Walk_with_Jesus

What the bible says about Heaven Smith What the bible says about Heaven Michael Smith Dr. Ellis Robinson Orientation to the Bible FS- BBL-2003 October 05, 2011 What the bible says about Heaven Smith 1 The talk While working in outpatient services, I was administrating blood to a young man who was suffering with chronic anemia sustain from an eight year battle with cancer. James is a forty two year old man, who has two children and a lovely wife. We would talk for periods of time during his therapy. James always brought his bible with him. He would pass the time, especially if he was receiving several units of blood. Our conversation one day was interesting, I am a nurse and working at a religious facility, had opportunity to witness to many patients. This time was different. During our conversation, James and I started to talk about heaven “what happens after death'” James quoted “Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, the scripture will be fulfilled. Death it swallowed up in victory, O death where is your victory, O death, where is your sting' For sin is the sting that results in death and the law gives sin its power, but thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57, INV). As those the words James had spoken were his words own. He said, “I am heaven bound, are you'” A few months pasted, James was admitted for the final time. I sat with him knowing his time was near. James memory was not as clear; the cancer had spread to his brain. James’s speech became more garbled ever hour, but sitting with him and his family, he looked up and started talking about our previous conversation months ago. He said “Michael, you remember that heaven question, I feel that death is near and God is with me and I will be at his side in heaven”. James died a few hours later. In his death, he knew God was with him. Our What the bible say about Heaven Smith 2 conversation previous was not James asking me how to get to heaven, but wanted to ensure I was heaven bound. Definition Heaven is defined by a place where the righteous is rewarded by the hand of God. It is a place where the righteous will spend all of eternality with God. It is populated by angels and saints. Life in heaven is free of sin, pain, and a continuous praise and worship of God. The new testament speaks of heaven two hundred seventy three times in two hundred fifty five verses. John 3:16 conveys “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him, should not perish but have everlasting life” (NIV). The place where God has promised to have everlasting life, this is heaven. Heaven is located within God’s creation. It is not a part of this material world. Rather, we experience heaven through extraordinary ways. Heaven is “behind us, among us, around us, within us, before us” (Roberts, 2003). When reading the scriptures were Jesus says “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2, INV). Jesus speaks of a place where obedient, trustworthy, righteous children of God will bath in God’s light. Heaven is a place that we simply cannot fully imagine. “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, NIV). The only way to experience heaven will be to accept Jesus as your savior and have eternal life. God had send Jesus to earth so we might be saved. God did not have to do this, he could have simply wipe out the world and created new life, but his love for humanity is great. What the bible says about Heaven Smith 3 God has afforded me a true gift, the gift of life. I cannot imagine what heaven would be like. God created so many beautiful things here on earth. I went sky driving a few years ago. The plane ascended to altitude of five thousand feet. The side door was opened. The instructors ready the jumpers and before I knew it, I was outside the aircraft. My parachute open and I was slowly drifting to earth. It was extreme feeling of comfort. I took faith that God was with me. The air was brisk, the tranquil sound of nothing but bird singing fill my ears. A sense of warmth felt onto me. I look down upon the earth and was truly in ah. God created such a beautiful place here, the green trees, lakes, mountains, and fields. The earth seemed to be a patch quilt with multiple layers connected to each other. God created such a beautiful place as earth, heaven cannot be imaged. Research There are many articles that attempt to explain heaven. An example given would be: “Heaven is a future that comes down to us from a distant past”. “Heaven was created, an object of worthiness, and the ability to obtain if following God’s teaching” (Morse, 2010). Although, authors of such articles stated what is heaven, some brought up a point of why heaven. The bible explains through Jesus’s voice of God’s plan of paradise for those who love him. “All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being” (John 1:3, INV). God plan is to have his children with him in heaven. When heaven is mention; others point to heaven verses hell. The term hell is used infrequent in the bible. The word hell is defined as a “place or state of existence where the What the bible say about Heaven Smith 4 wicked suffer enteral torment as a punishment for their bad deeds or lack of commitment to God” (Clark-Soles, 2011). The Journey The bible speaks of Jesus parable of rich man, poor man. Abraham and the rich man conversed about Lazarus reaching down from Abraham bosom and allowing him to deep his finger in cool water to help relief the anguish of flame in which the rich man suffered in Hades (Luke 16:19-31, NIV). The parable reveals Lazarus was in heaven with God. Most Christians have wondered about what happens to a child of God when death occurs. The bible tells the story of Lazarus, who Jesus heal and bought to life after four days. Lazarus spent four days in the afterlife, but the bible does not elaborate on details of his journey. Lazarus himself probably had a life time to say about what he saw, heard, and felt during his journey. There is nothing written from Lazarus family and friend that he witness his death and went he arose from death. We have heard the events of people dying and awaken. The testimonies of those who had near-death experience give insight on the journey in which they experience. Every journey is unique to that individual and can only capture a small glimpse of heaven. The bible reveals very little concrete details of heaven, and the afterlife, and what happens to someone when they die. God must have a distinct reason on why heaven is such a mystery, perhaps our infant minds would not be able to comprehend the magnitude of such a What the bibles say about Heaven Smith 5 wonderful place and truly know what is meant by eternity. I remember as my children were small, they asked what is heaven like. This question would seem to come up when there were a death in the family or a funeral over a beloved family pet. As a Christian, it is a very hard, but very easily question to answer. Our faith is what keeps up strong and knowing God has a plan for us. Heaven is our reward. Conclusion The past few weeks have been very heart felt. I have been a Christian since the age of eleven. Baptized and saved. I have read my bible, but it was difficult for me to truly understand all aspect of God’s word. I found it difficult to interpret the message of God. I now have a better understanding on what God is telling us. I feel that writing this paper, doing the research, and comparing scholar ideas has made me a better Christian. I spoke of James and mine conversation. James, I have no doubt is at the bosom of Abraham. He is walking with God on the street of heaven. The message that James was conveying express his love to take those around him to God. I mentioned I have opportunities to witness to others during their moment of death. This was the first time someone dying witness to me. I appreciate the opportunity to sit in your classroom and listen to you tell the story of the bible. I am proud to be a servant of God. Reference Clark-Soles, J. (2011). The afterlife: considering heaven and hell. Word & World, 31(1), 65-74. Retrieved from EBSCOhost on October 5, 2011. Nelson, T. (1979). The holy bible. The new king james bible Roberts, A. O., (2005). Finding heaven. Christianity Today 49 (4), pp 96-22. Retrieved from EBSCOhost on October 5, 2011. Ziegler, P. (2011). Christopher Morse. The difference heaven makes. Word and World 31 (1), pp 75-83. Retrieved from EBSCOhost on October 6, 2011.