Heaven, A Personal Place

Heaven, A Personal Place

Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going... I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:1-4, 6)

Thus far we have Biblically observed that heaven is real and is a permanent place. Let us now consider that heaven is also a personal place. There is personal recognition and contact as well as intercession for Christians in heaven.

Contrary to some unbiblical opinions encouraged by wishful thinkers and TV shows, when Christians die they do not become angels. There is a clear distinction between the authority given to a Christian and the role of angels at the White Throne Judgment. (1 Corinthians 6:3)

A time is coming though when the dead in Christ will be resurrected and will be given glorified bodies. At the Lord's transfiguration "...Moses and Elijah appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about His departure, which was fulfilled in Jerusalem" (Luke 9:30-31) on the Cross of Calvary. The King James Bible says that Moses and Elijah "appeared in glory..." meaning literally they were glorified saints. This teaches Christians who have departed from this world are living in glory and will some day also receive a body to match. The "mortal will take on immortality." (1 Cor. 15:53)

Not only is there a glorified body awaiting Christians some day, but personal intercession by Jesus now. In Acts 7 we see that personal intercession when Stephen was about to be stoned to death for his testimony of Christ. We read, "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of the throne of God. 'Look,' he said 'I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'" (v. 55, 56) "While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' " (Acts 7:59) After Christ was raised from the dead, He had personal communication with two men on the road to Emmaus. He said, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not Christ have to suffer these things and enter glory?" (Luke 24:25-26)

It is amazing even now to see how slow of heart people are to believe all that Christ and Scripture has to say about heaven and God's only way for a person to get there. Jesus is the only way! If you have allowed family, friends, so-called experts in theology, the media, or your own unbelief to make you "slow of heart", you must reject these ideas completely and turn whole-heartedly to Jesus Christ through confession and repentance.

When you allow the Holy Spirit to bring you into agreement with God's Word which says, "...all have sinned" and through repentance receive Christ as personal Savior and Lord, you will enjoy the Biblical revelation that heaven is a personal place, and you will establish an intimate relationship with Christ now, thus experiencing the benefits of being on the narrow road to heaven. You can know that Christ intercedes personally for you just as he did for Stephen at the throne of God, and He will speak to you as He did the two on the road to Emmaus through God's Word as quickened by the Holy Spirit.

Choose Christ today!