"The Sight of Heaven"

The Sight Of Heaven

Most people don’t think much about heaven unless they are facing death. In fact, few Christians give serious
thought to their eternal home, and therefore, have no convictions about heaven. Furthermore, they may not
know what the Bible says regarding heaven and can’t even remember hearing a sermon about it. This results in
confusion and an unbiblical understanding of what awaits believers after this life.

Although God has not revealed everything about heaven to us, Scripture provides insights that motivate us to live
for our eternal destiny rather than this earthly existence.

Let’s take a look at heaven

You Ready… Let’s Go

Our heavenly Father is there.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus often spoke about His Father “who is in heaven”. Instead of speculating on
where heaven is, we can simply say that it’s wherever God is.

Our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is there.

When Jesus ascended into the clouds in Acts 1:11 (NASB) two angels told the disciples, “This Jesus, who
has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
He ascended to His Father and According to Colossians 3:1 (NKJV):

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand
of God.”

From there, He intercedes for us

Romans 8:34 (NKJV)

“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of
God, who also makes intercession for us.”

Heaven is a prepared place.

It’s not some fantasy land in which we float around, but a place specially prepared for God’s children. Jesus said,

John 14:2 (NKJV)

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place
for you.”

According to Revelation 21:27 (NKJV):
“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are
written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

Whenever anyone turns from sin and believes in Jesus for salvation, that person’s name is forever recorded in
heaven.

Heaven is where our treasure is.

Jesus warned His followers not to accumulate earthly goods that do not last, but to “store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21, NASB)

Our security is not found in money or property. Anything that can be bought can also be lost, and nothing we
accumulate will come with us when we die. The only thing that will last is our relationship with Christ. And our
heavenly treasures are our good deeds, obedience, holiness, and actions of love, kindness, and forgiveness.

Our citizenship is in heaven.

This earth is only our temporary home so we must be careful not to become too attached to the things of this
world. Having a right understanding of heaven changes our perspective and priorities in this life, prompting us to
lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth.

According to Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV) “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we
also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,  21  who will transform our lowly body that it may
be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to
Himself.”

Three part being

You are a spirit; live in a body; have a soul (heart/mind)

These earthly bodies are not fit for life in heaven. Therefore, when Christ returns for us, He’s going to
transform them into glorious bodies like His. Although we don’t know exactly what we’ll look like, we can be
sure that our new heavenly bodies will be far more glorious than the ones we have now.

Spiritually, believers are already in heaven.

God views us in light of our relationship with His Son who took our sins upon Himself and gave us His perfect
record of righteousness.

Ephesians 2:5-6 (NKJV)

“even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  6  and
raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”

In God’s mind it’s as if we are already there.  No matter what we face now, our eternal hope is secure, and in
God’s presence everything will be perfect. When life is tough, we can find hope in knowing what the Lord has in
store for us in heaven. Although our desires may not be fulfilled in this life, in eternity all our longings will be
satisfied. Once we enter heaven, we will be freed from sin completely and be absolutely holy.

Our saved loves ones and friends are there.

When a believer dies, he or she goes immediately into the presence of the Lord in heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV)

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

However, one day Jesus will return for His church, and He’s going to bring with Him those who have died in
Christ

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (NLT)

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you
will not grieve like people who have no hope.  14  For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we
also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 15  We tell you this
directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have
died.  16  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their
graves.  17  Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

What a grand reunion that will be when we are all gathered together in our heavenly home!

I’ll get to see my mother and you’ll get to see those that you love and miss… as long as you and they are believers

So are you ready to for the sight of heaven?

Are you ready for Christ’s return?