Understanding Heavenly Things

From the start, we've been impacted by the reality of God's eternal hope for us. But heaven is more than just a future destination—it's actually part of who we are right now.

What Does It Mean to Be a Citizen of Heaven?

Philippians 3:20 tells us that "our citizenship is in heaven." This is essential to our identity. If you're a Christian, a believer in Jesus, you're a citizen of heaven. This means your life on earth should reflect the governing principles and laws of the kingdom of Heaven.

The genius of Jesus was giving us a heavenly perspective to live the abundant life here on earth. It's like having heavenly satellite accuracy guiding our earthly journey.

Is Death Really the End?

The veil between mortality and immortality is incredibly thin. Heaven can seem far away, but the truth is, it's very close. Eternity exists outside the limits of time and space—the separation is only a thin membrane of vapor, as James 4:14 suggests.

Those who have passed on in Christ aren't dead—they're more alive in Christ than anyone on planet Earth. Yes, they've moved, but today they're more alive than they've ever been.

Jesus said in John 8:51, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will indeed never ever see and experience death." This means that believers don't experience death as we fear it—they transition from mortal consciousness to immortal reality, face to face with Jesus.

What's Wrong With Our Current World?

Our world has been under the curse of sin for thousands of years, so we don't realize how much it's devolved. While the secular world promotes evolution, the reality is degeneration and devolution—our sin is breaking us and this planet.

That's why God's plan has always been to make a new heaven and a new earth. It's a plan of restoration, rebirth, and transformation. But God does it—not us.

First Corinthians 15:55 asks, "O grave, where's your victory, O death, where is your sting?" Death has not won—it's been utterly humiliated before the realm of God's great glory.

How Do We See Heavenly Things?

Jesus said, "Let him who has eyes to see, see." God wants us to see, perceive, understand, and comprehend heavenly things.

The truth is, we often see things dimly right now, "through a glass, darkly," as the Bible says. No matter how good our vision is, do we really see the important things in life clearly? Do we even see a portion of the dimensions and reality around us?

First Corinthians 13:12 explains: "For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim, blurred reflection of reality, as in a riddle or an enigma. But then when perfection comes, we shall see in reality and face to face."

Is Earth the Opposite of Heaven?

Earth is not the opposite of heaven. Earth is a type and shadow of God's place—heaven. The invasive disease of sin has made Earth at times look like a petri dish of hell, with wars, destruction, injustice, and sickness.

God sent the kingdom of heaven through Jesus to Earth so we can walk in authority because He dealt with our sin problem at the cross. Still, we're in this process of reformation because of how we see.

Are There Physical Things in Heaven?

Hebrews 8:5 tells us that earthly things "serve as a pattern and foreshadowing of what has its true existence and reality in the heavenly things."

Whatever is of any value or beauty on earth is but a weak, faint hint of even the least of things in heaven. And yes, there are "things" in heaven—animals, instruments, food, voices, clothes, and more.

God hates sin, but He doesn't dislike things. He made things. God's not anti-matter; He's the author of all matter. God doesn't throw us away; He transforms us. He restores us. He can redeem matter—reclaim and recover it from the grip of the curse.

What Does Heaven Actually Look Like?

Revelation 21:21 describes the New Jerusalem: "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each separate gate being built of one solid pearl. And the main street, the Broadway of the city, was of gold as pure and translucent as glass."

There are streets, boulevards, gates, gigantic pearls, and gold so pure you can see through it. There are nations, languages, north, south, east, and west. There will be matters, things meant to bless us, things to enjoy.

This isn't some fluffy cloud, religious harp-playing nonsense. If you don't have a burst of hope thinking of heaven, then you're not dialing in on God's reality, on His Word.

Why Are Some Christians Unhappy?

First Corinthians 15:19 says, "If we who are abiding in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied."

When you've been saved by Jesus, you have the right and privilege to work His power as a child of God. Working His power and authority makes you happy and blessed. As a citizen of heaven, you have authority in Jesus' name, and working it to do good things gives you a sense of being blessed.

But you've got to exercise that right and those privileges. You can't get saved, stay worldly-minded with a carnal perspective, and think you're going to be happy. You won't. You'll be a very unhappy Christian.

It's like being freed from prison but choosing every day not to agree with your release, not to take off your prison clothes, and not to go free.

How Does Heaven Impact Life on Earth?

Consider the tale of two women who lost someone they loved dearly. Both experienced the same loss, but both chose to live in the light of "heaven is real." They developed a vertical mindset that guided and empowered their lateral living.

They don't live under a mantle of loss, but every day they gain new momentum for life. They haven't lost their loved one—they know exactly where he is. He's in heaven. He's in their future—their eternal, everlasting, amazing, joy-forever, heavenly reality.

John 14:2 reminds us of Jesus' words: "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places, homes. If it were not so, I would have told you. For I am going away to prepare a place for you."

Life Application

Your future matters. Jesus died to give you life, and Father God has prioritized your eternity. You matter to Him. Your life is essential, not just to you, but to God who created you.

He has a heaven plan for you, and it starts today, here on Earth, with an overflow of joy, peace, and love. If God prepared a perfect Garden of Eden with such an eye for detail and beauty, just imagine the amazing, multiplied, amped-up version of paradise that heaven must be.

Ask yourself these questions: 

• Am I living with a heavenly perspective or am I trapped in worldly thinking?
• How can I exercise my authority as a citizen of heaven in my daily life?
• What "prison clothes" do I need to take off to fully embrace my freedom in Christ? 

• How would my decisions change if I truly believed heaven is real and part of my identity?

The kingdom of God is here, right now. Let go of the past and walk into God's divine greatness for your life. It's time to activate God's benefits in your life here on earth, just as they are in heaven.