Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
- Paul tells us we need to be heavenly minded.
We are already Heavenly spirited.
Your spirit already has the life and nature of God in it. You need to grow and mature spiritually. You renew your mind to the Word of God and control your flesh.
Does he mean we are to be thinking about what is going in heaven on a daily basis?
The Bible says very little about the day-to-day activities in Heaven.
Instead, God wants us to focus on what Jesus did for us legally, vitally, and operationally.
You need to be mindful of what Christ is doing at the right hand of God and that you are seated in Him.
We have all the power and authority we could possibly need but apparently, we need to be re-minded of that.
The Scripture emphasizes that Jesus is at God’s right hand in the New Testament, although He was there all the time before.
But this is a big deal because He is now a man seated there. That is significant because He has lived and experienced all that we know and experience.
He is making intercession for us, making connection for us.
What is Heaven Like?
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 NKJV Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.”
- One day, we will receive new bodies in Heaven.
Our bodies are corruptible but one day will be changed.
The reason God is going to change our bodies is so that when our spirits are re-united with our bodies, God does not want Heaven bearing the mark and stain of death because of sin.
God wants whole people to be whole in Heaven, not just spirit and soul.
John 14:1-3 NKJV “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. (2) In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
- You will have a home in Heaven.
God is all about family and family relationships.
(Matthew 22:23-33 NKJV) The religious leaders tried to trick Jesus with their story of the woman that had married seven brothers, whose wife would she be?
Jesus did not say that we would not have relationships in Heaven. He simply stated that men would not need to be in marriage to propagate the species.
He is not saying that we will not love one another in our families. We will have family relationships. God is family oriented. He made the first family. He is not communal minded. He is not in the business of taking away our identities.
Isaiah 11:6-10 NKJV “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. (7) The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. (8) The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. (9) They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. (10) “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”
- In the future, earth will be a reflection of Heaven.
We know there are horses in Heaven and probably other animals.
We know that Heaven is 1500 miles wide, 1500 miles deep and 1500 miles high. This could mean that it is square but it could also be a pyramid. We know that the scriptures tell us that there are streets made of gold, jewels in the walls, and pearls make up the gates. These things are not rare there and so therefore they are not sought after as they are here on earth. (Revelation 21:10-27 NKJV)
- There are lots of children in Heaven.
When a baby is conceived, not born, that child is an eternal spirit that will live forever.
Jeremiah 1:5 BBE Before you were formed in the body of your mother I had knowledge of you, and before your birth I made you holy; I have given you the work of being a prophet to the nations.
Luke 1:44 NKJV (44) For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
John the Baptist is 6 months in the womb and could not possibly understand the language and yet the baby leapt for joy which is a fruit of the spirit, his spirit knew that the Messiah was in Mary’s womb. Even as an unborn child, he was sensitive spiritually.
All babies that die go home to Heaven. They are spiritually alive unto God during their time of innocence.
Romans 7:9 NKJV (9) I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.
Matthew 19:13-15 TPT Then they brought little children to Jesus so that he would lay his hands on them, bless them, and pray for them. But the disciples scolded those who brought the children, saying, “Don’t bother him with this now!” (14) Jesus overheard them and said, “I want little children to come to me, so never interfere with them when they want to come, for heaven’s kingdom realm is composed of beloved ones like these! Listen to this truth: No one will enter the kingdom realm of heaven unless he becomes like one of these!” (15) Then he laid his hands on each of them and went on his way.
Heaven is a kids place!
- We are going to see Jesus.
The Apostle John at this time was around 90 years old and this was 60 years after the Ascension. John was best friends with Jesus. Jesus loved him dearly. He was the only disciple that did not leave Jesus at the Cross. He is the one that Jesus charged with caring for His mother. He did not die a martyr’s death. He died of old age.
Revelation 1:10-18 NKJV I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, (11) saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” (12) Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, (13) and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. (14) His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; (15) His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; (16) He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. (17) And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. (18) I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
- When we see Him, we shall be like Him.
1 John 3:2 NKJV (2) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
After the Resurrection, Jesus could move at the speed of thought and could pass through solid things.
Luke 24:36-43 NKJV Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” (37) But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. (38) And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? (39) Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” (40) When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. (41) But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” (42) So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. (43) And He took it and ate in their presence.
He was physical enough to eat food, but He had no blood.
Hebrews 12:22-24 NKJV But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, (23) to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, (24) to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
We will also see the altar with His blood on it.
When Cain killed Abel, his blood cried out to God from the ground, crying out for justice because of sin and murder. Jesus blood cries that the price is paid, and we are forgiven, and we are worthy to be there in God’s Presence.
- Heaven is an awesome place, and we should not miss going there! And we should take as many with us as we can!