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Do you want your fear to subside, then take a few seconds to obey a command found in Colossians 3:1. It says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (NIV) Where is Christ seated right now? The answer is—in heaven. In the New Testament the word “heart” is most often synonymous with the word “mind”. Paul is telling us to set your minds on heaven. Have you obeyed this command lately?

When was the last time that you consciously set your mind on heaven?

Can you remember when that was? If you are like me, the last time was when I attended a funeral. Obviously, we do that because it brings us comfort and perspective. Except for funerals, I rarely thought about heaven or where I was heading for all eternity.

If I really believed that I’m going to spend eternity (that’s forever) in some other place you’d think I would want to learn about that place.

Not only is not thinking about heaven inconsistent with Colossians’ command, but it doesn’t make any sense.  It’s like being an Astronaut headed for Mars. After years of extensive training with your NASA team, the launch date finally arrives. As the rocket lifts off, one of your fellow astronauts says to you, “What do you know about Mars?” Imagine shrugging your shoulders and saying, “Not very much. We never really talked about it. I guess we’ll find out when we get there.” It’s unthinkable, isn’t it? It’s inconceivable that your training would not have included extensive study and preparation for your ultimate destination.

So, let’s set our minds on heaven for a few moments.

Let’s be encouraged and inspired as we reflect on where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. According to Jesus (John 14:1-3), He has been “preparing a place for us” for over 1900 years. It must be incredible and notice that it is a “place” (implying a physical place, since we’ll be given new resurrected physical bodies).

When it comes to thinking about heaven—we cannot anticipate or desire what we cannot imagine. So I’d like to suggest that we use our spiritual imaginations and take a walk down the streets of heaven. The picture I’m about to describe to you can be supported by Scriptures just like the “streets of gold” that we all know about. In your mind’s eye imagine your house in heaven; you’re looking out your window. You decide to step outside and take a walk. You meet some of your friends. Together you decide to use your God-given skills to paint or draw or build a shed or write a book. But imagine it—all of it—in its original condition. The happy dog with the wagging tail, not the snarling beast, beaten and starved. The flowers unwilted, the grass undying, the blue sky without pollution. People smiling and joyful, not angry, depressed, and empty. If you’re not in a particularly beautiful place, close your eyes and envision the most beautiful place you’ve ever been—complete with palm trees, raging rivers, jagged mountains, waterfalls, or snow drifts.

Think of friends or family members who love Jesus and are with Him now. Picture them with you, walking together in this place. All of you have powerful bodies, stronger than those of an Olympic athlete. You are laughing, playing, talking and reminiscing. You reach up to a tree to pick and apple or orange. You take a bite. It’s so sweet that it’s startling. You’ve never tasted anything so good. Now you see someone coming toward you. It’s Jesus, with a big smile on his face. You fall to your knees in worship. He pulls you up and embraces you.
At last, you’re with the person you were made for, in the place you were made to be. Everywhere you go there will be new people and places to enjoy, new things to discover. What’s that you smell” A feast. A party’s ahead. And you’re invited. There’s exploration and work to be done—and you can’t wait to get started.

If this is what heaven is like then we have a lot to look forward to. Not only that but we have little to fear on this earth. The Bible calls that our blessed hope and it encourages us and inspires us to set our minds on heaven so that we can bring this world into proper perspective. Have you ever met someone who was so heavenly minded that they weren’t any earthly good? I never have! I suspect that we’ve been lied to about this.  So let’s begin the journey of setting our minds on heaven and look past the earthly concerns and fears. Let’s allow God to use us, for His glory, to impact this present world while we still have time and are still here.

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