Where is heaven? I remember asking this question as a kid. Mostly I just wanted to know if I could somehow throw a baseball up to God. I asked again as an adult when I wanted to know where my sweet little niece went way too early. More recently, I’ve asked, “Where is heaven?” as I look around and wonder why sometimes it feels like heaven is some far-away place that has nothing to do with our world. Then, I read this quote from Tozer and found in it a bit of relief.
“All the problems of heaven and earth, though they were to confront us together and at once, would be nothing compared with that overwhelming problem of God: That He is; what He is like; and what we as moral beings must do about Him.” – A.W. Tozer
What we believe about life after death can change everything, forever. Why? Because God is bigger than all of time. So, what we believe about the time after our lives here on earth really shows what we believe about God. Perhaps even more so, what we do with our time here on earth shows what we believe about God and life after death.
Okay, let’s work this out. Take about 10 seconds and get really honest with the question below.
This question matters. Your answer matters.
The first answer—heaven as an escape—is only a hope for one day, for far off. It’s something you have to somehow chase after and find at the end of a long, weary road. It’s light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. But the second answer? It’s a light at the end of a tunnel, but it’s coming toward you, into your tunnel, changing what you see, who you see, and how you love the people in your tunnel.
The first answer means this world is a throw-away. The second means God cares so much about this world that He’s restoring it. The first answer means a beautiful eternal life starts one day when you die. The second means your eternal life—filled with hope and restoration—starts the day you say yes to Jesus.
In Revelation 21:5, God says, “Behold I am making all things new.” He didn’t say He’s making all-new things. He said He’s making all things new. His words can and should dramatically ignite your hope for heaven and earth.
Heaven is not only life one minute after you die; it is God’s dwelling being made available to us both immediately and eventually by Jesus who is our living hope. Heaven is life after this life because we are being made new in this life. He is making all things new!
Still asking where is heaven? Here are some places in the Bible I read while writing this post:
