QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT HEAVEN

Pulpit Today Sermons

Questions and Answers about Heaven

(Parts 1 & 2)

John 14:1—3

by Robert D Pace

I. Should Christians be Occupied with Thoughts about Heaven?

Sometimes we hear the expression: “That person is so heavenly-minded, they are of no earthly good.” Is that so? Well, let’s examine what Scripture says; and I’ll begin by quoting the Author of Scripture, Jesus, in John 14:1—3.

Jesus said, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be.”

When Jesus spoke these words, in one respect, he spoke as a groom to his bride. And who is the bride? It’s Christians. At first glance, this passage may not seem romantic but it is! Jesus is telling his bride that we have an incredible future!

Imagine it this way: Suppose an engaged couple lived across the country from each other. As they waited for their wedding, the groom, who was also an architect and builder, was constructing a magnificent house for them. Would not the bride be consumed with dreamy thoughts of how the house was taking shape? Not a single day would pass without her phoning her fiancé and . . . telling him what to do! Oops! I apologize. Not a single day would pass without her phoning her fiancé and quizzing him of the process. Her imagination would run wild as she pictured her house coming together.

Since the Bible calls Christians “the Bride of Christ,” shouldn’t we be captivated by the afterlife and the promises it has given about Heaven? In our opening text, Jesus said his Father’s house contained many “mansions or dwelling places.” This statement alone should create wondrous interest about Heaven.

Knowing the glories of Heaven, the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:23—25,

“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; (24) but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. (25) Convinced of this, I know that I will remain.”

I want to go on record as admitting that I too long for Heaven. And the more I learn about my future, the more excited I get about dying! I’m excited about tomorrow because it puts me one day closer to entering Heaven and inheriting my rewards. I really mean this! I love contemplating the mysteries of Heaven and all that God has in store for me .

(Question) I have a question: Have you ever considered what makes your Christian life effective and pleasing to God? (Pause) Let me help answer that question: It’s when you take into account how Heaven will treat every word you utter and everything you do. Your effectiveness in the Christian life and your ability to please God, in large part, demands that consider how eternity will treat your behavior.

(Temptation) I want to disclose one of Satan’s effective temptations: It’s the temptation to make Christians think and live like this world is their home. And this isn’t our home! Psalm 119:19 is one of my favorite Scriptures, and it says this: “I am a stranger on the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.” Always remember this: Your citizenship is not of this world. You are a citizen of Heaven!”

Here’s what C.S. Lewis, the great Christian apologist of the 20th Century, said: “It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this one.”

Let’s attach some more Scripture to what I have been saying. Turn in your Bibles to Colossians 3:1—4 [New Living Translation]:

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”

When you set your mind on “things above” it makes it abundantly easier to overcome the trappings of the world. I am persuaded that God will mark some of our chief endeavors as being those that fulfilled the command to “seek those things that are above.” Folks, let’s keep our mind on heaven. Amen?

One final notation about this:

(Illustration) Let’s compare this to a mother that is preparing for her unborn child’s birth. The mom carefully monitors which foods, beverages, and medicines she ingests. She makes certain that her physical activity doesn’t upset or injure the unborn baby. She also starts purchasing clothes and preparing a room for the child. Now, could anyone accuse this mom of being too protective and preoccupied with the welfare of her unborn child? No! Then neither can Christians become too heavenly minded in this world as we prepare for our entry into eternal life.

(Transition) Now for what is actually the first question about Heaven:

II. What Happens at Death? Do Christians go immediately to Heaven?

There is a prevalent teaching that suggests that once Christians die the soul falls into an unconscious, intermediary state of being, remaining unconscious until the resurrection.

But what does the Bible say about the estate of Christians when they die? Well, Jesus said to the thief on the cross: “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). That means at death, believers join Christ in Paradise. And do you remember the story of “The Rich Man and Lazarus”? The rich man said, “I am in torment in these flames.”

Let’s also consider several more Scriptures:

Ephesians 3:15 “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” So, Paul points out that right now there is a “family in heaven and [a family on] earth.”

Let’s next consider Ecclesiastes 12:7. “then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” [NASB]. Solomon says that at death our physical body returns to the dust of the earth, while our spirit returns to God, our Creator.

