There are many reasons why we want to go to heaven. In this article I want to set down a few of those reasons, hoping that they induce others to want to go.

Do Not Want to Go to Hell

I am sure that no rational person wants to go to hell. Hell will be much worse than we can conceive. The punishment will be awful. The remorse will be terrible. "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 8:12). "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mk. 9:48). Who would want to go to such a terrible place? Becoming a Christian to keep out of hell may not be a very high motive, but it is a motive.

Heaven Will Not be Crowded

There will be plenty of room in heaven. Our heavenly Father will make provision for all who will be saved. On the saddest of sad nights Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. . . . And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (Jn. 14:2,3). There are many mansions over there. I want to be there in one of them throughout a never-ending eternity. "And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it arc equal" (Rev. 21:6).

Heaven Is a Beautiful Place

The beauty of heaven is beyond compare. This old world in which we live now is a beautiful place. I am writing this on a glorious day. The sun is shining beautifully, the birds are singing, and the grass is green. But the beauties of this earth are not comparable to what God has in store for us. This earth is marred by sin and death. There will be no sin there, and death will never come. Here we have pain and sadness. There are no pains and sadness in heaven. Here we have tears and broken hearts. There will be no tears in heaven, and hearts will never be sad and broken. Here we must be separated from those whom we love dearer than life. There will be no separations in heaven.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Rev. 21:4). "And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there (Rev. 21:25).

Comfort and Rest in Heaven

We need comfort here. Our real friends try to comfort us, but our comfort will be complete in heaven. We get tired and weary here. There is no time to rest, and we could not rest completely if there were time. We shall know what sweet rest is in heaven. We are in the midst of the fight now. Rest will come after the battles are won.

Invited and Welcome

What a wonderful thought to think that God has invited poor souls to heaven. Hear the gracious invitation: "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of the life freely" (Rev. 22:17). "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isa. 1: IS). How can we spurn the invitation of God? Friend, do not do it.

Its Companionships

Heaven will be sweet because of its endearing companionships. To think of being with characters such as Abraham, Moses, and Paul! To spend a week with Paul ought to be inducement enough to cause us to want to go to heaven. And the blessed Christ! To think what it will be! And we shall meet our faithful brethren and loved ones who have gone on before.

How to Reach It?

We must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. At every opportunity we must confess him. What we do with him here will determine what he will do with us there. We must turn from all manner of sin. To have our sins forgiven we must be buried with Christ in baptism. When we are baptized, we are raised to walk in newness of life. The old things are become new. At every opportunity we must meet with those of like faith to worship God in spirit and in truth. This course will bring us home at last. Glorious consummation! (Reprinted from Gospel Advocate [18 March 1948], p. 276).

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 20, p. 632
October 17, 1991