How Big Is Heaven?

Recently, Nancy gave Val a really thick book that claims to describe what Heaven is like. I started reading it on our trip to Cedars last week. After thumbing through several chapters and getting stuck on whether it rains or snows in Heaven, I gave up and told Val that it was a rather tedious book. I promised her a better description of Heaven.

So here it is

The truth is, in my humanity, I can barely understand living in time and space on the surface of a tiny planet spinning around at 1,042 MPH. I am getting older and 100 years from now there will be no physical trace of me in sight. How depressing is that?

And space? The picture above does not do justice to the insignificance of our planet in the "known" universe. As big as it is, our Sun would appear the size of a pixel compared to the star Antares!

So how big is heaven? And, more importantly, where is it? Is it some parallel universe humming along with lots of inhabitants zipping around in a Jetson-Like City of flying cars weaving through crystal skyscrapers?

When Moses asked God Most High what His name was, God responded, "I AM". When the Pharisees questioned Jesus' claim that Abraham saw Jesus' Annunciation and rejoiced, Jesus responded, Before Abraham was, "I AM."

So how big is Heaven? HEAVEN IS.

In John Lennon's beautiful song "Imagine", the first line says; "Imagine there's no Heaven. It's easy if you try." The rest of the lyrics present an idyllic but sadly unrealistic picture of life on Earth with no connection to eternity. Tragically, an assassin's bullets ended Mr. Lennon's life on December 8th, 1980.

So what is time? We spend it. It passes. As soon as I say that the present time is 12:55, it is already past. The future has not arrived. The past is gone. The present is. When you gaze at the stars, you are seeing light that began it's journey hundreds of years ago. You are looking into the past.

And what about eternity? Is it a real long time? Does time fit into it? I saw a bumper sticker once that read, It's not that life's so short, it's that death's so long."

And space. Where does it end? As a child, I imagined a huge wall of boulders at the outer reaches of the Universe. In Jim Carey's movie, "The Truman Show", he finally reached the limits of his universe. And he escaped!

If only we could find a reliable witness who has visited Heaven and came back to tell us about it. All of us have heard reports of those who claim to have come near to death. Go to the light, Go to the light, they cry! Don't believe them. The Bible says that every man has one appointment with physical death. And it's not a round-trip ticket.

Be encouraged beloved as I remind you of faithful witnesses who have been to heaven and returned with a report for us.

In Chapter 12 of Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth, the Apostle tells us of a man who, 14 years earlier, was caught up into Heaven. That man was Paul himself. He may have been stoned to death (my opinion) . This man was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh."

What Paul saw and heard was so wonderful, so far beyond our human experience, that God had to impose this extreme sanction to keep him focused on the knowledge that "My grace is sufficient for you."

In the last two chapters of Revelation, an angel takes the Apostle John on a tour of the new Heaven and the new Earth, with special emphasis on the Holy City, the new Jerusalem. John is so overwhelmed by what he sees and especially by his traveling companion that he falls down to worship the angel. The angel sharply rebukes him; "do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you."

And so we go back to the beginning. All things are made new in Revelation. Everything that spoiled The Garden of Eden is excluded. No night. No death. Nothing impure. Satan disappears forever. No tears. No pain. We will walk with God again just as we did in Eden.

The Garden of Eden was situated at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, in present day Iraq. It is interesting to note that Satan and his minions of evil are so active in this historic area. Since we are all descendants of Adam and Eve, we are all Iraqis!

Anyone who has traveled out of the country knows how good it feels when you return home and hand your passport to the Customs Officer. Many of these professionals have said to me, "welcome home sir."

In his letter to The Saints at Phillipi, and to us, Paul's exhortation is to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us Heavenward in Christ Jesus. Why Paul? Because, we are citizens of Heaven. Beloved, my U.S. passport expires in 2009, but my passport to Heaven is irrevocable. It is signed in blood.

Here is the end of the matter, beloved. For the Child of God, for the saint who has been bought with a price, you are today a citizen of Heaven. You have been sent to this far country for a short season to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Heaven is our home. Our return will be filled with unspeakable joy as we join those who have gone before us.

And we shall behold Him.