Most people have ideas about what heaven will be like. Some think it will be a place like the ranch where you ride horses all day and never get tired. Others might say heaven is like a car show with all the classic cars lined up for you to drive, still another, an all you can eat buffet where you can eat and eat yet don’t gain a pound. I suppose that if that was what heaven was like I would be drinking Starbucks coffee and enjoying nice music with my wife, but somehow I don’t think heaven is going to be about me.

I suppose a good question to ask is, are there descriptions of heaven in the bible? Interestingly enough there are many, but maybe not what we might have expected. If we are familiar with the Lord’s prayer, in Matthew Chapter 6:9, we know that it says heaven is where the Father is, and it is a place where His will is done verse 10. Isaiah Chapter 6 describes the awesome throne of God where angels cry out, “holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts”, Revelation chapters 4&5 repeat this but adds, “They never rest day or night.” The scene is awesome as those from every tribe tongue and nation worship and sing to Jesus Christ, who is described as the lamb who is on the throne, casting their crowns before Him in adoration while they proclaim all honor and glory to Him. Jesus seems to be the focus of heaven and the bible is clear that heaven is a place you go because you know Jesus, and you can’t go if He doesn’t know you Matthew 7:23.

The fact that Christians have to face is that we agree that the only people who go to heaven are those who know Jesus Christ and have accepted Him as their only way to salvation. There is no other name under heaven by which men must be saved Acts 4:12. This is not a popular topic for those who are not Christians or those who claim they are but believe they are saved by Jesus and “their works”. They would call us “narrow”, and I suppose we would accept that label. Jesus himself said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” Matthew 7:14 & 15 NKJV. Later Jesus would say, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14:6 NKJV. Jesus is emphatic that He is the way to heaven, so much so that even some of those who call Him Lord and did great works in His name, He will declare, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matthew 7:23 NKJV

A friend of mine was talking to a woman who was antagonistic towards Jesus and Christians. She asked him if he thought she would go to heaven. He said, “Unless you repent of your sins and turn to Jesus Christ, unfortunately, I would have to say no.” She was upset and challenged him “who are you to judge whether or not I get to go to heaven?” He replied, “Well, heaven is all about Jesus, and you don’t like Jesus, so why would you want to go? She thought for a moment and replied, “I guess I don’t like the alternative”. I heard about a Christian man who was visiting a local prison. He asked the man he was visiting if he thought he was going to heaven, the prisoner replied, I think so. He asked next, "What do you think heaven will be like? He said, “For me it will be a Motorcycle shop where I can spend my time fixing Motorcycles for the rest of eternity.” Wisely the Christian asked, “Why do you think heaven will be like that?” “Why do you ask?” the prisoner replied? “Well, the bible only says that heaven will be about worshiping and giving glory to God. Would you want to go to heaven if it was like that?” The prisoner replied, "No, I don't think I would.”

I think one thing we can bank on is that nobody will be in heaven that doesn’t want to be there, and nobody will make it by accident. If you don’t love Jesus Christ with all of your heart, it is probably not the place for you. I realize that some people will be mad when they read that statement, but would it be heaven to you to bow down and worship someone you hated, for all eternity? Or even focusing on someone for all eternity that you never thought much of during your time here?

Now when I first heard this concept, I will admit that it did not appeal to me. To wrap my mind around the thought of worshiping God for all eternity seemed cumbersome to me. Thoughts of sitting in church, as a kid, listening to a boring sermon came to mind. I don’t know that we won’t do many things in Heaven, but it would seem, as you search the scriptures, that most of what the bible describes about heaven, is people and angels worshiping God. I would not be surprised if we will be engaging most of our time, if not all of our time, doing just that.

Recently I was at a men’s retreat with Calvary Chapel Boise. After the Saturday night worship time I gathered the guys from our fellowship, all of them red faced and tear streaked, God still moving upon their hearts, and I asked them, “ Guys, can any of you tell me of any greater experience, anything more exhilarating than what you experienced tonight?” Unanimously all eleven guys agreed nothing has ever come close. I would have to agree that it was more amazing than any earthly experience; broken before God, touched by Jesus, accepted, forgiven, cleansed and loved by Him. Thinking back on, times of worship, whether alone before my God or gathered with brothers and sisters in Christ, I can say, with all honesty, there is nothing that makes me feel more wonderful or more fulfilled.

Could it be that the emptiness that people are experiencing in life, whether Christian or not, is because they are trying to be fulfilled by everything but the one thing they have been created for? It is true that the bible clearly teaches we were created for God. It would make sense that, worshiping God and being used by Him would be the most fulfilling thing in life.

Many times I have tried to use tools for jobs they were not created for. I have tried to screw in a screw with a butter knife, don’t tell my wife. I have tried to use pliers as wire strippers, and I have used a large socket wrench as a hammer, I am not proud of this. I have also used tools for the purpose they were created, and what a difference it made in my experience. Could it be that we are unsatisfied because we are trying to use these lives that God gave to us for something different than what they were intended for? Is it possible that the ultimate goal of life's journey was to find God through Jesus Christ and worship Him, now and forever, that this would be the one thing that would complete us in life?

My question is, do you really want to go to heaven? Realize today how much the Father Loves you and that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for sin by dying in your place. Trust in Him for forgiveness of sins and salvation, read your bible, find a bible teaching church you like, so you can grow in your faith in Him and fellowship with other believers. Perhaps as you learn to worship Him, you can know a bit of what heaven will be like and truly be able to say, I can’t wait to get to heaven.

Psalm 16:11b NKJV

In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

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In His grace,

Pastor Mike