Shortly before our Lord Jesus went to the cross of Calvary to die for us, He gave to His first disciples (and to us) a very wonderful promise. It is upon this promise that we base our confidence that Heaven is our home:
John 14:2: “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”
First: because we are most surely going to Heaven! Every truly born again (John 3:3), blood-washed (1 John 1:7) believer is bound for the Heavenly City. Our names are already written there (Luke 10:20), and many of God’s children are already living there (Ephesians 3:15). Is it not natural, therefore, that we should want to know something about where we are to live with our Lord and all the company of the redeemed?
Second: because we all have loved ones in Heaven. The very mention of Heaven reminds us of some who are there now. Who are they? God the Father, the Lord Jesus, the angels, the saints of all the ages are all there – including loved ones who died ”in Christ”!
Third: because this is our Lord’s prescribed cure for a troubled heart. See how this chapter begins (John 14:1)! Our hearts are often troubled, perplexed or burdened, and surely it helps us to think of Heaven! We would be happier, healthier Christians if we spent more time viewing ‘the land that is brighter than day!’
In John 14:2-3 our Lord tells us three simple facts about Heaven:
Heaven has locality, just as London and New York, and just as Hell has location (Revelation 1:18). The Lord Jesus said, “I am going there to prepare a place for you…” and that place He described as His ‘Father’s house’ in which are ‘many rooms’ or abiding places. The city is filled with the brilliance of costly stones and crystal-clear jasper. Heaven has twelve gates (Revelation 21:12) and twelve foundations (21:14). The paradise of the Garden of Eden is restored: the river of the water of life flows freely and the tree of life is available once again, yielding fruit monthly with leaves that “heal the nations” (22:1-2). However eloquent John was in his description of heaven, the reality of heaven is beyond the ability of finite man to describe (1 Corinthians 2:9). Yes, Heaven is real! Where is Heaven? Look up Acts 1: 9-11 and compare to Acts 7:55.
What kind of place is it? It is a place of eternal joy and blessedness. This fact is not only emphasized in the Bible by the description we are given of the glories and beauties of Heaven, but by what will be missing in Heaven! In Heaven there is no sin (Revelation 21:27), no sorrow or death (Revelation 21:4), no mourning and no night (Revelation 21:25); no separation (Revelation 21:1); no tears (Revelation 7:17); no war (Psalm 46:9), nothing to mar or spoil, and no more curse (Revelation 22:3). John witnessed that heaven (the new earth) possesses the “glory of God” (Revelation 21:11), the very presence of God. Because heaven has no night and the Lord Himself is the light, the sun and moon are no longer needed (Revelation 22:5).
It is a place of holy companionships. Above all, to be in Heaven means to be with the Lord Jesus. He is with us now (Matthew 28:20) – but then we shall be with Him (2 Corinthians 5:8)! Heaven would not be Heaven without His presence! It is a place of glad reunion with loved ones. This is the Christian’s sure confidence, that when we say goodbye to our brothers and sisters in Christ down here we shall meet them again up there! And we shall not only meet them, but we shall recognize them (1 Cor. 13:12)!
It is also a place of joyful service (Revelation 22:3).
Nearly 2000 years ago the Savior said, “I am going there to prepare a place for you.” What a glorious place it must be (1 Corinthians 2:9)! In our Lord’s simple statement, we have a wonderful revelation of His great love for us. He is preparing for us – who are so unworthy! He wants us to be forever with Him (John 17:24), and He has gone on to prepare the Home where we shall live with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
The Lord Jesus said, “I am going there to prepare a place for YOU” – that is, for all who believe on Him as their Savior and Lord, and who come to the Father by Him (John 14:1-3, 6).
Paul testified he saw and heard things in Heaven which he could not share. The things he saw were too incredible for words – they were inexpressible, so glorious that words could not describe them: words utterly failed him. Secondly, Paul was not permitted to describe what he saw, even if he found the words to do so. Yet, this should excite us all!
