From the Home Place

October 12, 2025

If I were to open a discussion on the present condition of the United States government, everyone would have an opinion. Everyone would be able to tell me exactly what they think should be done about the present shutdown, and probably with plenty of emotion expressed in said statement! But if I were to ask us to open a discussion on heaven, what would be the comments? Would said comments carry the same emotional energy as the previous question?

I’m sorry to say, that the comments about heaven would probably be way lighter in content and in emotional energy. The simple truth is that very few of us know much at all about heaven, the place where we claim we will spend eternity, while we know much about the world around us today.

When we get to heaven will we have angel wings? Will we spend all of our time singing and worshiping, or will we have other activities? Will we recognize our friends and family members who are also there? Will we have a body, or will we just be a conscious vapor? Will everyone do the exact same thing, the exact same way, for all of eternity? And I’m sure that you can add to the list of questions, yet the answers are extremely lacking.

But let’s be fair, of course we know more about the world we have lived in all of our years, and little about a place we have never experienced. When was the last time your pastor taught about heaven during a sermon series? Have you ever attended a Bible study about your eternal home? You see we all have a view on the known, and a faint opinion on the unknown.

Today, our Sunday School and small groups will begin such a study. We are going to look into the Bible for answers about heaven. I’ll admit, it is probably going to be the most difficult class I have ever taught, but I’m sure it will also be one of the most informative. After all, if we start knowing only 5% about heaven, an improvement of 50% will be significant.

So, for the next few weeks, we too will look into heaven through this blog, praying the Holy Spirit will roll back our misconceptions while opening our eyes to biblical truth!

For today, one verse: “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set you mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

Wow, there is enough said within these four verses to last us for several days. So here is what I want you to do please. Spend the next week breaking apart these verses. Study them one word, one thought at a time. Ask questions, pray for answers. Depend upon the leading of the Holy Spirit, “do not lean upon your own understanding.” Ask the Sprit to help us see the truth of these verses through His heavenly eyes, and not through our earth-bound eyes.

So for today, consider the first word, “Therefore.” As we have all been taught “anytime we find the word ‘therefore’ in a Bible verse, we have to determine what it is there for?” So, today’s assignment is to read and chew on the previous chapter to determine the “therefore”. As you read Colossians 2, focus upon your position in Christ and the truth He brings verses the opinion of man.

Please know, I’ll be praying for you as we delve into better understanding heaven, and I for sure would appreciate your prayers for me as I write each day.

Blessings, Neal