June 17th, 2021

Thinking About Heaven

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In the June 2021 issue of the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) magazine, entitled Pentecostal Life, I read a well-written article by Jason Avant. The title of the article is “What will Not be in Heaven.” If you are like me, and even if you are not, the article will cause you to think about heaven and wonder what it will be like.  Then you will think about who will go to heaven and certainly, the question that might linger in your mind is, ‘what is the prerequisite for admission into heaven?’  This will surely be followed by a host of other questions about heaven and the contents of heaven.  Invariable, any conscientious person will also wonder if, the life they are living will qualify them for heaven.  Reasonable thought.  Anyway, going back to the article, I was not concerned with all those issues, neither did the content of the article aroused my curiosity.  As a Christian, and one who has some knowledge of the bible, I am familiar with the content of the article.  So, what amused me was the title, “What will Not be in Heaven.” 
In composing the article, the author, Jason Avant, cited conventional scriptures associated with the most popular discussions about heaven.  He appropriately developed each scriptural point in a succinct and easily understandable manner, in a way that Christians and non-Christians, educated and not so well educated can understand.  But, then, I seriously wonder if people, including Pentecostal and Apostolic Christians, really understand that living in heaven will be a new lifestyle, or should I say, a lifeform that has never before been experienced by mankind. There is no point of reference at all.  Heaven is a place of eternity; inhabitants of heaven will not experience any of the things we experience in this life.  No earthly joy, happiness or worship will be comparable to what heaven will be like, glory to God. 
Heaven will not be a temporal abode; everything will be permanent.  Let me hasten to say, our temporal bodies, as we are now, will not be living in heaven with Jesus.  The Bible declares in 1 Corinthians 15:50 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”  We will have a glorified body, again, this is foretold in scriptures.   “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body… .” (Philippians 3:21).  Since we will not be in a temporal or mortal body, our residence will not be temporal and social structures will not be as we know them presently.  There will be no cliques in heaven, only Saints…lol.  Yeah, so by extension the citizens of heaven will not only have a glorified, but our mindset will be different, one that is appropriate for our new city and residence. It will be a mindset that will be geared toward constant praise and worship of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In heaven, there will be no need for any specialized profession or need for specialized service.  Guess what, you will not be sleepy or tired, let alone to be sick.  Praise the Lord. 
What we do today, and how we live our lives, will determine whether or not we enter heaven.  The time we spend sincerely praising and worshipping God is merely a dress rehearsal for when we get over yonder; the New Jerusalem.  In the New Jerusalem, we will spend all our time around the throne, praising and worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ.  In heaven, there will be no more sickness, no pain, no mental or emotional issues, there will be no night, neither will there be any seasonal changes or any of life’s upheaval.  The weather and life in heaven will always be perfect for heaven’s citizens ((Revelation 21).
So, I implore us, as prospective citizens of heaven, to commence (if we having been doing so), “set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2).  In so doing we are preparing for our arrival and welcome into the Mansion that Jesus has prepared for us.  
 
Thanks for reading. . . 
 Ezra Bogle
http://www.houseofhealingministries.com/blog