Heavens Borders

Embarking on a road trip through the mountains is an enriching and exhilarating adventure. The journey is a feast for the senses, with every turn revealing a new, breathtaking vista. The landscape is a symphony of majestic peaks and deep valleys stretching beyond the limitation of human vision. Unlike a trek through the desert, where the scenery remains unchanged for miles, the mountain road is a constant source of anticipation, with each bend promising a new, awe-inspiring sight.

The highway unfolds horizon after horizon as the car navigates the rolling hills. The excitement builds as the next panoramic view draws near. When the vehicle crests the summit, it's like crossing a border into a new, unexplored territory. As the peak looms, everything in the rear is momentarily visible, and then, in a thrilling twist, it vanishes. Passing over the peak reveals a new, unseen horizon, and the former is left behind, adding to the excitement of the journey.

Like a car ascending a hill, our earthly existence gradually fades from view as our mortal bodies cease. We cross the borders of heaven, and there's no turning back or reversing. It's an inescapable truth; every human will eventually reach the final bend of earthly life and stand on the precipice of eternity. Only the Lord knows the number of breaths and heartbeats each person has left (Ps 139:16).

Regrettably, many Christians today seldom contemplate what lies beyond the borders of heaven.

Regrettably, many Christians today seldom contemplate what lies beyond the borders of heaven. The Lord's children are not aimless cars on mountain roads, oblivious to the wonders that await beyond the horizon. While God doesn't reveal all the details, he urges us to stand on the mountaintop of Scripture and marvel at the mysteries of the new heavens and earth.

The profound hope of the Christian faith is not limited to what Christ has accomplished through his death, burial, and resurrection but also the future Jesus is preparing and guaranteed for his community (Rev 21). Many non-believers use the term hope in a general sense. From a biblical perspective, hope isn't vague, unclear, or uncertain (1 Thess 4:13). Christians are people of the book, and the time has come for us to grasp the hope that lies beyond heaven's borders.

From a biblical perspective, hope isn't vague, unclear, or uncertain (1 Thess 4:13).

The brevity of this article does not provide ample room to capture the vast details of God’s coming kingdom. Rather, the purpose is to prompt, encourage, and ignite a passion in the reader to explore the marvels that Scripture unveils about the future. To assist the reader in their journey, this article will touch on three facts about heaven that every believer should know. The term "heaven" refers to the new heavens and earth, which are the final destination of every believer (Mark 13:31, Rom 8:22, Rev 21, Isa 65:17-25, 2 Pet 3:13).

First, since mankind's fall, as described in Genesis chapter three, the entire universe has been under the curse of sin. Sin’s plague resulted in a disaster of immeasurable proportion, wreaking havoc on the entirety of God’s creation and separating humanity from the presence of its Creator (Gen 3:14-16). God long ago declared the situation untenable and is preparing to reveal a geographical home where sin and its influence, consequences, and effects will be eternally eradicated.

The Lord tells Isaiah, “For behold,?I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind” (Isa 65:19). Notice that the new heavens and new earth are disconnected from their former version. Motyer, speaking of “the former things,” refers to them as “sorrows…everything that is older, dimmed and diminished as it was by the infection of human sin.”[1] It's almost impossible to imagine living in a world devoid of sin. Sin is pervasive, touching every aspect of life on Earth. The annihilation of sin means the Lord’s children will experience life exactly how God intended, perfect without error or fault.

God long ago declared the situation untenable and is preparing to reveal a geographical home where sin and its influence, consequences, and effects will be eternally eradicated.

Second, living in the new heavens and earth requires a suitable body. For example, astronauts who travel to the moon need a special life-preserving suit because their bodies are not designed to live on the planet. Our current bodies are perishable and designed for Earth. Comparatively, the new heavens and earth are eternal, necessitating a disease-free body without a single health issue or flaw. Paul refers to this as the imperishable body explicitly designed to meet the requirements of God’s kingdom (1 Cor 15:50).

Third and finally, like waters flooding the land, God will inhabit the new heavens and earth entirely. The presence of the Lord will invade and never retreat. Every need will be fulfilled as harmony triumphs over creation and the population walks in the way of the Lord. The curse of the old Earth flees in the presence of Christ, and the ground constantly yields its fruit faultless and insect-free (Isa 65:24).

God’s word is a vast source of hope, providing tremendous assurance for the future and details about the Christian’s final destination.

God’s word is a vast source of hope, providing tremendous assurance for the future and details about the Christian’s final destination. Like a car winding through the mountains, Christians are meant to traverse the words of Scripture, listening to their Master’s voice. The more our eyes behold, and ears hear, the horizon of the celestial city begins to take form. The next time you take a road trip, drive through the highlands, and as you pass over the summit, remember that one day, you will never look back again.

[1] Alec Motyer, J., Alec, Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999).

About the Author

Matthew Ramsey is President of Terralogic Technology Services and also serves as the Pastor of Discipleship at Meadows Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Matthew has a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute, a Master's of Theology from Midwestern Theological Seminary, and is a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry at Liberty University,