I now want you to look at a passage in Hebrews 12 that is loaded! Let’s begin with verse 22.

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly [Should a comma be here?] and Church of the Firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”

The first point Hebrews 12:22 makes is showing that the church on Earth is called, “Mount Zion.” It’s the House of God we are worshiping in now. Then verse 23 shows that there is a church in Heaven; and this heavenly church seems to be mysteriously participating with us now! The Lord has even given this heavenly church a name! It’s called, “the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn.” So, there’s no “soul sleep” for Christians that die. We stay actively involved with Jesus, the Apostles, and the Prophets that have preceded us in death. Hebrews 12:22 even says Believers that die are surrounded by “myriads of angels.”

III. Does Time Exist in Heaven?

Decades ago, there was a popular Christian hymn entitled, “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, I’ll be There.” I want you to notice the opening verse of that song:

“When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; when the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.”

Did you notice the lyrics, “and time shall be no more”? When I prepared this message I noticed that numerous songs include this line of lyrics—“and time shall be no more.” How could songwriters get this so wrong? It’s due to a mistranslation of Revelation 10:6 of KJV. I want to read this verse from the KJV:

“And [the angel] sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.”

The people of the 1600s may have perfectly understood this passage. But the KJV doesn’t translate properly for the 21st century English speaking world. Here’s how the recent translations put it:

The NIV reads, “There will be no more delay.”

The NASB renders it: “There will no longer be a delay.”

But beyond how the NASB and the NIV translate Revelation 10:6, there is a supremely important hermeneutical rule that must be followed. Professors at seminaries teach that Scripture needs to be interpreted in regard to its larger context! What is the context of a particular passage?

Well, the context of Revelation 10:6 regards the final judgment of God against the world. For thousands of years the grace of God has withstood the judgments of God. God’s grace has prohibited his wrath from breaking forth! But in the book of Revelation all this changes! Now God is saying:

“Time has run out! There’s no more delay! My judgments are here to break forth now! All that the OT Prophets said about “the mystery of God is finished.” And then, boom! The wrath of God unfolds with unequalled fury.”

So when you understand the context of Revelation 10:6, it clarifies the misunderstanding that ‘time has come to a standstill.’ . . . In fact, before moving to the next question about Heaven, I want to point out how the “cessation of time” is inconsistent with the ways of God:

Revelation 8:1 speaks of “silence in heaven for about half an hour.” (No, this passage doesn’t mean that the women didn’t make it to Heaven!) If time ceases to exit, then why does God measure the silence in Heaven as being “for about half an hour”?

Secondly, there is music is in heaven. And music needs meter, tempo and spaces of rest. There are “full notes” “half notes” “quarter notes,” and they all require increments of time to create a musical composition.

And third, what about God’s promise to Noah and all humanity in Genesis 8:22 that says, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease”? These are all measurements of time.

(Transition) Next question:

IV. In Heaven, will People Recognize Those They Knew on Earth?

Yes we will! We will enjoy renewing our acquaintances with loved ones and friends from Earth. And here’s why: Heaven doesn’t reduce our mental capacities; it sharpens them! This is what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:12 [NLT].

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”

Wow! Can you imagine that? The NASB states it like this: “now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known.”

Doesn’t commonsense suggest that we will not be dumber in heaven, we will be incredibly brighter! Scripture gives no indication that our acquaintances of this present life will be unrecognizable in Heaven.

Now turn to Matthew 17:1—4 and let’s read of Jesus meeting with Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and his brother John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Did you notice that the disciples instantly recognized Moses and Elijah even though they weren’t told who they were? This might suggest we will recognize instantly people we know of but have not previously met, perhaps as a result of individual personality emanating through their appearance.

But what about loved ones that do not go to Heaven? How will we feel about that? I will make two observations about this:

First, once we are glorified in Heaven, we will possess an endowment of understanding God’s ways that incomparably transcends our knowledge today. And as possessing such knowledge, we will be able to embrace God’s System of Justice and what has happened to unbelievers.

Second, we must remember that the Bible says there will be no disappointments or tears in Heaven. So our hearts, minds, and souls will be at perfect peace forever. It’s also important to recall what Isaiah 65:17 says: “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”

It appears that, “The former things” refers to the sin and wickedness of Earth. It doesn’t preclude the memories of righteousness that we made on Earth.

