What Does Heaven Look Like? Part 1 of 3

"I think I would have my own room and not with my brother," says Danielle, 7.

Danielle, if you did share a room with your brother in heaven, you would love every minute. You’ll like heaven’s version of your brother.

"Well, heaven is big. God has a big house, and heaven is really big like a yard," says Carissa, 5.

Yes, "big" is the key word. Heaven enters our hearts when we receive God’s gift of eternal life by believing in Jesus as the only way to heaven. This new life is far more than an eternal life-insurance policy. God wants us to live a big life on Earth before we arrive in heaven. Jesus called this the abundant life.

"Heaven looks like a kingdom. No one dies, and no one cries, and everyone gets a lot of food," says Sam, 5.

Michael, 6, has his ideas about food in heaven, and they’re connected with housing: "My house will be made out of Reese’s Cups, and filled with chocolate."

Perhaps the expression "eating yourself out of house and home" could be taken literally in this case.

"Yellow dogs are in heaven because the streets are made of gold. They are both yellow," says John, 6.

Remember the movie "Old Yeller"? According to John, there will be many Old Yellers in heaven.

We simply don’t know if dogs will bark and run through heaven’s fields, but Caroline,7, has a plan to get her favorite pet past the pearly gates: "I will go up to God and praise him. Then, I will ask him, "If people are suppose to be happy in heaven, then if your pet makes you happy, will your pet be in heaven with you?"

Good logic, Caroline! God knows your heart, and what will make you happy. But when you see Jesus in heaven along with all the spectacular sights and sounds, you might be hard-pressed to remember your pet’s name.

"I think that the streets are gold, the waters are crystal and the houses are made of clouds," says Kristan, 10. "In God’s room, there are TVs so he can see what we’re doing all day."

I doubt there will be television in heaven, but if there is, I can assure you that all the news will be good.

Kristan also mentioned crystal waters. Jesus once told a woman at a well how to have her thirst permanently satisfied: "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water" (John 4:10).

In the New Jerusalem, the river of life will flow from God’s throne. Concerning God’s throne, Stephen, 8, writes, "Jesus has his own chair. No one can sit in his chair, only if he says, ‘Probably, yes.’"

Actually, Jesus will invite some Christians to sit on his throne. Those who overcome are those who have fellowship with the Lord (Revelation 3:21). To sit with Christ on his throne probably means to have a position of authority in his kingdom. There is no greater honor. Jesus will reward faithful believers.

"There is probably a huge temple in heaven," says an anonymous friend. Is there? In the Apostle John’s vision of the New Jerusalem, he wrote, "But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Revelation 21:22).

The temple and all its priestly functions in the old Jerusalem were a shadow of a greater reality. God’s presence dwelt in the temple. When Jesus was born, his name was called "Immanuel," which means "God with us."

My anonymous friend also wrote, "There is a spot up in heaven just waiting for me." Reservations for spots in heaven are being taken now. Make one today!

Bring a KTAG Arts Festival to your church or school. For details, visit the Arts Festivals page at www.kidstalkaboutgod.com. Bible quotations are from the New King James Version.

COPYRIGHT 2002 CAREY KINSOLVING