We are answering tough questions that Christian teens are asking. What should parents and other Christian adults do to help? Answer their questions with love and truth.
Here's the next question from a Christian teen.
When we go up to heaven it's amazing to think that we will be there forever but how?
Great question!
It is amazing to think that we will live with God in Heaven forever. We know what it's like for people to live on Earth for many years until they die, but how will we live in Heaven without dying? How different will our lives be in Heaven? And, how will get to Heaven? Lots of 'how' questions, which are great to ask.
God answers our 'how' questions in His Word, the Bible.
Let's first look at 'how' we get from Earth to Heaven.
People who lived thousands of years ago thought they could get to 'the heavens' by building a tall tower. That didn't go very well. God stopped them from building the tower and made it difficult for them to talk with each other because He confused their language (Genesis 11). People have since climbed tall mountains and even flown on rockets into outer space, but still haven't reached God's Heaven. So, how do we get there?
God has the 'power' to get us there!
- Jesus told His disciples that He was going back to Heaven to prepare a place for them and would come to Earth again to get them so they could be with Him forever (John 14).
- The Apostle Paul wrote that when Jesus comes back for His disciples everyone who died before His coming will be raised from the dead. We know God can do that because He raised Jesus from the dead. Christians who are alive at that time will be 'caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:16). The promise is that Christians "shall always be with the Lord" (verse 17). This will definitely be a miracle. Only God has the power to raise the dead and transport millions of people from Earth to Heaven to be with Jesus Christ forever.
Next question is about how we will live in Heaven without dying.
People are born, live and eventually die. That's the way things work in the natural world. What God is planning to do with us in Heaven is 'supernatural.' The Apostle Paul wrote that when Jesus comes back for us "we shall all be changed." We will get a 'new' body that will be both immortal and incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). That means we will be able to live forever without any of the problems we have on Earth. We will not experience pain, suffering, disease or death. We will live forever with Jesus Christ because God will give us a new body that can live forever. Another miracle!
Finally, how our lives will be different in Heaven.
God tells us that He will create a new Heaven and a new Earth many years from now. Remember that 'place' Jesus said He was going to make for the disciples? It's called the 'New Jerusalem' and it will come down out of Heaven from God and come very close to the new Earth. It will be the most beautiful city ever built because Jesus built it. You can read about how beautiful it will be in Revelation 21.
Living in the New Jerusalem will be an amazing experience for us. The city won't need the sun to shine on it because Jesus will be its light - "for the glory of God will illuminate it." People who live on the new Earth will walk in the light of the New Jerusalem. The only people who will be able to live in the New Jerusalem and on the new Earth will be people whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life (e.g saved people).
As for what we'll do with God forever in Heaven, you can read Revelation 22. Our lives will be safe, fun and important. What we do for God will matter greatly to Him. We will be with Jesus Christ forever and enjoy Him immensely. I think God has lots of adventures planned for us in Heaven, even more than the adventures He has for us on Earth. I say that because of what the Apostle John wrote in Revelation 22:4-5:
"They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever."
Think about that! We will see Jesus Christ up close and personal (face to Face) and will 'reign' with Him forever and ever. Can you imagine what adventures we'll have reigning (ruling) with Christ forever and ever? I think it will be the best thing ever.
Thank you for your question! I hope this answer helps.
The Next Question
In the next part of our special series, Tough Questions From Christian Teens, we will answer this question -
Will we remember family members in heaven?Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