The Characteristics of Heaven

Part II

As I continue this message, I want to investigate the ways we can learn about Heaven. Perhaps you’ve never considered that. But strangely enough, God has provided several ways we can peek into eternity and learn of our future estate.

Interlude: Ways We Understand What Heaven is Like

Thus, I want to begin this message by mentioning three ways that Christians can learn about Heaven.

1. The foremost way to learn about Heaven and the afterlife comes directly through the Word of God. One of the cardinal doctrines of Christianity is what theologians call, Sola Scriptura. This is a Latin phrase that translated means this:

Sola means: “alone; foundation.”

Scriptura of course refers to our English word Scripture.

Thus, Sola Scriptura infers that Scripture is the sole authority for the Christian Faith. It’s the doctrine that proclaims the Bible to be complete, authoritative, and true (2 Timothy 3:16).

As Sola Scriptura applies to today’s message, it means that the Bible speaks about the future with infallible precision. It is the final authority on all there is to know about Heaven.

(Transition) But there’s another Biblical way we can learn about Heaven.

2. The second way we can learn about Heaven is through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul listed several revelatory gifts of the Spirit: The “gift of prophecy”; the “word of knowledge,” and; the “gift of interpretation of tongues.” This means Christians that operate in these gifts can, as the Holy Spirit endows them, provide remarkable insights into Heaven.

But Paul continues writing about divine revelation in the next chapter. We typically call 1 Corinthians 13 the “love chapter,” but Paul also covers other matters of importance. Turn to 1 Corinthians 13:1—2 [NIV].

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels” STOP! That’s important, because Paul just informed us that angels of the heavenly realm speak various languages! Does this surprise you? It shouldn’t because humans, of the earthly realm, also speak various languages—Hebrew, English, French, Korean, etc. And there is a secret, a word of revelation that God is providing here: It fulfills a principle hidden in The Lord’s Prayer when it says, “Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

Perhaps the heavenly languages could be as follows: Since there are likely billions and billions of angels it makes sense that numerous languages exist among the common angelic hosts. Then, there is likely a hierarchical language that the archangels use; perhaps the cherubim and seraphim each speak a unique language; the book of Revelation discloses the appearance of “four living creatures” that surround the throne of God; etc.

Let’s continue reading this passage from 1 Corinthians 13:1.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (2) If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

The Apostle Paul just said God can use people to bring forth revelation, unravel mysteries, and disclose knowledge. And this means, the Lord could move upon a Christian to give a divine utterance and disclose the glories of Heaven. (This is why worship services should be opened to the fulness of the Spirit.)

(Transition) But there’s a third way we can obtain insights into Heaven.

3. The Holy Spirit discloses the wonders of Heaven through dreams, visions, or trances. Turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 2:9—16.

“However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him [STOP! What has God “prepared” for Christians? One thing he has prepared is Heaven!]— 10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”

What has God “freely given us”? He’s given us the gift of “eternal life”—Heaven!

Now I want to give you a Biblical example of how God discloses things to us in supernatural ways. Turn now to 2 Corinthians 12:1—4.

Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. (2) I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. (3) And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—(4) was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. [NASB]

If you count back fourteen years from Paul’s writing of 2 Corinthians, it takes you to his stoning at Lystra. Paul’s enemies thought they had killed him, but his associates took him under their care and he recovered.

It’s likely, while Paul was comatose from this stoning, that he received this revelation of heaven. Some people would classify Paul’s revelation of Heaven as being a Near Death Experience. And for the past several decades numerous Christians have died, testified of going to Heaven, and then returning to Earth to share their experience.

These are the ways that God can speak to us about Heaven. Just remember, all revelations apart from the Bible must be subject to the Bible–Sola Scriptura! They will never contradict Holy Scripture!

(Transition) Now I want us to move on and consider a statement from Jesus when he said Christians “will be like the angels in heaven.” Let’s turn to Matthew 22:23—32.

V. How will Christians be like the Angels?

“That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?” [STOP]

This sets the stage for Jesus answering the Sadducees and tell us about Heaven. And the Sadducees thought they had completely cornered Jesus; so let’s continue reading in verse 29.

