Life is fleeting and delicate. Many people wonder what happens after this life. Is our physical death merely “the end” or will there be some kind of afterlife in which consciousness continues to exist? What would the afterlife resemble, if there is one? Will everyone’s experience be the same? Here, the Bible provides some crucial clarifications. There is life after death, but everyone’s experience of it is different. Either we obtain eternal death outside of God’s presence, often known as “hell,” or we obtain eternal life in God’s presence, commonly referred to as “heaven.” It is obvious that the first choice is by much superior. How can we get there, then?
What is heaven?
As it happens, defining the word “heaven” is not that easy. The sky or expanse that God created is sometimes referred to by this phrase in the Bible (see Genesis 1:7-8). This could provide context for the myth that the dead become stars in the sky that observe the living. It’s not true, even though this might be a well-meaning attempt to honor and cherish the deceased. People do not live forever in the skies. That’s where the clouds are, and if you want to go farther in defining heaven, that’s where God placed the planets and stars (Psalm 8:3–4).
The term “heavens” is also used in the Bible to refer to God’s abode, which is not an actual place in our three-dimensional world. Take Psalm 103:19, for instance, which states, “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” When Jesus refers to God as “your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, 5:45, and 6:9), He is confirming this. Furthermore, according to the apostle Paul, in Ephesians 1:20–21, God the Father “raised [Jesus] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”
Thus, heaven is home to the triune God, who exists in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The important thing to remember is that heaven is God’s home, even though we are unable to precisely define its “location” or appearance.
God is not alone in heaven
The Bible makes it quite evident that the Lord is not by himself in his abode. Angels, humans, and animals from mythology surround him (Revelation 7:11–12, for example; see also Revelation 4, Matthew 18:10, or Mark 13:32). “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world,” says Jesus, expressing his true wish for all those who belong to Him to be with Him. (John 17:24)
People won’t stay in heaven forever
The Bible states that although heaven is sometimes referred to as a person’s “final destination,” those who are there won’t remain there indefinitely. God will establish a new world at the conclusion of this one. All Christians who have previously passed away will thereafter experience a physical resurrection and be reunited with God on this new earth. According to 1 Corinthians 15:51–53, all Christians who are still alive will join them without ever having to face death. At that point, mankind will live in God’s presence eternally as heaven and earth are unified.
Who will get to heaven?
It is abundantly evident in God’s Word that not everyone enters paradise after death. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” the apostle Paul cautions his readers. In 1 Corinthians 6:9. Since “none is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks God,” we ought to heed this warning carefully (Romans 3:10-11). Our own goodness will not get us into heaven since we are all born sinners. We can never be good enough to merit a connection with God and an eternity with Him in heaven, no matter how much we try to change our ways.
However, Jesus Christ has made it possible for us to have a renewed connection with the Lord God. He gave His righteousness to us as a free gift after bearing the cost of human sin (Ephesians 2:8–9). Only those who embrace this gift will be able to spend eternity with God. They have their names recorded in the “Book of Life,” according to Revelation 20:11–15.
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
How can I get to heaven?
Therefore, your name needs to be entered into the Book of Life in order for you to enter paradise. How is it possible? It’s not due to your own accomplishments, as I’ve stated previously. Rather, [you must confess your own depravity and receive Jesus as your Savior], trusting that His death on the cross was necessary for your salvation. When you do that, the Holy Spirit becomes a resident in your heart and you are granted forgiveness from God for all of your past and future sins.
That’s all it takes to get into heaven. Jesus states in Luke 15:10, “I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents,” that God and His angels are eager for you to cross the threshold from your previous life of sin and hopelessness to a restored and joyous life in His presence.
It’s quite easy to put your faith in Jesus Christ. All you have to do is accept God’s offer of salvation after realizing that you are incapable of earning righteousness or a spot in heaven on your own. However, this is really difficult for many people. They dislike being dependent on someone else and feeling that their own efforts are in vain. They are unwilling to give their lives to Jesus. They simply want to carry on leading their own lives in the hopes that everything will work out in the end. Be not like that! God takes His warnings extremely seriously. You won’t live with Him in paradise if you don’t live with Him now!
Rather, aspire to be like Paul, who said to his fellow Christians, “We have an eternal house in heaven that is a building from God, so even if the tent that serves as our earthly home is destroyed. Because we yearn to put on our heavenly abode, we moan in this tent (2 Corinthians 5:1-2). Do you yearn to spend eternity with God as well?
