Why do we “go to heaven” when we die? Have you ever wondered about that? I have the answer. The reason we go to heaven when we die is because that’s where Jesus is.
Sometimes when I come home from a trip, Emily, my wife, will be out of town. I wander around the house and look at our stuff. I play with our dogs and cats. I walk on the trails behind our house. And none of it quite satisfies me. Because Emily isn’t there. It’s the same stuff and dogs and trails, but because Emily isn’t there, it doesn’t give me the same joy.
Transition to Jesus. If we went to heaven and Jesus wasn’t there, it would be OK… but not great. Now you know of course that heaven makes Disneyworld look like a hole in the ground in comparison. I mean the glories of heaven far surpass the all the delights of earth, but if Jesus isn’t there, I don’t want to go. I’m not kidding! But happily, Jesus says this: “I’ll return and take you to be with me where I am.” John 14:3. Yes! I love that promise.
So that’s why we go to heaven. Jesus is there. End of story.
Hey, you’re a good reader to get to this point. Talk to you later.
Dear Sir:
I am a preteen teacher, and I want so much for my preteens to want Jesus to be in their lives, and I want them to understand how their lives change and become so great if they allow Christ to be the major part of who they are and who they can be. I read your article on heaven, and about your life and how it relates to Jesus. I would like to develop a card ministry for my kids. Could you please tell me what you think of that. Kids like to send cards to their friends, and I would like to help them. I would like to develop a card line for my preteens to share with their friends who are facing problems in today’s world. Could you tell me what you think. I want to do this as an aid to children.
Hi Mary Jane,
I don’t know any kids that send cards. I do know kids who call each other, those who email and tweet. I don’t think a card line is the way to go. Maybe God wants you to and if so, ignore what I just said! But I’m sure it’s OK to look at how the kids interact with each other and using those observations to evaluate ideas for encouraging kids to walk with Jesus in a deeper, more surrendered way.