Is Heaven Greater?

April 2, 2025

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

-Matthew 6:19-24 (NIV)

As Christian believers are you in love with Jesus Christ and do you greatly and eagerly desire his current and future promise of spending eternity with him in heaven?  Perhaps we don’t think about that concept enough.  Lately I’m focusing on God’s heavenly kingdom more and I think we constantly need to bring our perspective of heaven for tomorrow into our faith journey for today. 

I recently had dinner with my wife and at the dinner table she brought-up something I said a while ago and shared, “You mentioned that as we become more Christlike, we will become more disgusted with ourselves.”  I’m going to double-down on that statement and fully affirm it because it’s absolutely true!  In my humble opinion that’s one of the signs of a regenerated heart in Christ.  And the more we fall in love with Jesus, he naturally changes your previous desires such that over time, you will naturally not be interested in sinful behaviours of your former days.  Some people may ask, “Well how does that work?”  To answer that question, I want you to observe the relationship between a healthy married couple that’s been married for many years.  The key word is “healthy” because there are several married couples that are still together, but sadly, their marriage is not healthy.   If you’ve been around healthy married couples that’ve been together for many decades, you may notice that some of them finish each other’s sentences.  I know a couple from a previous ministry charge and they constantly finish each other’s sentences and constantly add their little parts of a story to always tell a combined and singular story.  I used to joke with them all the time and say they were two people, but one mind.

You might’ve also observed several, healthy and longtime married couples develop the same sayings or mannerisms in response to various situations.  Not all, but many of them as husband and wife enjoy many of the same movies, foods, hobbies, entertainment spots, music, vacation destinations, clothing styles, etc. – Now how could all of this be?  The more time you spend with someone you love and share life with, you tend to emulate that person you love and appreciate and understand their quirks and you receive joy from sharing experiences together.  And because you go through similar or same life experiences, you tend to react or behave similarly to many of life’s events (but not all).  In 2015 Pew Research even stated that 64% of married adults mentioned having shared interests as very important to a successful marriage.[i]  The bottom line is, the more you spend time with Jesus, the more you heart is aligned with his (Rom. 12:9) and the things that you Jesus loves will be the things you love.  Conversely the things that Jesus hates will be the things you hate.  Paul was so convinced of this that in response to his pursuit and love of Jesus Christ, he even willingly and wanted to suffer just so that he could become more Christlike in Christ’s death and gain resurrection from the power of Christ’s resurrection (Phil. 3:10-11).

To me these statements spell a healthy understanding of heaven not just for tomorrow, but also for today.  In our text in Matthew, Jesus paints the picture of heaven offering infinitely more value than any possessions or achievements we could claim in this life, but also that heaven offers more joy than any sin this world could ever tempt us with.  Moreover and in Phil. 3:7-8, Paul considers everything in his life to be a loss for the sake of Christ.

Dear Christians reading this:

I’m not sure what you may be struggling with.  Maybe it’s pride, greed, lust, envy, jealousy, laziness, overworking, bitterness, anger, resentment, unforgiveness, mismanagement of money, and the list goes on….

Let’s put that aside here.

Now how close is heaven to you and how in love are you with Jesus?  Perhaps you’re struggling with personal sins or even sinful strongholds.  If you want help, please read on.  If not, feel free to quit reading now.  Prayerfully consider this….

Here’s the thoughts helping me lately:

Heaven offers infinitely more pleasure and fulfillment than anything and anyone this world can offer.  Every day I’m breathing is a day I get closer to heaven.  I love Jesus so much that I’m finding less enjoyment in sinful behaviour now more than ever.  And the pain and struggles I’m going through now are worth it once I reach Jesus in heaven.  Not only that because my daily pain and struggles help me to become more Christlike…..and now because I know all of this, am I willing to repent and find fulfillment in not only the promises of Jesus, but also the person of Jesus or not?  Is heaven greater?  Is Jesus greater than whatever you’re going through or not?  Do you really believe that?  If you honestly do with a sober mind, then give your struggle to Jesus and be on the road to recovery and victory!  Drop whatever sin you’re holding onto and hold onto Jesus and his true promises!

Yes, heaven is greater and yes, Jesus is worthy!  (Rev. 4:11).

[i] Geiger, A. W. (2019, February 13). 8 facts about love and marriage in America. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/02/13/8-facts-about-love-and-marriage/

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