What’s So Great About Heaven Anyway?

            Every time we get together as a congregation of Christians, we talk about a lot of different things.  However, as we talk about all of these things, there is essentially only one thing that we really ever talk about, and that’s getting to Heaven.

            Heaven is a place which is so awesome that we can’t even begin to understand just how awesome it is!  And, just about every Bible writer talks about this in some way or another.  And, yet, there are many in the world today, people we run into on a daily basis, who ask the question: “What’s so great about Heaven anyway?” 

            Well, there are a lot of great things about Heaven.  One awesomely great thing about Heaven is that it is a place of eternal life.  In the book of Revelation, the beloved apostle John is given a glimpse into Heaven and is allowed to relate his entire vision as best as he could.  And, in Revelation 22:1-2, John is shown that, after the Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), Christ’s bride (i.e., the Church, Ephesians 5:25-29) enters the Holy City (Revelation 21:2) where there is “the River of the Water of Life, bright as crystal, flowing from the Throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city” and where “on either side of the River [was] the Tree of Life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month.  The leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the nations.”  Heaven is a place of eternal life.  Everything about it is Life!  Heaven is a place where no one will ever die or have the fear of dying ever again!  And when we look at this world where millions of people die every day, we begin to understand why Heaven is so great.

            Another reason why Heaven is so great is because it is a place where there is no more sorrow.  In Revelation 21:4, a loud voice from The Throne said, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  Can you imagine that, a place where there is not even the threat of sorrow or pain EVER?  In this world where pain is just a part of every day life, it is difficult for us to imagine what it would be like if we weren’t in some pain some time throughout the day.  And, in Heaven, the promise of the God who cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18) is that Heaven is a place where there will NEVER be ANY pain or sorrow.  How awesome Heaven is!

            And, one final thing that makes Heaven so great is that it is a place of eternal fellowship with God Almighty.  In Revelation 21:7, we are told by God Himself that “the one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”  To be with God forever, how awesome is that?!  And, to be granted the privilege of glorifying Him in eternal worship (Revelation 22:3)?! 

            Truly, Heaven is so great!  But, its greatness will only be experienced by those whose robes have been washed clean of the stain of sin (Revelation 22:14).  So, if have not yet been baptized, you have no right to Heaven and that’s not what God wants for you.  God the Spirit and the Bride (i.e., those who are already saved) invite you to come and drink of the water of life (Revelation 22:17).  And, to those who have already answered the Gospel call, Jesus Himself encourages you to “Be faithful until death” so that, when He returns to call us all to the Judgment, He can give us the crown of eternal life (Revelation 2:10b).

            Heaven is so great; let us not dare miss it!

~Curtis Carwile