An ABC of Faith

Heaven

The word Heaven is used in the Bible in two ways—of the skies above the earth and of the sphere in which God,  the angels, and ultimately all the redeemed live for eternity. The latter is the theological sense and the meaning intended by the church over the centuries. Since human language is fit for finite experience, the only way heaven can be described is in picture language, metaphor, and symbolism.

Hence we read in 1 Kings 8:27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” and Ephesians 4:10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.

Art, particularly stained glass, presents Christ as sitting at the right hand of the Father, and the whole is seen as a city of gold (Rev 22). Heaven is the goal of God’s work of human salvation, and it is the sphere where his creatures perfectly enjoy his friendship and fellowship. As concerns the redeemed, it may be said that heaven was constituted by the ascension of Christ completing his promise of preparing a place for his disciples.

Jesus often used to refer to the Kingdom of Heaven; but what kind of kingdom will this be? Hans Hüng describes it this way.

“It will be a kingdom where, in accordance with Jesus’ prayer, God’s name is truly hallowed, his will is done on earth, human beings will have everything in abundance, all sin will be forgiven and all evil overcome.

It will be a kingdom where, in accordance with Jesus’ promises, the poor, the hungry, those who weep and those who are downtrodden will finally come into their own; where pain, suffering and death will have an end.

It will be a kingdom that cannot be described, but only made known in metaphors: as the new covenant, the seed springing up, the ripe harvest the great banquet, the royal feast. 

It will therefore be a kingdom of absolute righteousness, of unsurpassable freedom of dauntless love, universal reconciliation of everlasting peace. In this sense therefore it will be the time of salvation of fulfilment of consummation, of God’s presence; the absolute future.”

A Prayer

Lord, I confess I don’t often long for heaven. I’m a creature of this world and crave worldly things, not heavenly ones. I ask you would grow a desire in me for heaven. Help me not be satisfied with the things of this world, but long for closeness with you and the perfection of eternity in your presence. Lord, thank you for the hope of heaven and the joy we will have when we get there! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.