Heaven is Real: Understanding the Truth About Eternity

Have you ever wondered about eternity? About life after this life? About where we're headed after our time on earth is done? Many people live with a randomized view of life, treating existence like an accidental tourist experience without a clear destination.

As Dennis Miller once observed, "It's ironic that in our culture everyone's biggest complaint is about not having enough time. Yet nothing terrifies us more than the thought of eternity."

Why Do We Need a Heavenly Perspective?

God said in Hosea 4:6, "My people perish for lack of knowledge." Knowledge of what? The destination and the big plan. Without this knowledge, life seems random and without purpose.

Think about it this way: sailors for centuries navigated across vast oceans using stars that were 75-100 light years away (one light year equals 5.88 trillion miles) as fixed points. Similarly, we need fixed points to navigate our lives: 

• Jesus is our fixed point 

• Heaven is our fixed point - like an eternal North Star 

Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name" (Matthew 6:9). Too often we rely on temporary cultural moments to grasp at hope, peace, and purpose. That's like trying to squeeze the universe into a grain of sand.

What is Heaven Really Like?

Don't believe ignorant religious views of a false heaven. Heaven is not:

• An eternal church service
• A 24-hour religious conference 
• Monks chanting on clouds

These misrepresentations are dangerous because they misrepresent God's character, goodness, mercy, and love.

C.S. Lewis wisely said, "Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you will get neither." It's not heaven at the expense of earth; it's heaven so we can exercise God's will on earth.

Over the last century, as humanity has progressed technologically, we've decreased our focus on heaven. And as our doctrine of heaven has diminished, confusion, immorality, and hopelessness have increased.

What Does the Bible Say About Our Heavenly Citizenship?

In Philippians 3:17-20, Paul explains:

• There's a pattern to live by - directions for God's family on earth
• There are real enemies of the cross who reject God's way
• Vanity and focus on earthly things lead to destruction
• We're different because "our citizenship is in heaven" 

Billy Graham said, "I am not going to heaven because I have preached to great crowds or read the Bible many times. I'm going to heaven just like the thief on the cross who said in the last moment, 'Lord, remember me.'"

How Does Heaven Change Our View of Death?

The doctrine of heaven puts mortality into a victorious perspective. From birth, we all must deal with the reality of saying goodbye to loved ones. Death can be devastating if you don't have the truth regarding heaven.

Paul wrote in Philippians 1:21, 23-24: "For to me, to live is Christ... and to die is gain... I have the desire to leave this world and be with Christ, for that is far, far better. Yet to remain in my body is more necessary and essential for your sake."

What a perspective! Paul lived so strongly because he knew that dying isn't really dying - it's just the beginning of living life with Jesus in heaven. Without this real hope, we're doomed to live fearful, grief-rooted lives. 

Why Do We Need Heaven as Our Goal?

The number one cause of depression is a lack of clearly defined long-term goals. Heaven is God's reward - God's goals for us. You need a "heaven is real" kind of hope.

If we tolerate a passive view of immortality, our hearts will break with every goodbye. On the other hand, spiritual escapism (being so focused on being raptured that you don't live effectively now) is also problematic.

When you lack vision of heaven, you're ineffective because you're not destination-minded. Your decisions may seem sound in the moment, but an eternal perspective reveals their true nature.

What Did Jesus Say About Heaven?

In John 14:1-2, Jesus told his discouraged disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled... In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, for I am going away to prepare a place for you."

Jesus is pointing to the heavenly North Star - the truth that the King of all kings has left earth to prepare a place for you. Aren't you even slightly intrigued?

Heaven isn't the boring place many imagine. C.S. Lewis said, "Joy is the serious business of heaven." Martin Luther added, "If the earth is fit for laughter, then surely heaven is filled with it. Heaven is the birthplace of laughter." 

How Can We Live with Eternity in Mind?

Paul said in Philippians 3:14, "I press on toward the goal to win the heavenly prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." You've got to see it, want it, be energized by it.

Without vision, we're like Florence Chadwick, the long-distance swimmer who gave up just one mile from her destination because fog obscured her vision. Don't surrender to the demands of the immediate when your eternal destination is so close!

Colossians 3:2 instructs us to "Set your mind on things above." Not to be weird or religious, but to live the abundant life now with accurate directions to where you're headed.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 reveals that God "has planted eternity in the human heart." It's part of your design, your purpose, your longing. This is why living only for the immediate produces hopelessness - it's not agreeable with your design.

How Should We Respond to the Truth About Heaven?

Even the Lord's Prayer is filled with references to heaven:

• "Our Father which art in heaven"
• "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"
• "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever"

Heaven holds the blueprint for how we should live. Jesus is our true source of hope, and He's preparing a place for us that is "far, far better" than anything we experience here.

God loves you. You are on the mind of Christ right now. Respond by giving God your heart and letting Jesus establish your heavenly citizenship. That citizenship authorizes you to access all His benefits now, here on earth, as an envoy of another world.

Life Application

This week, I challenge you to begin living as a citizen of heaven. Start by examining your daily decisions through the lens of eternity. Ask yourself: 

• How would my priorities change if I truly believed heaven was real and "far, far better" than anything on earth?
• What temporary things am I pursuing that might be distracting me from eternal purposes?
• How can I represent my heavenly citizenship in my interactions with others this week?
• What would it look like to "set my mind on things above" in my daily routines?

Like Abraham, who lived successfully on earth with his eyes set on "a city whose builder and maker is God," we can live with purpose now while maintaining our eternal perspective. When we align our lives with heaven's blueprint, we discover the true hope, peace, joy, and love that God designed us to experience.