Most people believe there is more to reality that we can see. We know that, behind what is created there is a cause. We know that behind any transcendent truth – like the existence of right and wrong, there is a truth-giver. We also believe that there is something after this earthly existence. We believe these things because they are self-evident – God has made this plain to us. The Bible fills in the details – it gives us “the rest of the story”. Today we want to talk about this – we’re going to examine heaven.

The Bible uses the term “heaven” in different ways – just like we do:

• Heaven can be used to represent the sky, stars, planets, etc – Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
• Heaven can be used to represent the dwelling place of God – Matthew 6:9 – Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Acts 1:9–11 – And [after Jesus' last words], as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Acts 7:55–56 – But [Stephen], full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

• Heaven is also used to represent the eternal home or destination of all those who believed God and have their eternal hope in Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:1–2 – For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling…

Luke 23:39–43 – One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

NEW EARTH / RENEWED EARTH

If we are to attempt to be biblical, however, we must also say that in the end there will be a new or renewed earth.

Now, one of the issues that can easily confuse us is the promise of a new earth.

Just as at some point those who have been redeemed by God will be given new bodies – we will be fully renewed and sin will be no more – there will come a day when creation will also be renewed.

2 Peter 3:13 – …according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Romans 8:21 – …the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Revelation 21:1–5 – Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

AND – When Jesus returns for his children we will be given new bodies that are not corrupted by the ravages of this world. Our bodies will be like Jesus’ body.

So, this brings me to my last point – and this is the overriding point this morning. When Jesus spoke of our eternal state – when Jesus spoke of where we would be eternally, at the heart of things was the reality that WE WOULD BE WITH HIM.

JESUS TOGETHER WITH HIS CHILDREN

John 14:1–3 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 – For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

Luke 23:42–43 – And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

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Psalm 73:25 – Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

John 6:66–69 – After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. ⁶⁷ So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Philippians 3:8 – Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.