What Does Luke say About Heaven? (Part 1)

Roles Jesus Played on Earth, Fear of Death & More About Heaven

Welcome, new and current friends. Wishing you a blessed Lent and Easter Season. This was supposed to be only one post, but I am finding so many good things to delve into, it will need to be a two-parter. :-)

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We’ve talked before about Jesus, who was human and God while here, likely longed for heaven and His Father. Although He knew He’d return to Him someday, we also know He still had trepidation about the process, even to the point of asking the Father to take the job of dying for our sins away from Him. (Matthew 26:39) Although He ended that plea as many of us do: “Your will, Father, be done.”

That strikes me as very similar to what we often feel. I know that before I visited heaven, I absolutely felt the same. Sometimes, I still do. When I visited, I literally just closed my eyes and was at heaven’s gates that fast, but of course, it doesn’t mean my final journey will be the same!

Here is what some people feel:

In a 2021 British study, Women aged 25-39 (56%) were the most likely to say they fear death, while this falls to a quarter (26%) among men aged 60+. This study has some interesting results for those who like the science behind things. As I am more faith-based than science-based, I won’t spend more time on it in this post, but you can view it here.

I've been through enough stuff (now) to know that the Lord will take me through whatever I face, no matter how hard. And I no longer fear it. But, I still would like to go quickly! -Linda

It surely is a desire to go quietly. I have asked to go in His time when my work is done. I’ve asked Him also to make sure my kids are ready. -Lea

What do we know about heaven from Luke?

I can’t take your fear away, but my hope is that you see the great things that await you as a Believer when you read my words, and the words of others who’ve been to heaven and back. Much of my absorption of Heaven Facts, of course, comes from His Word. For the past couple of months, I’ve been studying the book of Luke, and within it, I learned that Jesus has a lot to say about our future home.

It requires faith.

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” Luke 13:18-19

I find it interesting that Jesus is also struck with struggling for comparison in human terms. So many of us who’ve been there say the same. Even our most extended and amazing vocabulary cannot truly describe the greatness of Heaven. That’s only right, it seems to me. But makes communicating about the experience more difficult.

And yes, there are trees and birds in heaven!

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17

It is complete.

Again, he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Luke 13:20-21

We will want for nothing in heaven. Complete means more replete than we have ever been here on earth.

Many will try to enter.

Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’” Luke 13:23-24

The Narrow Way is sadly not for all humans. But these verses speak to the intense desire that people will feel to enter therein.

Great rewards and fulfillment await us there.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35

AND

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:37-38

And of course, I can’t add one of the most famous passages of all without adding the other parts that He includes. :-(

But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. Luke 6: 24-36

Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. Luke 6:17-23

Did you know that God has a sense of humor? He does indeed, and He uses it. My friend, Linda, visited Him and was so in awe that she said, “I just want to follow you around like a little puppy dog.” He leaned close to her ear and replied, “I just want to follow you around like a puppy dog.”

Isn’t that beautiful? It gives me both a smile and goosebumps.

Those who don’t land in heaven may still get a peek.

There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves (are) thrown out. Luke 13:28 NIV

Children are honored there, including the pre-born.

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:15-16

In many near-death experiences, we see Him honoring kids in heaven. Some accounts even say that children and the pre-born are aged to a “prime adult age” in heaven.

Debby and Diane were Vicki’s blind schoolmates, who had died years before at ages eleven and six…they were no longer children, but “in their prime”. (Imagine Heaven by John Burke, page 34)

Suddenly, I recognized all these relatives. They were all around thirty-five years old, including the little brother I never had known, because he had died at the age of two. (Imagine Heaven by John Burke, page 94)

Colton Burpo, a four-year-old who had surgery for a ruptured appendix, later told his folks that he met a sister in heaven. She was walking, talking, and hugging him. She looked like his other sister, still on earth, except for a difference in hair color. Indeed, his parents had miscarried at a gestation of around eight weeks, but had not told their kids anything about it. (Heaven is for Real, Todd Burpo/Lynn Vincent)

Some salvation happens at the last minute. God honors that.

