What Heaven Is Really Like (And Why It Matters Now)
Pastor Kyle Veach
I recently had one of those moments that sticks with you longer than it should. I was eating at Chipotle with someone who had every possible ordering trick memorized—side tortillas, extra bowls, half portions designed to get more food for the same price. It was impressive in a strange way, but also revealing. It made me think about how often we try to get more out of life while giving as little as possible in return.
That moment stuck with me because it reflects something deeper. We don’t just do this with food or money—we do it with life, with faith, and sometimes even with eternity. We want clarity without commitment and blessing without surrender. That’s why this conversation about heaven matters so much. What we believe about where we’re headed shapes how we live right now. If you want to hear this message preached in full, click the link above to watch the sermon.
Where This Is All Headed
In John 14, Jesus speaks directly to the fear and confusion His disciples were feeling. He tells them not to let their hearts be troubled and reminds them that He is preparing a place for them. Then He says something that changes everything:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jesus doesn’t offer directions. He offers Himself. Heaven is real, and Jesus is there, but the focus of His message isn’t about a destination—it’s about access. The way to God is not through effort or morality, but through relationship.
That distinction matters because many people assume heaven is something we earn. Jesus makes it clear that heaven is something we receive.
Three Misconceptions About Heaven
1. misconception #1: Heaven Will Be Boring
One of the most common ideas about heaven is that it will be dull or lifeless. People imagine clouds, robes, harps, and an endless church service. But that picture doesn’t reflect who God is or what Scripture teaches.
God is the source of everything good. Joy, creativity, laughter, beauty, and love all come from Him. Heaven is the absence of sin and the full presence of God, which means it will be more vibrant—not less—than life on earth.
Scripture tells us:
We will recognize one another
We will experience perfect love
We will live without pain, decay, or loss
Heaven isn’t boring. It’s what life was always meant to be.
2. misconception #2: This World Is Your Home
Another misunderstanding is believing that this life is the final destination. It’s easy to think that way because everything we see and experience happens here. But Scripture reminds us that this world is temporary.
Paul writes in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in heaven. That doesn’t mean this life doesn’t matter—it means it isn’t ultimate. Careers, possessions, and even struggles will one day pass away.
Second Corinthians puts it clearly:
“What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
When we forget this, we start living as if everything depends on the present moment. But when we remember where we’re headed, it changes how we hold our time, our priorities, and our worries.
3. misconception #3: Most People Are Going to Heaven Anyway
Many people believe that as long as they’re generally good, heaven is guaranteed. But Scripture doesn’t support that idea.
Romans 3 tells us that everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s standard. The issue has never been behavior—it has always been separation. Sin creates distance between humanity and God, and no amount of effort can close that gap.
That’s why grace matters so much. God doesn’t wait for us to become good enough. Through Jesus, He makes a way for restoration that we could never earn on our own.
The Question Beneath the Question
When Jesus told His disciples He was leaving, their fear wasn’t really about heaven. It was about access to God. For generations, access required priests, sacrifices, and rituals. People didn’t approach God directly—someone had to stand in their place.
So when Jesus said, “I am the way,” He wasn’t offering a new system. He was declaring a new reality. Access to God would no longer depend on performance or ritual. It would depend on Him.
He didn’t say, “Here’s how to get to God.” He said, “I am the way.” That changes everything.
What This Means for Us
The real question isn’t whether heaven exists. The real question is whether the problem has been solved in your life. Are you still trying to reach God through effort or comparison? Or have you received what Jesus already accomplished for you? Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good.
He came to bring distant people home.
Further Resources
Heaven by Randy Alcorn
“Teaching Kids About Eternity” - Focus on the Family
The Bible Project - “Heaven and Earth”
