{"id":4836,"date":"2019-09-05T15:25:34","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T22:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/?post_type=portfolio&p=4836"},"modified":"2019-09-05T15:25:39","modified_gmt":"2019-09-05T22:25:39","slug":"5answers","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/gospel-express\/5answers\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Answers from Billy Graham on Heaven"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Billy Graham<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We all know this life will come to an end.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re coping with the loss of a loved one or have questions about your own mortality and the hereafter, these answers on heaven from Billy Graham may help.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Q:\u00a0What happens to us in the first minute after we die? Do we enter heaven immediately, or do our souls go into some kind of a sleep?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong>The Bible doesn\u2019t answer all our questions about heaven and life after death\u2014and the reason is because our minds are limited and heaven is far too glorious for us to understand. Some day, all of our questions will be answered\u2014but not yet. As the Apostle Paul wrote, \u201cNow I know in part; then I shall know fully\u201d (1 Corinthians 13:12).<\/p>\n

However, the Bible certainly does indicate that when we die we enter immediately into God\u2019s presence if we belong to Christ. From our earthly point of view, death looks somewhat like sleep\u2014but not from God\u2019s point of view. Paul declared, \u201cWe are confident (of eternal life), I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:8). Elsewhere he wrote, \u201cI desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far\u201d (Philippians 1:23).<\/p>\n

Later, we will be given new bodies\u2014bodies that will never age or be subject to death, because they will be like Christ\u2019s resurrection body. As the Bible says, \u201cThe dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed\u201d (1 Corinthians 15:52).<\/p>\n

Is your hope in Christ? Death is a reality\u2014but so is God\u2019s offer of salvation in Christ. Don\u2019t put off your decision for Him, because you could be called into eternity at any moment\u2014and then it will be too late.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t wait; invite Christ into your life today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: Will we recognize our loved ones in heaven? Will they recognize us?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong>I have no doubt that in heaven your mother will recognize you, and you will recognize her\u2014even if you never knew each other on earth. When King David\u2019s infant son died, David declared, \u201cI will go to him\u201d (2 Samuel 12:23).<\/p>\n

Perhaps you are thinking of Isaiah 65:17: \u201cBehold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.\u201d But this verse has nothing to do with whether or not we will be reunited with our loved ones in heaven if we know Christ. Instead, it gives us a great promise: Someday all the sins and pains and failures of this world will be over, and we will be with Christ forever.<\/p>\n

More than that, God has promised that in heaven nothing\u2014even the memory of this world\u2019s sin and pain\u2014will cast a shadow over the joy He has in store for us there. Think about that for a moment. In this world, even the memory of what someone did to us years ago can still cause us pain. But that won\u2019t be true in heaven, because our focus won\u2019t be on the past but on Christ and what He means to us.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, make it your goal to walk with Jesus every day. Do you know Him? If not, make your commitment to Him today. Then take comfort in His promise: \u201cI am going there (to heaven) to prepare a place for you\u201d (John 14:2).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Q: When we get to heaven, will we know what\u2019s happening on earth? If so, how can we be happy with all the misery in the world?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong>The Bible doesn\u2019t answer all our questions about heaven\u2014and we don\u2019t know exactly how much knowledge those in heaven have about what happens here. The Bible does say that \u201cwe are surrounded by \u2026 a great cloud of witnesses\u201d (i.e., those who have already entered heaven) but it isn\u2019t clear if this means they are able to observe our lives (Hebrews 12:1).<\/p>\n

But what we do know about heaven is that we will be with God\u2014and because of that, heaven is a place of supreme joy. The Bible says, \u201cYou will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand\u201d (Psalm 16:11). And even if we do see something of what is happening on earth, we\u2019ll see the whole picture then, and we\u2019ll realize how it all fits in with God\u2019s eternal plan. We\u2019ll realize too that evil and death will be defeated, and Christ will be victorious. That will give us joy!<\/p>\n

Heaven is the heritage of every believer\u2014because Christ conquered death and Hell and Satan by His resurrection from the dead. Have you put your faith and trust in Him for your salvation? Make sure of your eternal destiny by turning to Christ in repentance and faith, and committing your life to Him.<\/p>\n

Then ask God to use you to encourage others who are overwhelmed by life\u2019s burdens. Yes, our world is full of misery\u2014but God wants to use you to point others to Christ, who alone can give us hope and new life.<\/p>\n

Be sure of your eternal destiny today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Q: Does an angel accompany us into heaven when we die?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong>\u00a0Yes, the Bible indicates that when a believer dies, the angels will escort them safely into Heaven.<\/p>\n

In one of His parables, for example, Jesus told about two very different men. One was a rich man, who lived only for himself and ignored both God and others. The other was a poor beggar who had nothing as far as this world\u2019s goods were concerned, but had faith in God and His promises. When the rich man died, he received what he deserved: a life of misery, separated from God forever. But when the poor man died, the angels accompanied him safely into God\u2019s presence. (You can read this parable in Luke 16:19-31.)<\/p>\n

Although we may not see them or even be aware of their presence, God\u2019s angels are real, and when we know Christ, we know they are always with us to safeguard us from Satan\u2019s attacks. If they safeguard us now, can\u2019t they also be trusted to safeguard our journey to Heaven? Of course. The Bible says, \u201cAre not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?\u201d (Hebrews 1:14).<\/p>\n

Never forget, however, that Christ alone is our Savior, and He alone is the one in whom we are to place our faith and trust. We should be grateful for God\u2019s angels, but we are not to worship them or make them (instead of Christ) the center of our faith. Is Christ the center of your faith? Make sure of your commitment to Him. Then put your confidence in God\u2019s promise: \u201cFor He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways\u201d (Psalm 91:11).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Q: Will there be animals in heaven?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong>\u00a0Heaven will be a place of perfect happiness for us\u2014and if we need animals around us to make our happiness complete, then you can be sure God will have them there.<\/p>\n

Heaven will be glorious\u2014far beyond anything we can fully imagine. It will be glorious first of all because it will be perfect. All the sufferings, conflicts and disappointments of this life will be over, and death will no longer exist. Sin will be banished, and Satan will never again have any influence over our lives. One of the Bible\u2019s greatest promises declares, \u201cThere will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away\u201d (Revelation 21:4).<\/p>\n

But heaven will be glorious most of all because we\u2019ll be in the presence of God and of Jesus Christ. Even the most glorious thing we can imagine on earth or in the heavens is but a pale reflection of the glory of God. Think of it: If you know Christ, some day you will be with Him forever!<\/p>\n

But the Bible also promises that at the end of time God will bring about a new heaven and a new earth (see 2 Peter 3:13). We will share in that wondrous world, and in that day, many scholars believe, the Bible\u2019s prophecy will be fulfilled: \u201cThe wolf will live with the lamb. \u2026 And the lion will eat straw like the ox\u201d (Isaiah 11:6-7). Is Jesus Christ the source of your hope?<\/p>\n

Be certain of your future in heaven.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Are you going to heaven when you die? Be sure\u00a0today.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":4841,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[],"portfolio_entries":[35],"class_list":["post-4836","portfolio","type-portfolio","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","portfolio_entries-english-writer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio\/4836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/portfolio"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4836"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio\/4836\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4843,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio\/4836\/revisions\/4843"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4841"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4836"},{"taxonomy":"portfolio_entries","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio_entries?post=4836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}