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43

We’ve also heard this in many near-death experiences. Jim Woodford was one (but there are many) who’d resisted the Lord, and as he was dying, he cried out for God. He did go to heaven, but not without also getting glimpses of Hell. The Lord was very aware of how long this man had avoided Him. (Heaven, An Unexpected Journey by Jim Woodford and Dr. Thom Gardner)

But…it is possible to wait too long.

Sometimes we might get a heads up that something is dangerous, or we get a bad feeling. I didn’t want to admit it, but during that allergic reaction, I knew I was in trouble. Did I think I was dying? No. Thirty years ago, I also came close to death. In fact, my family was told I probably wouldn’t make it, and I likely would have laughed had they mentioned that at the time. But seven months ago, I knew trouble was ahead.

Mary, a surgeon who went to heaven during a kayaking accident, states that ahead of time, she didn’t have a good feeling about the trip. Her friend Anne also had a sense of great unease. (To Heaven and Back, Mary C. Neal, M.D., page 49)

I have never believed in “fear-based preaching/coaching/teaching”, and this is not intended to scare people into making a decision. But please don’t wait that long to invite Him into your life. Some people experience death quickly and unexpectedly. Not all of us get a “caution flag”. Even as I knew I was in trouble seven months ago, I never expected to be visiting heaven less than an hour later.

He gives us knowledge - just read, listen & discern.

He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’” Luke 8:10

They just weren’t getting it. Lessons are usually better absorbed and understood in a story format, and He told a lot of those. But as His children, we have access to more information than others, and more opportunity to study His words. We have the privilege of digging deep, my friends! I hope that you are also taking the opportunity to do so.

We are blessed to have that knowledge and truly see.

Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Luke 10:23

We have authority - but it’s important to keep our gratefulness where it belongs.

He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:18-20

He reminds us also where our worship belongs.

As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:27

That woman in the crowd was perhaps an underappreciated mother. But Jesus quickly reminds her of the priority.

There is rejoicing in heaven when even one sinner repents.

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:4-7

He goes on to present the Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10) and The Lost Son (Luke 15:11-31), both with the same concepts. But the longest parable here is the one about the human being who returns.

What about His return?

Jesus’ return will be a surprise and create an atmospheric, worldwide change. And it will be obvious to those who believe.

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:26-30

Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man, in his day, it will be like lightning flashing and lighting up the sky from one end to the other.” Luke 17:22-24

The roles of Jesus

He played the following roles in the first half of Luke.

• The Underdog - He was ostracized, rejected, unwelcome, called names, sneered at, made fun of, and some people feared Him. (Luke 7:34; Luke 4:29-30, Luke 9:22, Luke 9:53, Luke 16:14) But He stood up for others. (Luke 7:26-28)

• Reality Check Dude - He was in charge of telling people they had to leave (and in some cases hate) their families. Ouch! (Luke 9:3, Luke 14:26) Because following Him can (and perhaps should) cost every earthly thing. (Luke 14:33)

• One Irked Mortal - He showed frustration at their perversity and unbelief. (Luke 9:41)

• A Manager with a Staffing Shortage (he still has this issue, I suspect, because He sends some of us home from heaven to get busy) - There were few workers to fill the great need. (Luke 10:2-3)

• Bad News Breaker - He also got to tell people they were going to land in hell, even as He loved them all. (Luke 10:15) He informed them that they would be held responsible for all the blood of the prophets shed in generations before. (Luke 11:50-51) He apprised them that things done in the deepest, darkest way will be revealed. And that they might be beaten by morning, if not dead. (Luke 12:2-3, Luke 12:20; 48) (If that isn’t a warning of sudden death, I don’t know what is).

• Sly Dog Dodger - He then had to put up with their constant questions and attempts to trip Him up. (Luke 11:54)

• Mediator & Correctional Officer - Jesus was asked to solve sibling rivalry. (Luke 12:13-14) And later, advised people that if they didn’t reconcile their wrongs, they could end up in prison. (Luke 12:57-59) Oh, and they were going to die, too. (Luke 13: 3). (GET WITH THE PROGRAM, people!)

