Heaven: The real thing ~ By Greg Laurie

By Greg Laurie Posted: June 13, 2009 1:00 am Eastern © 2009 When you have had someone close to you die, especially a child, everything changes. You see life much differently. And although it has been almost 11 months now since my son Christopher departed for heaven, the sadness lingers. I have found myself thinking much more deeply about heaven. My interest in knowing and talking about heaven is greater than it ever has been. Heaven is more personal, more real and nearer than ever. But I have questions about heaven, just as many people do. We wonder what heaven is like. Is it a real place or just a state of mind? What will our new bodies be like? How will we recognize each other? The Bible has a lot to say about what heaven will be like. First of all, heaven is an actual place. Jesus said, "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" (John 14:2 NKJV). The word "mansion" used here could be translated "dwelling place." As to whether or not this is speaking of a place we will live in or of the new body God will give us, we don't know for sure. But one thing is certain: Heaven is a real place for real people. One of the words the Bible uses to describe heaven is "paradise." Jesus told the thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43 NKJV). Literally translated, "paradise" is a word that would be used in the first century to describe the garden of a king. It is difficult for us to imagine how luxurious and splendid this would seem to a person living during this time. If you were a relatively impoverished person and were given the privilege of going into the walled garden of a king, it would overwhelm your senses. Imagine if you had the privilege of dying and going to heaven, and then coming back to earth. How would you describe it? The apostle Paul had an experience like this, and we find his account of it in 2 Corinthians 12. [CONTINUE READING]

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