Appointed To Bear Fruit: A 90 Day JourneySample

Heaven Is Our Home

Weak on earth; strong in heaven. That is the life of a disciple. We imitate the example of Jesus by humbly carrying our cross so that others will understand the love of God as revealed in the gospel. Even though we are sent out as sheep among wolves, we can trust in Christ because we believe His promises. Although we are proclaiming the gospel out of a position of weakness and without powerful backing on earth, and our rights are often trampled on, all the power of heaven is at our disposal. To all His weak followers, Christ gives this encouragement: “In a little while, I will die. But I know where I am going. I will go to my Father’s house. And later you will also die. But you don’t need to worry. Because you too will go to my Father’s house.”

Jesus described heaven for us as His Father’s house. Interesting! Most people who want to rest go home—rarely do they go to a strange place to rest. Why do you want to go home when you have a long break? Because home is where your heart is. Jesus is telling His disciples that heaven is not some strange place out there, but is the place where the longings of their hearts will be fulfilled. He says that home is where His Father is. Your heart will be at its greatest peace when you are together with God.

Notice, Jesus doesn’t speak of heaven using earthly language. He doesn’t describe heaven as a palace with a big river flowing through it. He tells us that it is a place with no more tears. And, it is a place filled with an incredible peace, because in the middle of heaven is God Himself. Throughout eternity the believers will be in the presence of God. The greatest desire of God’s heart is for us to be with Him. Being in His presence will fill us with overwhelming peace. When Jesus left this world to return to heaven, He left us with a mission: to take the gospel into the whole world. He promised us: “I will be with you always.” We are not left alone to carry out His mission. There is nothing that can interfere with our fellowship with Him. We are in His presence for all eternity. This is God’s greatest desire. The Father sent the Son to die on the cross to redeem us, and God wants to fellowship with us again. 

The Book of Revelation describes heaven as a cube. There is only one other place in the Bible that speaks about a room with the same height, length, and depth. That is the Holy of Holies in the Temple. Once a year the High Priest was allowed to enter, and he was only allowed to enter the Holy of Holies if he brought the blood of a lamb, because God was in that place. Sinful people could never stand before a holy God. Blood had to be brought to cleanse their sins and the sins of the nation.

Because Christ died and returned to the Father, we know that the door of heaven has opened for us. We can now enter heaven—the place of the holy God. We don’t have to doubt that we will be received there. Christ has prepared a place for us and has made peace with God for us through His holy blood. In heaven, we can stand before God in full confidence. Finally, we can go home. We can return to the place that we should have been all along. We will be together with God forever. Nothing can take that away from us. Weak believers on earth will have a secure place in heaven no matter what they face now. Our place has been prepared. Jesus has opened heaven for us and He is waiting for us!

Application:  Have you thanked Christ for making a way for us?