaven so much as being “with the Lord” – as he
will be the source and focus for all the happiness we experience.
Revelation 22v4 promises we will “see his face.” And
in John 17v24 Jesus prayed: “Father, I want those you have given me to be
with me where I am, and to see my glory.”
The Puritans called this the beautific vision. To see the
beauty of God: Father, Son and Spirit.
Now we will see it with our eyes. We will see the
risen Jesus walking around. There’ll be enough time for everyone to be with him
at some point. Perhaps we’ll see the Father and the Spirit in some sense too.
They don’t have bodies – but we might see them as the source of light or in a
visionary way.
But we will see with our minds as well. Again, John
17 verse 3: “This is eternal life that they know you, the only true God and
Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Everything about heaven will bring home to us who God is, as
Father, Son and Spirit. With every moment that passes we will know them better.
We will grasp their wisdom in the things that are there. We will see their
power in what they’ve done and will do. We will see the immensity of their
grace in the multitude around us – that they have redeemed.
Seeing Jesus glory is more than seeing him on his throne. It
is seeing just how much he has achieved through his death – the entire
experience of heaven and all that lies beyond it.
And so we will also see God with our hearts. Think
about that time you’ve looked at a view, or enjoyed a meal with your family,
and your heart has just turned in praise of God.
Everything in heaven will cause us to rejoice in God. Every
enjoyment in this garden-city will be one that reflects our hearts in praise
and joy towards him. Do you see?
And so, we come to a final three things that will mark heaven:
(1) is worship. This won’t be boring for a
moment. We will worship God continually as we go about whatever we go about.
But Hebrews 12 implies times of focused worship too – where we lose ourselves
in worshipping God for all he’s done, just as we are intended to when we gather
at church now.
(2) Heaven is about service too. Here
Revelation 20v6 notes two roles. The first is that those in heaven with Christ
are “priests.” Priests cared for the temple and made offerings. The NT speaks
of Christians serving the church as priests and offering themselves
sacrificially to that end. It could well be then, that God will gives us tasks
for the benefit of life in heaven – that there we offer ourselves in caring for
the environment we are in, or contributing to its community life. The second,
role we will have is that of “kings” who reign with Christ. In the rest of
Revelation this looks to our sharing in Christ’s judgment and reigning over the
new earth (Rev 2v26-27, 5v10). And so it seems we will experience a foretaste
of this in heaven – overseeing in some way whatever is there, and perhaps even sharing
with Christ in the temporal judgments he decrees for the nations before he
returns (20v4)!
(3) The defining and final mark of heaven is Joy. But
we need to understand it will be a variable joy. Each will experience
different degrees of joy according to how they live now. In some ways this is
obvious when you pause and think on it:
First, those we have ministered to will be with us forever.
So the more we help people to faith and godliness now, the more joy we will
experience in having them with us then. Paul makes exactly this point (1 Thess
2v19-20) and describes the everlasting fruits of gospel ministry bringing about
a greater “reward” (1 Cor 3v14).
Second, we’ve seen the knowledge of God and skills of life
we have attained here will be taken with us. So, the harder we work at our own
faith and vocation now, the more joy in starting with these things then. Some
even suggest a deeper maturity of faith now will enable us to grasp more of God
then and so give us more joy that way too. Whatever the case, carrying these
things over makes all our efforts at developing our faith and abilities in this
life truly worthwhile.
Third, Christ’s pleasure at what we’ve done now will be a
pleasure he will have forever. So the more we honour him in our churches,
families and workplaces now – the more joy we will have in heaven, knowing the
joy it has all given him. Paul speaks of how each with receive their praise from
God at the judgment (1 Cor 4v5). And Jesus speaks of the reward it will be to
hear his words “well done good and faithful servant (Matt 25v23).” Now
although both Paul and Jesus are referring to the commendation received at
Christ’s return, there must at least be some sense in which we will find joy in
knowing his pleasure in heaven before that.
Fourth, Jesus also hints that greater joy may be linked to
greater responsibilities that he gives according to how we have served on earth
(Matt 25v23, cf. Eph 6v8, Col 3v23-24). Again, this refers to life after his
return but could still be known in some way in heaven.
Having said all this, don’t for a moment think we will
regret or resent others experiencing more joy. Made perfect and utterly
selfless, our joy will increase at seeing the joy and honour they receive!
So everyone’s joy will also be an immense joy. Every
detail of heaven, everything we do, every thought, will thrill us with joy at
all God has achieved. Jesus said there is much rejoicing in heaven over one
sinner who repents. So how much more to see the great multitude there with us.
Heavenly joy will also be an increasing joy. With
every moment that passes there’ll be more we’ll grasp. And the joy we
experience with each century will be only a bucket compared to the immeasurable
oceans of joy still to be discovered.
Finally, it will also be an anticipatory joy. You
see, with all we’ve covered – there’s still more. In heaven we’ll still be
awaiting the final removal of evil, justice for all the oppression and
wrongdoing, and life in our world made new. One joy in heaven will therefore be
our excitement at what will be when Jesus returns.
But that is a subject for the coming weeks.
What if I die tomorrow?
As we close, let’s answer our question: What can you expect
if you die tomorrow and belong to Christ?
We can’t be sure, your next conscious moment may be to see a
shining angelic being with you and your spirit somehow being transported –
perhaps going up, as Jesus did in his ascension. Any shock will be momentary as
now perfect you will by fully attuned to God – feeling perfect peace and
wholeness. No doubt, your next experience will therefore be thrill – wonder –
joy – excitement at what you realise is happening.
Whether there is an awareness of going to heaven like this
or not, the next thing is that you are likely to find yourself in an amazing
garden – more vibrant and real than the best of gardens you’ve been in. You
will feel totally at one with it. And as you look around you may see buildings
around you as well. perhaps angels, and certainly people – real everyday human
beings from all the diversity of human life and appearance. But they will be shining
with the glory of the place – and free from all signs of aging: No genetic
deformity or disability, no injury, no-one overweight or grey. Just beautiful,
truly beautiful – with the beauty that is already in you as God’s creation.
Some may be there to welcome you – perhaps those you’ve
known in this life. And you will talk with them as they explain how things are
there – how to find where you’ll live and what you’ll be up to.
But all you’ll want to know is about Jesus. If he doesn’t
meet you in person you’ll be asking: Where is he? How do you get to see him?
And with everything you see and experience your heart will turn to him in
worship and thanks and praise.
Sam Storms writes: “Wherever
you turn your eyes you will see nothing but glory and grandeur and beauty and
brightness and purity and perfection and splendor and satisfaction and sweetness
and salvation and majesty and marvel and holiness and happiness. We will see
only and all that is adorable and affectionate, beautiful and bright, brilliant
and bountiful, delightful and delicious, delectable and dazzling, elegant and
exciting, fascinating and fruitful, glorious and grand, gracious and good,
happy and holy, healthy and whole, joyful and jubilant, lovely and luscious,
majestic and marvelous, opulent and overwhelming, radiant and resplendent,
splendid and sublime, sweet and savoring, tender and tasteful, euphoric and
unified!”
But all this. All this will be to
the glory of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.