I never tire of dreaming of heaven. Daydream with me a little more. What is so great about heaven?
I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN TO MEET THE PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE.
I have studied and preached about Bible characters so often, I feel that I know them. You have likely read and heard sermons about them so much that you feel the same way.
Have you considered that you may live across the street from Abraham? You may be a next-door neighbor to Matthew, and pass Peter’s house on the way to see Paul. You may have Sunday lunch with Job, Joshua, John, and Jeremiah. You may sit next to Sarah, Solomon, Samuel, Stephen, and the Samaritan woman in a worship service.
Jesus said, “Many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11; cf. Hebrews 11:16). Think of seeing the names from Hebrews 11 on the mailboxes on your street: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Amram, Jochebed, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
Think of having conversations with all the New Testament characters such as Matthew, Barnabas, Luke, Silas, Cornelius, Nicodemus, the thief on the cross, and the widow who gave two mites. For years we have read about them, and when we get to heaven, we will finally meet them. We will have time to get to know every one of them on a first-name basis. We will get to:
• Ask Adam what he thought when he first laid eyes on Eve (Genesis 2).
• Ask Noah what it was like living in that floating zoo for a year with all those animals—and what it was like to turn them loose and see them scamper away on the refreshed earth (Genesis 6–9).
• Ask Abraham and Isaac to show us how the knife was poised before God stopped the human sacrifice (Genesis 22). • Ask David to demonstrate how he slung the rock that killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17).
• Ask Moses to show us again how he parted the Red Sea. Perhaps we can even get the Israelites who were there to reenact the entire scene.
• Ask Daniel about what the lions’ den smelled like, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego what the fiery furnace felt like.
• Request that David lead us in “The Lord Is My Shepherd.”
• Have Jonah lecture to us about what his experience in the fish’s belly taught him, and have Paul tell us about the stoning at Lystra.
• Ask Mary what it was like to carry the Son of God in her womb for forty weeks, and then what went through her mind as she saw Him hanging on the cross.
• Ask blind Bartimaeus to tell us how Jesus healed him, and what it was like to see Jesus’ face as his first sight.
• Ask the Christians from Pentecost to describe the day the church began; perhaps Peter will even preach that sermon again!
• Wouldn’t it be interesting to hear Paul lecture on faith, law, love, and works from Romans? And, John, could you please go through the symbolism in Revelation for us?
I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN TO BE FREE FROM TEMPTATION.
God has given me a wonderful life here— far better than I deserve, and easier than most (especially from the worldwide perspective). Still, I know what it feels like to cry, hurt, toss and turn, and be stressed out over deadlines and pressure. I well know the tug of temptation and the guilt that comes from sin. One day these will all be “former things” (Revelation 21:4). That will be a good day.
I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN TO CLAIM MY INHERITANCE.
This may seem shallow, or even selfish, but I am looking forward to receiving the inheritance my Father has promised. This is a scriptural desire, for Jesus said, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20–21).
Those who remain loyal under persecution are told that their reward in heaven will be great (Matthew 5:12). The rich young ruler was foolish not to place his interest in eternal treasure instead of earthly riches (Luke 18:18–23). Moses was much wiser, “for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:26). Paul declares that our hope is laid up for us in heaven (Colossians 1:5). Poor people can look forward to the time when they become “heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him” (James 2:5). The apostles used future inheritance as an incentive to remain faithful (1 Peter 1:3–4). It is proper, even required, that we “seek those things which are above” (Colossians 3:1–2).
Heaven is a place where God rewards His children. What will the inheritance be? The Bible mentions a crown and a mansion, but much of it is shrouded by mystery. It is like waiting to open a wrapped gift; you know it is something good, and you can hardly wait to see what your Father has for you. God loves to give (John 3:16; James 1:17), and He can give gifts that no one else can (Psalm 50:10–12; Philippians 4:19). Heaven will be wonderful because we get a remarkable inheritance (2 Timothy 4:8). Do you have hope of heaven?
