In 1998 a country song was released which declared, “There’s holes in the floor of Heaven.” Through these holes in Heaven’s floorboards the deceased can see their loved ones on earth andwatch over them. Songs like this seem to accuratley capture the popular beliefs about heaven. Thoughtful consideration of what many think about Heaven makes it sound like a fictional place. Heaven can seem like a fantasy offered to comfort grieving people. Parents tell misbehaving children, “Santa Clause is coming” and well-wishers tell grieving friends, “She’s in a better place.” For many heaven is in the same category as Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. The Bible treats Heaven as a real place, inhabited by real beings and really reserved for Christians.

Little is said in Scripture about what Heaven looks like, but much is said about Heaven. The Bible declares that Heaven as a real place created by God on the first day of creation. (Genesis 1:1) Heaven is the native home of angels. (Matthew 18:10) Heaven is the resting place of deceased saints. (Revelation 7:9, 14) Heaven is the place where God dwells. (Isaiah 66:1) God descends from Heaven to answer the prayer of his people. (Psalm 18:6-9) Jesus left Heaven from to become a man (John 3:13) and He returned to Heaven after his resurrection. (Eph. 4:7-8) Jesus sent the Holy Spirit from heaven (1 Peter 1:12) to dwell in the Christian. (John 14:17) The Christian’s rewards and treasures are kept secure in Heaven. (1 Peter 1:4) God sends out His judgment from Heaven to fall upon the world. (Revelation 15:5-7) Jesus will descend from Heaven to destroy wickedness and establish His righteous kingdom. (Revelation 19:11)

Heaven is not a fantasy land. Heaven is not another name for Valhalla, the Happy Hunting Grounds, Elysium, Shangri-La or Nirvana. Heaven is not a fool’s paradise. Heaven is a real place created and inhabited by God, described in the Bible and promised to all who receive Jesus as salvation. The assurance that believers go to heaven when they die is not an empty platitude designed solely to make people feel better. The promise of Heaven is unshakable truth on which all can build their lives.

Heaven is for real. God told us so.