Living with a Heavenly View
By Ryan Dawson
Have you ever paused in the middle of your busy life to truly think about Heaven? The Bible gives us glimpses of the place God has prepared for His people, but too often, we treat Heaven as an abstract idea rather than a real, tangible future.
Jesus Himself said, "In My Father’s house are many rooms… I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2-3). These words should stir hope and curiosity in us. Heaven is not just a distant dream; it is a real destination for those who trust in Christ. It's a place of worship, restored relationships, vibrant life, meaningful work, and unending joy because God is there. When we understand the hope of Heaven it helps us live more faithfully and fruitfully in the present. We are learning and leaning into these themes in our current sermon series: The Hope of Heaven.
A couple weeks ago I mentioned Heaven by Randy Alcorn, as a helpful and accessible resource for those who want to explore in more detail what the Bible has to say about Heaven. Alcorn answers common questions and paints a picture of Heaven that helps us long for our eternal home. His insights can shift your perspective, helping you see that Heaven is more than just a reward—it's a continuation of life with God that begins now and lasts forever. Alcorn reminds us… “We were made for a person and a place: Jesus is the person, Heaven is the place.”
I have also found N.T. Wright’s Surprised by Hope to be a robust and inspiring book that helps ground our hope as believers in the reality of what awaits us, while giving us clear directives on how to live as a foretaste of our glorious future. Wright says… “Jesus's resurrection is the beginning of God's new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven. That, after all, is what the Lord's Prayer is about.”
There is also a helpful video series resource on Right Now Media (a free resource for everyone connected to Sequoia) by Chip Ingram The Real Heaven. Check it out if you are looking for some more helpful teaching. For a free account click here.
As you go through your day, take a moment to reflect: What does Heaven mean to me? Am I living with an eternal perspective? Spend some time praying into these questions and reflect on what God is saying to you through our sermon series. Consider checking out one of these resources to help you grow even more.
Heaven is not an escape from the present world, but the fulfillment of all God intended, a place where His people will experience the fullness of joy, peace, and the purpose for which we were created. Every longing we’ve ever had for something greater will be fulfilled in Christ. May this reality fuel your heart with hope today, as you live for Jesus Christ.
Blessings, Ryan
Have you ever paused in the middle of your busy life to truly think about Heaven? The Bible gives us glimpses of the place God has prepared for His people, but too often, we treat Heaven as an abstract idea rather than a real, tangible future.
Jesus Himself said, "In My Father’s house are many rooms… I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2-3). These words should stir hope and curiosity in us. Heaven is not just a distant dream; it is a real destination for those who trust in Christ. It's a place of worship, restored relationships, vibrant life, meaningful work, and unending joy because God is there. When we understand the hope of Heaven it helps us live more faithfully and fruitfully in the present. We are learning and leaning into these themes in our current sermon series: The Hope of Heaven.
A couple weeks ago I mentioned Heaven by Randy Alcorn, as a helpful and accessible resource for those who want to explore in more detail what the Bible has to say about Heaven. Alcorn answers common questions and paints a picture of Heaven that helps us long for our eternal home. His insights can shift your perspective, helping you see that Heaven is more than just a reward—it's a continuation of life with God that begins now and lasts forever. Alcorn reminds us… “We were made for a person and a place: Jesus is the person, Heaven is the place.”
I have also found N.T. Wright’s Surprised by Hope to be a robust and inspiring book that helps ground our hope as believers in the reality of what awaits us, while giving us clear directives on how to live as a foretaste of our glorious future. Wright says… “Jesus's resurrection is the beginning of God's new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven. That, after all, is what the Lord's Prayer is about.”
There is also a helpful video series resource on Right Now Media (a free resource for everyone connected to Sequoia) by Chip Ingram The Real Heaven. Check it out if you are looking for some more helpful teaching. For a free account click here.
As you go through your day, take a moment to reflect: What does Heaven mean to me? Am I living with an eternal perspective? Spend some time praying into these questions and reflect on what God is saying to you through our sermon series. Consider checking out one of these resources to help you grow even more.
Heaven is not an escape from the present world, but the fulfillment of all God intended, a place where His people will experience the fullness of joy, peace, and the purpose for which we were created. Every longing we’ve ever had for something greater will be fulfilled in Christ. May this reality fuel your heart with hope today, as you live for Jesus Christ.
Blessings, Ryan