In a recent social media exchange, a fellow pastor made a crucial point about the nuanced understanding of our eternal existence. In the post, he referred to the common and erroneous idea that we will dwell in Heaven as spirits. He said, "You're not a spirit; Heaven isn't your home. This erroneous thinking is at the heart of pietism's cultural escapism, which has wreaked havoc on every nation it's ever infected."

I fully agree with the intent of his comment, yet I also recognize the challenge of conveying complex theological truths through a single Facebook post. When discussing something as profound as Heaven, social media often impacts the ability to give the necessary depth and clarity. In this case, I am afraid his zeal to teach the truth about Heaven seemingly led him to contradict Scripture.

For example, Philippians 3:20-21 speaks clearly of our citizenship in Heaven: "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory..." 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 reminds us: "For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from Heaven." These passages, often cited in discussions about our eternal home, reinforce the idea that Heaven is our ultimate destination.

But does this mean we are destined for an ethereal, intangible existence, floating on clouds, playing harps forever? The answer, of course, is no. While Heaven is our home in that it represents the place where we will dwell with God forever, the reality of our eternal existence is far more tangible than many may realize.

Heaven Is Our Home—But Not in the Way We Might Think

As believers, we are right to call Heaven our home, especially considering the fallen nature of our current world and Satan's temporary rule over it (Matthew 4:8-10; Ephesians 2:1-3). Marred by sin and corruption, this world is not where our ultimate hope lies. We long for the day when we will be with Christ in Heaven, free from the pain and brokenness of this present age. This longing is legitimate, as Scripture encourages us to fix our eyes on the eternal, not the temporal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Yet, we must be cautious about allowing Platonic ideas of an ethereal, disembodied existence to influence our view of eternity. The notion of spending eternity as angelic spirits, separated from the physical world, is a distortion that has caused much confusion in the church. This misconception has led many, including myself, to feel disconnected from the idea of Heaven. After all, an eternal worship service or a life of cloud-sitting and harp-playing hardly sounds appealing, even to those who love worship.

The New Heavens and New Earth: A Physical and Spiritual Reality

Thankfully, the biblical picture of our eternal future is far more compelling and satisfying than these false ideas. Revelation 21:1-4 paints a stunning portrait of the new heavens and the new earth, where God Himself will dwell among His people: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first Heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.'"

What we see here is not an abandonment of the physical world but a restoration. The new earth will be our eternal home, and it will be a place of material blessing and beauty. Just as Jesus was raised with a glorified body, so too will we be raised to live in a physical world, fully restored and free from the curse of sin. Our existence will be physical, but it will also be deeply spiritual. We will worship God in perfect harmony, enjoying a relationship with Him that surpasses anything we can experience now.

Living in Light of Our Eternal Hope

As we continue to study and teach God's Word, we must communicate the full scope of our eternal hope. Heaven is our home, but it is not the final, ethereal destination some have imagined. It is an actual, physical existence where we will dwell with God forever, fulfilling the purpose He had for us from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

In conclusion, may we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, continue to grow in our understanding of these truths, helping others to grasp the full beauty of God's plan for His people. Our eternal future is not something to misunderstand or question but rather a glorious reality to anticipate with joy and longing.

In my comment to my brother in Christ, I told him I appreciate his willingness to challenge our thinking and lead us to a deeper understanding of God's Word. With him, may all the faithful brethren press on to guide others in knowing and loving our Savior more as we approach the day when the heavenly city of Jerusalem descends, and Heaven and Earth join together.