The Real Thing

Isaac Asimov said, “I don’t believe in an afterlife, so I don’t have to spend my whole life fearing Hell, or fearing Heaven even more. For whatever the tortures of Hell, I think the boredom of Heaven would be even worse.”

Anyone who understands what the Bible teaches would know that Heaven will not be boring. When the Bible describes it, it is portrayed in ways that we can wrap our minds around. Part of the problem is that we have had our ideas about Heaven formed by movies, television, songs, paintings, and pop culture. These concepts are not necessarily based on what the Bible teaches, however.

Heaven is an actual place. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you . . . ” (John 14:2). We tend to think of Earth as the real thing and Heaven as the surreal thing. But it is the other way around. Earth is a pale version of Heaven. Earth can be beautiful at times. We see that beauty on display around the world. But at the same time, Heaven is far greater. Earth is a pale imitation of greater things to come. As C. S. Lewis said of Heaven, “All the things that have ever deeply possessed your soul have been but hints of it. . . . “

Heaven has been described in the Bible as Paradise. Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). The apostle Paul used the word “paradise” to describe his brief trip to Heaven (2 Corinthians 12:4). The Bible also describes Heaven as a city (Hebrews 12:22; 13:14) and a country (Hebrews 11:16).

Heaven is the real thing. And it is the destination of all who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.