• Weary & Tired - Sick of the *rap - Just wanted it over with. (Luke 12:49-50) What is the opposite of the Energizer Bunny? I started to get a clever here in my thoughts, but don’t want readers to feel I am being disrespectful. :-)

• The Caller-Outer - Jesus told them they were hypocrites (and maybe hinted at “dumb”)? They knew how to interpret the stars but remained blind to what was coming. (Luke 12:56) And while working on it, they also acted like complaining children. (Luke 7:31-32)

• The Bullied - He was told that he should never heal on the Sabbath. He instead focused on a sick woman’s eight years of misery. People were more important than the day. (Luke 13:15-16). The rest then felt ashamed for bringing it up. Later in Luke 14, He asks them if it is illegal to heal on the Sabbath (respectful, I thought) when a man at the Pharisee’s house had abnormal swelling. This time, they declined to comment. Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath too.

• The Fugitive - Herod then decides to kill Him. Jesus has stirred up enough trouble. (Luke 13:31) If this were in the day of cell phones and social media, I suspect his texts, calls, and feeds would have been full of warnings and pleas to flee. He did have a few Pharisees warn Him verbally, which is interesting. Guess all that lovin’-them paid off.

• Goal Follower & Achiever - Jesus promptly told the news-senders that He had only that day and two more days of work. He wouldn’t be available for those concerns until His goal of healing and driving out demons was met on the third day. “I must press on.” (Luke 13:32-33). I wonder if he even slept during those three days?

• Zero Star Review Guy - As mentioned above, He welcomed sinners, loved them, and ate with them, and the rest just didn’t get it. (Luke 15:2) But aren’t you incredibly grateful that He is a God of the downtrodden and sinful people? By choosing this, He made the way for little ‘ole me.

• The Counselor - There were many basic truths He needed to instruct them on, including “if one is trustworthy in small things, they will be trustworthy in big things. But at the same time, the opposite is also true.” (Luke 16:10-12)

• Supporter of Women - Specifically in this passage, He puts marital responsibility onto the men and reminds them that leaving one’s wife for another is not acceptable. (Luke 16:18)

Jesus sincerely loves all. You can’t tell me that the God Who met me in Heaven does not want everyone there with Him. He does. His voice reflected sadness when giving me instructions to return. I realize now that the day we are finally all gathered will be the best day for Him - and us!

I also wonder if there was another benefit of Jesus spending time on this earth with us, other than saving us all from the result of our dastardly deeds. Do you suppose part of the Father’s plan was to help Jesus:

• Desire what we desire,

• Face temptations as we do,

• Endure the same emotions we experience and understand why,

• Confront the hardships of this world,

• Show the power of God over satan?

I mean, in addition to the burden of knowing He was going to be abused and killed eventually, He experienced life as we know it, including the bad times.

There are a multitude of verses that speak of His emotions, love, and compassion while He was here on earth experiencing life as both human and God. Yeah, I wonder if that was part of the Father’s plan.

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Links are affiliate links and offer a small amount of credit at Amazon so I can continue my heaven research.

All Bible verses I use in my post are courtesy of the New International Version, first published by Zondervan.

WEB DESIGN - I just completed a second website for a wonderful client. I met Christine a few years ago when her current Godspace Light site needed help. Turns out, Christine and Tom Sine are authors. And as we talked, I remembered that while growing up, my folks had some of their books in our home and church library. The new site is for her Liturgical Rebels Podcast. It only needs a few more tweaks, and after that, I will be available to design a new site. Email me if you are interested in chatting more.

HEAVEN SONGS - Awww, thanks to those who are listening to my playlist of heaven songs on YouTube. I hope it helps keep you eternally focused as it does for me. Don’t forget to recommend songs if you find a great one!

I am off to a meet with a gal who wants to buy me a tea! Fun!

(I fully expect and desire for you to check up on me spiritually.) :-)