One of the great joys of being a parent is helping your children grow into strong, young adults who know how to think and reason for themselves. So, how do you do that? Answer their questions openly and honestly.
Children are very curious. Babies look at something, reach for it and place it directly into their mouth. That's curiosity. As children learn how to talk they look at something and ask questions about it. The answers they receive are placed permanently into their brains. The way parents, grandparents and others answer the questions children ask plays a major role in how they will think and reason as they become adults.
That's why we started this series - Tough Questions From Christian Teens.
Here's our next question:
"I have always been taught that magic doesn't exist. Then how can heaven be real?"
Great question!
God created reality. Things are real because God made them real. God created Heaven, so Heaven is real.
'Magic' is usually something magicians do. They know how to trick us into thinking things are real when they aren't. Magicians do tricks. God does miracles.
God created the heavens and the earth. That's real. God raised Jesus from the grave. That's real.
Some of the enemies of God's people in the Bible did a type of supernatural 'magic' backed by Satan. Egyptian magicians were an example. They were able to duplicate a few of the miracles Moses performed, but eventually lost out because their evil power was no match for God's. They had to admit to the Egyptian king that what Moses was doing was "the finger of God" (Exodus 8:19).
God warned the people of Israel not to be involved with evil magic supported by Satan - including enchantments, sorcery, divination, witchcraft, and consulting with mediums and psychics. God called those things an 'abomination.' Some of the people didn't obey God and became involved with evil magic, which made God very angry.
Heaven is not magic. It's a creation of God, a place where we will live with Him forever and ever.
Jesus and Heaven
One of the strongest evidences for the reality of Heaven is what Jesus said about it. Jesus came from Heaven to earth to die for our sins, then returned to Heaven after His resurrection. He told His disciples that His Father was 'in Heaven.' Jesus taught His disciples to pray to 'Our Father in heaven.' He told them to pray that His Father's will would be done 'On earth as it is in heaven.' (Matthew 6:8-10).
Jesus told His disciples that Heaven has lots of rooms (mansions) in it. Jesus also told them He was going to prepare a 'place' for them and would return for them in the future. Heaven is a real place.
Thanks so much for your question!
The Next Question
In the next part of our special series, Tough Questions From Christian Teens, we will ask ...
How Will We Live Forever In Heaven?Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
