Heaven: The Believer’s Destiny

Uplook – June 2012 – Grace & Truth Magazine

HEAVEN:
The Believer’s Destiny

All believers expect to go to heaven, but how many of us realize that heaven was part of God’s plan for us from the very beginning. We “have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit ... and the sprinkling by His (Christ’s) blood” (1 Pet. 1:2 NIV ). Thinking about this fact will produce in us wonder, love, and praise.

God’s Foreknowledge
When God created human beings with free will, He already knew that they would sin and need a Savior. He knew that His Son would have to become human and die on the cross to accomplish His plan of salvation. The “precious blood of Christ ... was chosen before the creation of the world” (1 Pet. 1:19-20). Even before we were created, in His foreknowledge He knew us and how we would ultimately choose when offered our destiny.

Thus, “He chose us in Him (Christ) before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight” (Eph. 1:4). And those He “foreknew He predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son” (Rom. 8:29; 1 Jn. 3:2). Part of the plan was also that where the Son is, we would also be – in the “Father’s house” (Jn. 14:2-4), which is heaven!

What Is Heaven Like?
While there has been much preached and written about heaven, we actually know very little. What we do know is found in Scripture, written by those who have actually been there – the apostles Paul and John. Paul was “caught up into the third heaven ... up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things ... surpassingly great revelations” (2 Cor. 12:2-7). Similarly, John was called up into heaven, and through the Spirit he tells us in the Book of Revelation what was revealed to him. But he gives us just the likenesses and not much in the way of specifics. However, for our comfort and joy, we are told this: “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Rev. 21:4). And we are also told that “the throne of God and of the Lamb” will be there, and that we “will serve Him ... and reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 22:3,5).

The Third Heaven
In Paul’s day the atmosphere where birds fly was called the first heaven; the seeming canopy where the heavenly bodies (sun, moon, stars) are was called the second heaven; and the place where God resides was called the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2). However, this third heaven where God is, surely is not space since space has properties which were created, and thus space is part of creation. Hence, where God is, is not a “material” place as we use the word, but God being Spirit (Jn. 4:24) dwells in a spiritual place. When we go there, our bodies will be changed into “spiritual” ones (1 Cor. 15:44).

Heaven is a “place” figuratively prepared for the Church, the bride of Christ: “Christ who loved the Church ... gave Himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25). There He will “present her (us) to Himself as a radiant Church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Eph. 5:27). Let’s never forget this wonderful truth about heaven, our destiny.

By Alan H. Crosby

My Home
“Why should my heart be fixed where my home is not?
Heaven is my home; God in Christ is all my happiness.
And where my treasure is, there my heart should also be.”
— Margaret Charlton Baxter (1631-1681)