“Heaven is going to be the home we’ve always dreamed of,” writes Anne Graham Lotz in her book “Heaven: My Father’s House,” published in 2001.

In this book, Lotz reminds us of Jesus’ promise, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3).

She describes heaven as a “prepared place for a prepared people.” How do people prepare for heaven? Her father, the Rev. Billy Graham, once said, “Only one answer will give a person the certain privilege, the joy, of entering heaven. ‘Because I have believed in Jesus Christ and accepted Him as my Savior.’ ’’

Anne Graham Lotz writes, “The Bible assures us that our Father’s House in heaven does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light…The Father has left the light on to welcome you Home!” (Revelation 22:4)

The Bible tells us things that will not be in heaven. “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

In the past several years, friends and family members have battled health problems; some loved ones have gone on to that beautiful, eternal home. Romans 8:18 reminds us that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

I recently heard a story about a little boy who asked his dad an important question.

One morning, he wanted to know what heaven will look like.

The father replied, “This afternoon while you are under the deck playing with your trucks, look up and see what is underneath that floorboard.”

The youngster did what his father said. When he looked up, he saw nothing but spider webs and dirt dobbers’ nests.

When his father returned home from work, the son told him he had done what his dad had told him, but he didn’t understand it. His father promised he would give him the answer after supper. By then the stars sparkled in the sky. The father and son stood still beneath the moonlit night. “Remember I told you to look up while you were underneath that deck and see what lies beneath the floorboard? I want you to look up now. You see how beautiful that night sky is? I can’t tell you what heaven looks like, but that, my son, is just the floorboard.”

Billy Graham has said, “The most thrilling thing about heaven is that Jesus will be there and I will see Him face to face. Jesus Christ will meet us at the end of life’s journey.”

Are you prepared to go to heaven when your life’s journey ends?

 

– Jan White is an award-winning columnist. She can be reached at jwhite@andycable.com.