(29) “Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. (30) At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. (31) But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, (32) ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

What is Jesus is saying here? Remember that the context of a passage is often indispensable to its interpretation; and such is the case here. The context of this passage involves Jesus answering the Sadducees—people that didn’t believe in the resurrection. They believed death was final! There was no Heaven; no Hell; and no resurrection! That’s why Jesus punctuated his words to the Sadducees in verse 32, when he said, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

1. So, the first point Jesus conveyed was the certainty of life after death!

2. But there’s also another intriguing point in this passage, and it appears in verse 30 when Jesus says, “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” The question is, How will Christians of the resurrection “be like the angels in heaven?”

(Insight) Let’s first notice what Jesus is not saying. Jesus doesn’t say we will relinquish our sexual identity and become angels. When you apply Christ’s answer of Christians “being like the angels in heaven” it only applies to one, and only one, matter. That is, marriage in Heaven. In Heaven, all marital contracts are annulled. Just as angels do not marry, neither will there be man-to-woman marriages. Other than our betrothal to Jesus at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, we will no longer marry. That is how we will be like the angels.

(Transition) Since the context of this passage involves the Resurrection, I want to show you what I discovered while studying this. And this is intriguing!

The Resurrection of the Dead

It regards the way in which God will literally raise us from the dead and meet the Lord Christ Jesus in the air. I’d like you to form a picture in your mind of how you will rise from your grave. How do all of your decade molecules regather to recreate your eternal, glorified body? Have you thought of that? Turn in your Bibles to Mark 13:27, and let’s see how we will rise from the dead.

“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. (27) And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.”

Did you notice how this will occur? Christ will command his angels to exit their heavenly estate and bolt toward the Believers in the earth, and once here each Christian will have a personal angel descend into their grave, where they will gather our bones, reassemble our bodies, impute a glorified, heavenly DNA, and in an instant the Holy Spirit will step in and infuse us with the brilliant likeness of our Lord and Savior—Jesus Christ! Praise God!

(Transition) So how will we appear in the afterlife? What will be our substance and disposition and likeness in Heaven? Turn to 1 Corinthians 15, and let’s see what Paul continued to say:

Characteristics of Heaven

Part III

VI. The Likeness of Christians in Heaven

I’ll continue Part III of this message by reiterating this: When we go to Heaven we do not become angels! If that occurred, we would cease being human and become angels. But God doesn’t do that! Think about the implication of becoming angels. This would imply that we would exit the ranks of humanity as failures—fallen creatures—but that’s okay because God will give us a “do-over” as angels. >>>>>>> No! This is not going to happen!

So what does God have planned for our eternal estate? Turn to Philippians 3:20–21, and let’s read:

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

The plan of God involves taking our humanity and transforming and glorifying it into Christ’s holy and righteous nature. Can you imagine that? Because Jesus put on our nature, we will one day be glorified with his nature!

Now turn to 1 Corinthians 15:42—54 and let’s read:

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam [JESUS], a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. [STOP]

Do you understand the meaning of verse 49, when it says, at the Resurrection, we will receive the image of “the heavenly man”! Who is this “heavenly man”? It isn’t an angelic being. It is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! God’s plan for Christians is to give us a body that transcends the bodies of every angel in Heaven! We will one day be like the Son of God himself! And Jesus is worlds above the angels!

Notice what Hebrews 2:5 says. [RDP reads]

“It is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.” And then verse 6 says: “What is man, that you are mindful of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him? (7) You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor. (8) putting everything in subjection under his feet.” One day, every Christian will govern, with Christ, all creation! Praise God!

and then 1 Corinthians 6:3 says, “Do you not know that we will judge angels?

The day is coming when Christians, through Christ, will regain Adam’s dominion of the earth! But we will not only regain dominion over the earth, we will also surpass the glories of angels! (Pause) But how is it possible for humans to transcend the estate of angels? The answer resides in the saving work our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s the Blood of Jesus that transforms a sinner into a saint; and in some mysterious way makes mortals “one with Christ.”

