Heaven and Hell
1 Thessalonians 4:16 -18 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Do you ever think about heaven? I know that many people do not believe there is a heaven and hell but the Bible clearly teaches that both exist.
Heaven is the place reserved for those who have followed Jesus Christ while on earth. These will be people who don’t just show up at church on Sunday or go to Bible Study or those who were baptized or confirmed. They will be those who have a relationship with Jesus that acknowledges Him as Lord of their lives.
Heaven is characterized in the Bible as a place of rest (Hebrews 41:1) where there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4). As followers of Christ on earth we will receive new, resurrected, bodies (1 Corinthians 15:44) and we will share in the glory of Christ (1 John 3:2).
Hell is the place where those who do not believe that Jesus Christ died for their sin will take the punishment for their own sin. These people will be eternally separated from God.
Hell is characterized in the Bible with descriptions like, “fiery furnace,” “where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12), and “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:48) There is no mention of rest regarding hell.
In 1 Thessalonians 4 Paul tells them to encourage each other with the truth of Christ’s return and the fact that He will take those who are alive “in Christ” with Him to heaven. “In Christ” is a just a way of indicating that the relationship is already there. Those are the children of God. Jesus said that He is the Father, we are in Him and He is in us (John 14:20).
We know that this life will be hard. There will be trials and persecution for the believer. There will be death, sorrow, crying, and pain for everyone. As followers of Christ we have a great hope in knowing what heaven holds for us, these things will be no more. This is encouraging, a time to look forward to!
Hebrews 12:2-3 says, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”
Christ endured the cross to pay for our sin because of the joy that was waiting for Him because of His obedience. If we can obediently endure this life and the trials that the Lord gives us here, we, too, will reach that place of joy with God in heaven. This may require real discipline, hard work, and perseverance through difficult circumstances. Clearly, the Bible tells us that if we do all as unto the Lord while we are here, the rewards of heaven will be many and great.
Heaven is the joy that God has set before you and me. We can look forward to a time of absolute joy, peace, and love that will make every trial here worth the wait to get there.
Salvation is the ticket into heaven. Obedience is the key to eternal rewards and a place in heaven close to the Lord God Almighty!
What more encouragement do we need?