Fully Devoted: New CreationSample

Why Heaven Is Better Than You Think …

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him ... 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV

The story of the Bible is the story of the union, separation, and reunion of heaven and earth. It’s a story that begins in a garden, and eventually arrives at New Creation. A place where heaven and earth are renewed, humanity and God are reunited, and the entirety of the cosmos are rescued from the corruption of sin and the power of death. 

While all of that sounds good, the question many of us might still find ourselves asking is: What is heaven? What will it be like? And who gets in? 

As we address those questions, it’s important to remember that, when it comes to heaven, the Bible provides enough information for us to understand it truly, but not enough to understand it fully. Instead of getting a comprehensive handbook on all the details and nuances of heaven, the Bible gives us glimpses. 

Now, the fact that the biblical authors did not feel the need to fully explain heaven is a pretty good indicator that “getting into heaven” isn’t what the Bible is all about. While that’s a part of the story, we’ve got to remember that the Bible wasn’t written as a handbook on how to get into heaven. The Bible was written to be a story that leads us to Jesus and invites us to become like Jesus. 

With that framework in place, let’s dive into some of the most common questions about heaven. 

What is heaven? 

Heaven is the spiritual realm where God rules. It can be helpful to think of heaven as God’s space, and earth as our space. Heaven is not some floating city in the clouds or at the edge of the universe. Heaven is more like another dimension that exists alongside ours, but is invisible to the naked eye. In this heavenly realm, God’s way of doing things, His shalom, is fully present. There is no pain, suffering, evil, or sin. Instead, there is love, grace, justice, and truth. The Bible looks ahead to the day when God’s space and our space are reunited. When that happens, we will dwell with God forever in His New Creation. 

What will it be like? 

The short answer: Better than you can imagine. This is what the Apostle Paul was hinting at in the Scripture at the beginning of our reading today. Heaven, like God, cannot be understood fully but it can be understood truly. Throughout the Bible we’re given glimpses and images that point to the goodness, beauty, and majesty of heaven, God’s space. The first picture we’re given is that of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 1 and 2. A place where heaven and earth were joined together, human beings lived without sin or shame, and in perfect harmony with one another and with God. It’s a place where all that is good and beautiful and true is present, and all that is bad and ugly and false is absent. It’s a place where grace and mercy overflow and joy and peace never cease. It’s a place where we have all that we need to be fulfilled. 

The second picture we’re given is that of the New Eden described in Revelation. This New Eden isn’t a garden though. It’s expanded into a city with space for all of God’s people to live together with Him forever. No matter the picture or image being offered, the point remains the same: Heaven is better than we can ever imagine. 

What will we do there? 

It’s been said that the two things people need to experience true fulfillment are meaningful relationships and purposeful work. If that’s true, it’s great news, because in heaven we’ll inhabit eternity with our Savior Jesus and other people we love. And, we will be given our old jobs back: the role of partnering with God in ruling creation. This is what we were created for: to live in relationship with God and to serve as His partners in ruling over and taking care of creation. 

New Creation is not a finished project with nothing to do except sit around and sing worship songs. New Creation is exactly that, a new beginning, a fresh start, free from the threat of sin, death, and the devil. Free for us to live purposefully and love deeply for all eternity. 

So, is that where we go when we die? 

Yes and no. As followers of Jesus, when we die, we go to be with Him in heaven. This is where things can start to get a little tricky though, because although we will be with Jesus forever, we will not be in heaven forever. Because eventually, God is going to create a New Heaven and a New Earth. Our final destination is New Creation. And when New Creation comes, we will be given new, resurrected bodies. 

This is the hope we look forward to. The promise of New Creation. Eternity with God, people we love, and a purpose to fulfill. 

What will New Creation be like? So much better than we can imagine. 

Journaling Questions 

• What verse or verses stand out to you the most from today’s reading? 
• Describe heaven in your own words. 
• What has changed about your ideas of heaven over time as you have been on this journey through the biblical story?

Memory Verse

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20 NIV