Death and Heaven

Death and Heaven – Understanding Death
When considering death and heaven, it is important to have a proper view of death.

• Why is there death?
  Death is not God’s desire; it’s the result of self-condemnation (Romans 3:23; 6:23). The Lord did not create the human race and give them a freedom of choice just to watch them die in suffering and pain. The Lord created human beings for Him to have a loving, communal relationship during their time on earth and for eternity.
  
  “What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness?” (Romans 3:3).
  
  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
  
  
• Is there life after death? A common question among humanity is, “What happens when we die? Do we cease to exist or is there more? The Bible assures us that there is life after death and it is described as: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). When Jesus came to earth as God in the flesh, he died to give us the opportunity to believe in Him and receive eternal life.
  
  Life after death is available to all people. It is up to each person to decide whether they will spend eternity in heaven or hell.
  
  
• How is death to be viewed?
  When someone has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, his view of death based on a truth that when death occurs, the spirit is reunited with God.
  
  This belief is strengthened by Scriptures:
  
  “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
  
  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
  
  “For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40).

Death and Heaven – Understanding Heaven
Heaven awaits the invisible human spirit that is made sinless, made immortal, and is made fully adapted for the heavenly life. How differently we would face death if we knew that Jesus had prepared a wonderful place as our eternal home, where loved ones patiently await our arrival.

• Heaven will be spectacular. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel” (Revelation 21:1, 11-12).
  
  
• Heaven will be relational. Heaven is a relational existence where we commune with God. Christ is praised and glorified before the God, the Father. Loved ones will be reunited with each other and new relationships will be formed with those who have gone on before us, like the patriarchs of our faith.
  
  
• Heaven will be a continued experience of learning about the redemption given to us by God through Jesus Christ.

Death and Heaven – Your Decision
Have you made a decision about death and heaven? Do you know where you will go when you die? Where will you spend eternity?

Heaven is a gift, and what little that has been described about it is made real because of what Jesus Christ did for His people. He alone gives eternal life in heaven and the new Kingdom to come. It is available to all those who believe in Him. It is a supernatural place of existence with unlimited power, grace, love, peace, joy, and safety. Imagine a perfect life in heaven without any limitations is beyond comprehension. It is important to talk about it and prepare for it. This eternal life will be without the constraints or confinements of a materialistic and decaying world.

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