Why We Need To Learn As Much As We Can About Heaven

Heaven Series #13

“Why we need to learn as much as we can about Heaven”

Several weeks ago, I posted a photo of my wife Kathy just a few months before she passed away. She was reading the book “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn. When a close pastor friend of mine saw the photo, he said that it reminded him of “someone who was getting ready to go on a long trip and was reading the travel brochure”. 

I had to laugh… because I knew it was true. Kathy knew where she was going… and she wanted to learn as much as she could about heaven before she got there.

When we think about how brief this life actually is, and how long eternity will be, doesn’t it make sense to learn all we can about heaven… considering that our life here is our investment into the next?  How we spend this life, as a believer in Christ, has a great deal to do with how our eternity will look in heaven.

What a perfect word for this expression… “spend”, as if we have a bank account of time… and God-given talents that we can choose to maximize or neglect.

I firmly believe the more we learn about our future home in heaven, the more passion we will have to make the most of this life… to live better… to give better… and to love better.

Jesus said, “Don’t store up your treasures on earth… but rather store up your treasures in heaven” Mat. 6:19.  Clearly, this is something the Lord wants us to do… and is in our eternal best interests to do so.  The more heaven-minded we are, it only stands to reason, the more likely we are to invest in heaven now.

Paul also taught us which types of treasures will make it into heaven. He uses metaphorically “gold, silver and precious stones” as the types of work which will stand the test of fire and produce a reward…, and then “wood, hay and stubble” as the types of work which will be “burned up”.  This truth is not regarding our salvation whatsoever, but applies to the works we have accomplished as a believer, during our lifetime.

Of course, the Bible, which is the Word of God, should be the main source of our learning and study, and the standard by which we judge all revelations and interpretations.  However, there are many excellent books which have been penned over the years which can open up our understanding and increase our desire for our eternal home. Here are a few of my favorite authors (Randy Alcorn, D.L. Moody, C.S. Lewis, Greg Laurie, John Burke, Joni Eareckson Tada, David Jeremiah). 

I encourage you to take a season in your brief time here and do an in-depth study on Heaven.  Learn as much as you can… and then inspire your family and friends to do the same.  You will be blessed… I promise.   

Blessings, Mike