Heaven is one of those things for us as Christians that can be so overwhelming, so vague and mysterious that we rarely ever think about it. Yet the scriptures teach that it will be our final destination and that it will be glorious and splendid. So why do we not think about it very often? Why do we talk about it even less often? Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thes 4:13-18) Many will discuss the different possibilities of what exactly heaven will be like, however without getting into all of that, what is clear from this passage above is that being with the Lord forever (in heaven) is something that should encourage us in this life! With that in mind I want to discuss how our view of heaven shapes our daily walk. Day 1. Your understanding of heaven? How does being with God in heaven eternally excite you? In what ways does it seem lack luster? Day 2. Your desire to share heaven? Obviously we do not deserve God's forgiveness and pardon of our sins. Yet he has given it to us in Christ, enabling us to reside with him in perfection, remade anew with him (Rev 21-22). Is the kingdom of God that you now reside in through Christ something that you feel intrinsically selfish about, that you want to keep to yourself, or is it something that you desire to share with others? Why or why not? Day 3. Read 1 Cr 15:50-58 Do you often wonder if your work in the Lord is in vain? Why would Paul tell them (us) to stand firm, to let nothing move them (us)? What tends to move you away from standing firm in the confidence of heaven? Day 4. How does heaven change your perspective? If you belive firmly in the reward of heaven and have confidence in the work of Christ to bring you there (Jn 14), how should it change your daily perspective? Does it? Day 5. Talk to someone about heaven. Today.