People surely grapple with what’s at the end – after this life. Believers and non-believers ask themselves, “What’s next?” As believers we should be assured of our eternal security, but we often wonder what heaven is like. The good news is that we have little glimpses in the Bible and it just so happens to be one of my favorite topics to write about. I hope this post encourages you and gives you hope. I hope you’ll pass it on.

Take in mind that this post is for believers in Jesus. Here’s the thing, though… Jesus has offered everyone a chance to go to heaven for all of eternity, but they must recognize their sin, repent, and receive Him as their Savior. Putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save you secures you a place in God’s family. 

So with that said, let me begin. One author that talked a lot about heaven is the apostle Paul. Today, we will pull incredible information from one verse…

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.
Philippians 1:23

This verse gives us three wonderful features about heaven. Let’s look…

1. Heaven is a departure!

We don’t like to think about death. It scares us. It makes us uncomfortable. It’s not a happy place for our thoughts to travel to. But we do like thinking about pleasant things – like vacations filled with beautiful scenery, colorful landscapes, and scrumptious food. Paul’s verbiage in this passage – I desire to depart – doesn’t sound much different. I think he looked at death like we look at an upcoming trip. It was simply a departure from this place. A glorious departure!

Dr. Billy Graham seemed to have the same mindset when he said, “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.”

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Paul tells us that to “be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV). Hence, there is no waiting. No lounging between two places. The moment we depart this earth, we are in heaven.

Good news, huh?

2. Heaven is the presence of Christ!

I don’t know one person that isn’t excited about being reunited with loved ones in heaven. In addition to my dad and my sister, I can’t wait to see my grandma again. She lived with us when I was growing up but died when I was twenty. I haven’t seen her in forty years. I can still hear her speaking every name of her granddaughters before she got to the one she was addressing. I’m also excited to finally meet the grandfathers I never knew. What a reunion!

But there’s one reunion that will prevail above all others – the reunion with Jesus, the One who sits on the throne. We’ve chased hard after Him. We’ve abided in Him. Imagine the look on His face when He’s standing before us. Imagine the most beautiful eyes looking at us and feeling His hand tenderly upon us, while sweet heavenly music plays in the background. Surely, the main attraction of heaven will be Jesus.

Are you excited?

 3. Heaven is far better!

Have you ever felt such gratitude that you said, “It doesn’t get any better than this?” Well, here’s what the apostle Paul would say to that… Oh, yes it does! I’m pretty sure this is what Paul is trying to convey when, referring to heaven, he says, “which is better by far.” Namely, there is NOTHING you’ve seen, experienced, felt, encountered, touched, or sensed that is better than heaven. We may not understand it, but we can believe it. 

Let’s say together… I can ONLY IMAGINE!

Take a moment to write your thoughts in the comments section and please share this with others. Someone just may need this encouragement today.

Blessings,