There are days I wonder about heaven. Heaven is of course a place that the Bible talks about but in some fascinating yet unspecific in many ways. Jesus made reference to heaven many times and of course to hell. His reference to hell was often in symbolism, for example pointing to the burning garbage pile outside the city of Jerusalem as ‘being like’… I have no definition that is final but I also understand that you cannot stop with just a conversation on heaven or hell. I think you have to start with Genesis and creation.

If God’s initial intent was to create man and woman in the best of settings – a beautiful place of warmth, food, peace (the Lamb and the Lion), and His presence. Adam and Eve walk in the garden with God. Imagine that!

When the thief on the cross asks Jesus to remember him when he entered His Kingdom, Jesus assures him that he would be with Him in paradise “today”! So is paradise the in-between? Is there an answer to the question of what happens at death, that is certain? At least we know, that we will be with Jesus.

The Psalms declare that it is called the land of the living! Yes, we are in the land of the dying.

Here’s what I know – I know that there is a place Jesus referred to as heaven. I know that He promised us an eternity with him. I know that forgiveness of my sin(s) (Is sin really a plural, or is a lot of living dotted with and surrounded by sin?) I know that Jesus promised a new heaven and a new earth. I know there’s much that is still a mystery.

I’m not here to do an exhaustive study (yet) of heaven.

And for hell? Well, imagine who will be there? Imagine the worst of humanity, the worst of criminals, the worst of the worst… like who would want to be there?

And there is but one way to eternal life – not various ways, not multiple ways. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me.” That’s why he died upon a cross, that’s why it was HE who promised the thief on the cross that he would be with HIM in paradise.

I remember my Dad picking up on a phrase, which my Mom may have used from time to time. She would say “for heaven’s sake will you….” fill in the blank. He used that in a sermon one Sunday – for heaven’s sake, won’t you be a good witness, be kind, be thoughtful, be saved! Yes, for heaven’s sake, there is much we, as people on The Way should be thinking about.