Jesus goes back to heaven

Jesus and the disciples were back in Jerusalem. Forty days had passed since Jesus had risen from the dead, and the time had come for Him to return to His Father in heaven.

Jesus led His disciples out of the city to Bethany, where He raised His hands and blessed them.

Then He said to them, “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest places on earth.”

After saying this, Jesus was taken up to heaven and hidden by a cloud.

While the disciples were still looking up, two men dressed in white appeared beside them and said, “Why are you standing here looking up at the sky? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way as you have seen Him go to heaven.”

Where is heaven?

The Bible tells us that heaven is up above us. But in a world that is round, which way is up? Astronauts have travelled into outer space, circled the earth, and returned without seeing heaven. So, is heaven really somewhere above us?

Heaven isn't simply a place somewhere in the sky or beyond the furthest star. It is God's dwelling place, which we cannot find by travelling in a particular direction. God is not limited by the things we can see or understand.

We should also remember that we cannot see heaven with the eyes we have now. Our eyes are not made to see spiritual things. But that doesn’t mean that heaven isn’t real. When Jesus returns, those who have died trusting Him will be raised to life, and those who are still alive will have their bodies transformed (made new). Then, with our new bodies, we will be able to see just how real and beautiful heaven truly is.

Verse for today

I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. Psalm 123:1

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