You’ve probably heard a lot about Hell — it’s all fire and brimstone, if you ask certain pastors. Although, to be honest, that part is true. But, it’s not the best tactic to entice someone to follow Jesus. Hell is easy to imagine on some level because it’s not a place that anyone wants to be. That’s something Jesus spoke about a lot in the Bible. But, what did Jesus say about heaven?
Honestly, Jesus didn’t say much about heaven. The references about heaven in the Bible are few and far between. We know that heaven is a real place because Jesus mentions heaven directly in the book of John.
“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. And if I go and prepare a place for you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” – John 14:2-3
Although, Jesus doesn’t mention heaven directly very often. He frequently discussed what life would be like after death for those who are Christians. And, that’s really what we’re asking, right? What can we expect after we die. It’s a sobering thought, but one that many have.
There’s isn’t some checklist to get into heaven. You don’t have to be a good person, who does a lot of great things for others. Don’t get us wrong, that’s definitely part of being a Christian, but it’s not what determines if you get to go to heaven. God is the only person that can decide if we go to heaven. When we die, we will each stand for God and account for our life. This is the important thing Jesus wanted to make sure we understood, saying, “But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
As for what happens when we get there, we can only guess. We don’t know for sure what heaven will be like. Based on certain verses in the Bible, we can surmise that we will spend our days, praising and worshipping Jesus – “He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among those who believe” (2 Thessalonians 1:10).
Despite the fact that what Jesus said about heaven isn’t very much, we can rest assured that heaven is going to be someplace that we want to be.