Why Heaven?

John 14:3 “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.”

Hebrews 11:13 “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”

Psalm 73:25-26 “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Think

Many of us imagine Heaven as an eternal grandeur, something like a celestial castle lined with luxury sports cars, like a Disney movie on steroids—a compilation of all earthly pleasures. But what if the true essence of heaven isn’t about these material delights? What if the real joy of heaven is the presence of Jesus himself, the experience of being in the very throne room of God? The Bible often uses symbolism or imagery to describe heaven. It consistently communicates that heaven’s true allure isn’t found in material wealth, but in the profound satisfaction our souls yearn for—the presence of God.

C.S. Lewis captured this longing beautifully, noting, “There have been times when I think we do not desire heaven; but more often, I wonder whether, in our heart of hearts, we have ever desired anything else.” He speaks to the core of our deepest desires—the unquenchable thirst that no earthly joy can satisfy. Our true desire, often unacknowledged, is for God himself. This is a powerful reflection of our spiritual wants, where everything else pales compared to our fundamental need for a connection with God.

Indeed, the Bible frames itself primarily around this heavenly focus. At the heart of its redemptive narrative is Jesus’ sacrifice—“the righteous for the unrighteous,” as told in 1 Peter 3:18, which wasn’t just to save us but to bring us into God’s eternal presence. This reunion with God is portrayed as the ultimate gift of heaven. Every good and perfect thing we enjoy here on earth, as mentioned in James 1:17, derives its true value from its origin in God. Without God, these are merely shadows and beams without the sun.

So, whatever wonders and joys await us in heaven—mansions, Maclarens, or mysteries beyond our imagination—as described in 1 Corinthians 2:9, they will undoubtedly be magnificent. Yet they will never surpass the ultimate joy: being in the presence of God himself. As Lewis says in Till We Have Faces, God is the source of all beauty, the ultimate fulfillment, the “place where all the beauty came from.” In the presence of God, we find not just the ultimate joy, but the source of every lesser joy we’ve known and will know.

Apply

Colossians 3:1-2 instructs us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. This mindset can transform how we live day to day. Evaluate how your daily activities and long-term goals align with your heavenly hopes. Make intentional choices that reflect your ultimate destiny with God.

Pray

Lord, as I think about the descriptions of heaven and the ultimate satisfaction that awaits me there, stir in me a greater longing for that divine encounter. Grant me the courage to share this hope with others, to speak of your love and the eternal home you have prepared for me. Keep my eyes fixed on you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.