(Example) Have you ever known someone that had no self-confidence; no esteem; and always mischaracterized themselves by saying, “Oh, I’m just Lil ole me”? Well, no citizen of Heaven will live with this mentality! They may have departed Earth as “Lil ole me,” but before they can take two steps into Heaven they will realize God has refashioned their “Lil ole body” into the likeness of “Christ’s glorious and immortal body”!

I want you to notice what 1 John 3:2-3 says, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” [NASB]

VII. What age will Christians appear to be in Heaven?

What age will Christians appear to be in Heaven? Did you know that questions like this are answerable? Here’s why: The Bible gives us peeks and glimpses into what Jesus did during the 40 days after his resurrection. This means, whatever the resurrected Jesus did during those forty days, we too will be able of doing after our resurrection! So what did Jesus do?

Jesus ate and drank with his disciples.

Jesus fellowshipped with his disciples.

There were emotions, celebrations, and banqueting after Christ’s resurrection.

He prepared a meal for his disciples.

He walked through a wall to encourage his disciples. He disappeared and reappeared to his disciples.

He worked miracles with his disciples.

We will be able to touch the Scars of our Savior Jesus Christ. Notice what Jesus did in Luke 24:39–40

“After Jesus rose from the dead, He said to His disciples, “‘Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Touch Me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.’ Having said this, He showed them his hands and feet.”

The resurrected Jesus did not become someone else; He remained who He was before His resurrection. His Heavenly Father simply gave him a glorified body! And our bodies will also be the old ones made new.

But now I want you to notice something else about Jesus and his resurrected body: The resurrected Jesus also gives us an understanding of how old we shall appear in the resurrection. Here’s why:

We know that Jesus was thirty-three when he died on the Cross and returned from the grave. Thus, I believe most people will be 33 years-old. However, some people believe that we can be any age that we desire to be. Well, I suppose this is possible. Remember, the Bible tells us that God gives us the “desires of our heart.” And if someone would rather appear to be 20, or 45, 60, or even 120 then I believe God will grant them their desire. (Thank goodness we won’t feel like we are 120 years-old.)

(Transition) But there’s also another way to appraise what our heavenly estate holds for us. And it’s this: Whatever was possible in the Garden of Eden prior to the Fall of Mankind, will also be available for Christians throughout eternity. But there will be one big difference. The eternal Kingdom of Heaven will present the “new and improved” edition of Adam and Eve. All things will be glorified!

Male & Female Relationships & Attraction in Heaven

(Question) What about relationships in Heaven? What type relationships between male and female will exist in Heaven?

Do you realize that the Bible never suggests there is no male and female in attraction in Heaven? It is not in the Bible! I strongly believe there will be male and female attraction in Heaven. Were not Adam and Eve attracted to each other in the Garden of Eden? Yes! Imagine what it would mean if there were no attraction between the sexes in Heaven: It would mean that God’s original purpose for man and woman in the Garden of Eden was a mistake. After God created Adam, he decreed, “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18).

Heaven is not a place where God obliterates the sexes. It’s where man and woman are glorified! Remember this, whomever that person may be, you will have a holy and pure relationship them. And because love permeates Heaven, nobody will frown upon any person you are attracted to.

But who will we be attracted to? I want to answer that question with a question: Ladies and gentlemen, before you were married, were you attracted to any and every person of the opposite sex that you saw? No! Perhaps this is difficult to conceive, but male-to-female attraction in Heaven will be similar to how it has been on Earth. What is it that attracts us to each other? It’s personality. It’s disposition. It’s things that characterize the other person.

Some people are extroverts while others are introverts. Some people are athletes that “wow” audiences with their feats. Others are brainiacs surrounded by piles of research material in science labs. Some people are comedians who love being the center of attention. Others would ather be part of the audience, laughing and enjoying the popcorn—Uh, that is, fruit from the Tree of Life!

VIII. Will Believers in Heaven commit sin?

(Illustration) When I was a kid I heard an evangelist say that when we arrived in Heaven it would still be possible to sin and thus, lose our place in Heaven. Even as a child I knew this wasn’t true!

No! Paul said, “So shall we ever be with the Lord.”

2 Peter 3:13 says this: “But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness” [NLT].

There are many, many more questions to survey about the coming glories of Heaven. I hope this message has stirred you to continue studying this grand place of the Believers’ eternal residence!