(Extracted from our television series, “What’s So Exciting About Heaven?” Edited for publication.)
Why Many People Struggle to Be Excited About Heaven
I had a good friend, a Bible-believing pastor, who confessed to me one day. He said, “You know, the truth is, I would rather be annihilated when I die than go on forever, forever, on and on in eternity.” And I said, “Why would you say that?” He said, “Because it’s just, the idea is so tedious, it’s so boring, nothing to do. I mean, I know we’re going to worship God, and I love the Lord, but I just would like to be able to do some other things too.”
I thought, here’s a pastor, a graduate of a Bible college and a seminary, and he’s not excited about heaven. Obviously, he’s not going to communicate excitement about heaven either. For many, heaven is simply “better than the alternative,” but they aren’t truly excited about it.
Why We Should Anticipate Heaven with Joy
Think about how excited we get for vacations. If you’re going to Disney World or the Grand Canyon, you find out everything you can, talk to people, and anticipate the journey. As Christians, we should approach God’s Word the same way when it comes to heaven. This is the place Jesus has prepared for us for 2,000 years. He is a carpenter who built the world, and though it fell, He is repairing it—and one day we will live with Him on a new earth forever. That truth should fill us with excitement about heaven.
New Heaven and New Earth
Often, we think of heaven only in the short term. Someone dies in Christ, and we know they are with the Lord. “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). But heaven’s current location will not always be its final destination.
Revelation 21–22, Isaiah 60, and Isaiah 65 tell us that God will bring heaven down to a new earth, where His throne will dwell among His people. We will be resurrected with new bodies, and the earth itself will be resurrected in parallel. On this new earth, we will eat, drink, celebrate, and enjoy fellowship—living joyfully with Abraham, Isaac, and all the redeemed.
“She’s in Jesus’ Lap”
My daughter Karina was very close to her grandmother. When her grandmother passed away, I woke Karina to tell her. Before I even finished my question, she said, “Yes, daddy, she’s in heaven.” Moments later she added, “She’s in Jesus’ lap.” Her childlike faith reflected absolute trust in what Scripture teaches about heaven. While we felt loss, she was filled with joy knowing her grandma was with the Lord.
God’s Dwelling Place Restored
The last chapters of Revelation mirror the first chapters of Genesis. What was lost in the Garden of Eden will be restored. Paradise will be regained. No more sin, no more suffering, no more pain. God’s redemptive plan culminates in a restored creation where everything is made new and better than ever.
A Garden, a Paradise, a Country, and a City
Revelation 22 describes the richness of the new earth: rivers flowing from God’s throne, the tree of life, beautiful architecture, nations bringing treasures into the new Jerusalem. Heaven is not a vague idea; it is a real place—a city, a paradise, a country. God’s redeemed children will reign with Him in fulfillment of His original purpose for creation. The scale of this new Jerusalem is immense—about 1,400 miles in length, width, and height. And beyond the city lie nations and treasures, all for God’s glory.
The Present Heaven
Revelation 6 shows martyrs in heaven, conscious, rational, and in conversation with God. They remember their lives on earth, even their suffering, but from a heavenly perspective shaped by God’s plan. Heaven is not memory loss but perfect perspective. Time also exists in heaven, as Scripture refers to moments, waiting, and even silence for “half an hour” (Revelation 8:1).
The Promise of Resurrection
At the heart of the Christian hope is resurrection. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 that if the dead are not raised, our faith is in vain. Resurrection means that we will live forever in perfected bodies on a restored earth. This is not the Platonic idea of escaping the body; it is the biblical promise of redemption for both humanity and creation. Romans 8 declares that creation itself longs for this redemption, which will come when humanity is raised. The promise of resurrection ensures eternal joy, restored creation, and unbroken fellowship with God.
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