Heaven Is Closer Than You Think

There is a story told of a dying man who asked his Christian doctor to tell him something about the place to which he was going. As the doctor fumbled for a reply, he heard a scratching at the door, and he had his answer.

"Do you hear that?" he asked his patient. "It's my dog. I left him downstairs, but he has grown impatient, and has come up and hears my voice. He has no notion what is inside this door, but he knows that I am here. Isn't it the same with you? You don't know what lies beyond the Door, but you know that your Master is there." -Alan Carr, Biblical Facts about a Place Called Heaven

Everyone wants to know about heaven and everyone wants to go there. Recent polls suggest that nearly 80% of all Americans believe there is a place called heaven. That statistic is encouraging because it says that even in this skeptical age there is something deep inside the human heart that cries out, “There’s got to be something more.

There is another fascinating statistic that should be mentioned. Not only do most Americans believe in heaven, most people expect to go there when they die. Not very many people would say they aren’t going to heaven. Perhaps one modest point is in order. Whenever you talk about living forever somewhere, it would help to know for sure where you are going.

The only things we can know for certain about heaven are the things revealed in the Bible. Everything else is just speculation and hearsay. The Bible tells us everything we need to know and I believe it also tells us everything we can know for certain about heaven.

The most important fact is that heaven is a real place. Listen to the words of Jesus on the night before he was crucified: John 14:1-3; Philippians 3:20; Luke 23:43; Hebrews 12:22-24;

Under the old covenant no one could come near God except under very strict conditions. But now in Christ we have been brought near to heavenly realities. Consider these things:

We’re not that far from heaven.
We’re not that far from the angels.
We’re not that far from our loved ones in heaven.
We’re not that far from God.
We’re not that far from Jesus himself.
Heaven is a real place, it’s where Jesus is right now, and it’s not far away from us.

-Special thanks to Charles F. Ball

Scripture readings: John 3:13; Matthew 16:19; Revelation 21:1; Revelation 11:12; Deuteronomy 30:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Peter 3:22.

Prayer:

Father, deliver me in Your arms, Let me rest near You, Sanctify me, Father, When you receive me, Forgive my sins as I forgave others, Glory be to God, my Father. Amen

Bless you always,

Aneta