One of the fundamental teachings of the Christian faith is the doctrine of heaven–our hope of an Eternal Home with Jesus Christ. Even though the Scriptures are clear in declaring that a Home is being prepared for us (John 14:3), and even though it is evident that that Home is ours for eternity, much unclear thinking goes on regarding Heaven. In fact, Heaven is couched in mystery! It is interesting to ask Christians what they think Heaven will be like. The answers are myriad.
A national periodical interviewed a group of school children a number of years ago. The question was simply, “What is Heaven?” Seven-year-old Susan replied, “It’s a place that don’t look like here, ’cause God don’t have no schools up there, and I’ll be glad.” Eric, age seven, said, “It’s a place where there’s money laying around. You can just pick it up and play with it and buy things. I’m gonna buy a basketball and I’m gonna play basketball with my great-great-g rand mother!” Seven-year-old Tommy’s answer was a classic: “I know what Heaven is, but I don’t wanna go there right now. I wanna go to North Carolina instead.” Another seven-year-old, David, responded by saying, “Heaven is sort of big and they sit around playing harps. I don’t know how to play a harp, but I suppose I’d better start learning to play pretty soon!” My favorite answer is seven-year-old Daniel’s: “It’s like a blue sky with clouds, and it’s really a fun place because you can play on the clouds. You have to stay away from the edges though, or you’ll fall off!”
These, of course, are childhood descriptions of what Heaven is. For adults, our understanding of the Celestial City may be somewhat sharper, and yet because none of us has been there, our comprehension too may be fuzzy. The Bible is replete with descriptions of Heaven, but still “we see through a glass darkly.” Our finite minds cannot begin to comprehend its beauty, its purity, or its grandeur. “As it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Whatever else may be said about Heaven, we know it’s a prepared place for a prepared people. Why not take the road to Calvary, and join a vast host of blood-washed saints who are now “happy on the way”!
January/February 1991