Heaven's Borders

The gospel of Jesus Christ deals with a person’s past, present, and future state. Many believers spend much of their earthly journey focusing on what Jesus has done for them in the past and what he is doing in the present but give little thought to what he is preparing to do.

This perspective presents a twofold problem for the Christian:

1. First, it creates an unhealthy prioritization of this world, which is transient and lacks eternal qualities (2 Cor 4:18). 
2. Second, when Christians encounter difficulties in this world, facing the headwinds requires a firm grasp on God’s promises for the future.     

To be clear, Christ’s work on the cross, specifically his death, burial, and resurrection, reaches into the believer's past while also supernaturally stretching into the future, atoning for sins and creating peace with God (Rom 3:25, 5:1). The Spirit intervenes in the present, conforming believers to the image of the Son, transforming their desires to pursue holy living (Rom 8:29, Heb 12:1-2). However, the gospel extends beyond earthly existence, promising a perfected condition and a flawless future (1 Cor 15:42, Isa 65:17-25, Rev 21:1-4). Growing in these three dimensions of the gospel and their relation to the human condition is crucial to disciples' spiritual maturity.

As Job discovered, God generally does not disclose the rationale and reasons for seasons of tremendous difficulty. Instead, the Bible is unambiguous: future promises temper present troubles (2 Pet 3:13). The departed Reformed Presbyterian Pastor R.C. Sproul said it this way: “The promises of God for tomorrow are the anchor for believers today.” For this reason, in times of grief and suffering, relief and reassurance arrive when God’s children explore the vast well of passages that emphasize our hope in Christ.

Throughout this series of posts, my objective is to help you encounter God’s glorious promises of what's to come. So, consider this an invitation to join me on a brief journey to cultivate your faith as we explore the coming New Heavens and Earth, which Paul describes as “beyond all comparison” (2 Cor 4:17). 

Today, we begin with Heaven’s 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 human vision. Unlike a trek through the desert, where the scenery remains unchanged for miles, the mountain road offers constant 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, leaving the former behind and adding to the journey's excitement.

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 how many breaths and heartbeats each person has left (Ps 139:16).

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 Jesus accomplished through his death, burial, and resurrection but also includes the future his community will experience (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.

This brief article does not have room to capture the full scope of God’s coming kingdom. Instead, by God’s grace, my aim is to prompt, encourage, and ignite your passion to explore the marvels Scripture reveals about the future. To help the reader on their journey, this article will cover three facts about heaven that every believer should know. In this article, "heaven" refers to the new heavens and earth, the final destination of every believer (Mark 13:31, Rom 8:22, Rev 21, Isa 65:17-25, 2 Pet 3:13).




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 our 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.