What Is Heaven Like?

In 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul tells the Church that when we are absent from our bodies, we are present with the Lord.  That’s not to say that the Lord is not with us right here and now, (Matthew 28:20) but that on that day when we leave this realm, we, as saved people, will be dwelling with God physically.  Paul believed this so earnestly that he said in Philippians 1:23 that he actually would prefer to depart and be with Christ.  I do not know if you have ever felt this way, but I have.  Sometimes I want to be with Him because I have a longing to commune with Him like we cannot here.  Other times I’m in extreme pain, or buried in grief, and I just want it to end.

Thoughts of Heaven soothe me in my dark hours, but the strength of that help has been greatly enhanced by the work of Randy Alcorn.  Although I have been reading and studying the Bible for decades, I was never able to build the complete understanding of what our home in Glory will be like until I read Mr. Alcorn’s book, Heaven.  In it, using nothing but the Bible, he ties all of the references together in a beautiful and very understandable way.  He also has published an edition for children.  I recommend that all Christians read these books, but especially those who are grieving.  In the months after my son died, having a more complete idea of what Heaven is like was such a great comfort to me.  After I read it, I bought Heaven for Kids and read it together with my kids as they were grieving for their brother.  It sparked an interest in eternity that we still speak about freely and often.  We have returned to both books often for encouragement, and we have also benefited from the Heaven Study Guide.  The links to these books on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you buy the books after clicking my links, I will get a small amount of money for recommending them to you.  I would be thankful to you, if you choose to look into these links, if you would do so through these links.

Acts 7:55-56 contains the familiar account of the stoning of Stephen.  Before his death, he addressed the council that had just falsely accused him of spreading lies about the synagogue.  As he was talking to them, it was noticed that his face was shining like the face of an angel, (Acts 6:15)  and he also saw a glimpse of Heaven at about the same time.  It must be that Heaven is so wonderful that if we were to see it, even our faces would change.  Paul tells us that in Heaven there are things that are indescribable wonderful, and that he isn’t even permitted to try to speak about some of them. (2 Corinthians 12: 4 and 1 Corinthians 1:9)

As he lay dying, D. L. Moody final words before drawing his last earthly breath were, “Is this dying? Why, this is bliss! There is no valley. I have been within the gates. Earth is receding; heaven is opening; God is calling; I must go.”

I am not sure if my son died in our swimming pool, or half a day later in the hospital.  On one hand, it’s nice to think that he knew we were all gathered around him, praying for his recovery.  I suppose he might have known whether he was in his body or out of it.  His tombstone lists his death date as February 27^th, although the accident occurred on the 26^th, and we did that as a way to honor and acknowledge the last hours we spent together.  What I do know is that Luke 16:19-22 proves that at least some people are carried by the angels to their new abode after they die.  It doesn’t really matter to me whether my son was escorted to Heaven by the pool or in our presence at the hospital; either way, the though comforts me.

At least once each day, as our family gathers to pray, we ask God to say “Hi!” to Weeble and to tell him that we miss him.  He’s just over the next hill, serving God and enjoying Glory, and content in the knowledge that we’ll join him soon enough.  I try to be content in that knowledge, too.