Heaven: Fantasy or Fact?

“What’s in the future for us?” Danny DeVito recently asked fellow actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The 75 year old politician, actor, and former bodybuilder retorted, “It reminds me of Howard Stern’s question to me. ‘Tell me, governor, what happens to us when we die?’ I said, ‘Nothing. You’re six feet under. Anyone that tells you something else is a (expletive deleted) liar,’”

Schwarzenegger further said that heaven was a “fantasy.” Then added these “insights.”

“We don’t know what happens with the soul and all this spiritual stuff that I’m not an expert in, but I know that the body as we see each other now, we will never see each other again like that,” he added.

“When people talk about, ‘I will see them again in heaven,’ it sounds so good, but the reality is that we won’t see each other again after we’re gone,” he stated. “That’s the sad part. I know people feel comfortable with death, but I don’t.”

This would be funny, if it wasn’t so sad. Here’s a man who doesn’t claim to be an expert in “spiritual stuff” arrogantly offering what Zachary Mettler called a “cavalier assessment of eternity.”

As a fellow 75 year-old I can somewhat appreciate Schwarzenegger’s lack of comfort with death. I admit I don’t like death. It leaves hurting hearts. Burdened spirits. And empty homes. Yet, death is a reality we all must face. As my Mom often said in her last few years, “We’re not put on this earth to live forever.”

But what about the future? Eternity? And heaven?

You’re not surprised to learn that a blog called ThePreachersWord believes Mr. Schwarzenegger is mistaken. Heaven is not a fantasy, but a fact.  However, our assertion is not based on the slippery slope of wishful thinking but the person of Jesus Christ. He promised to prepare an eternal dwelling place for us.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:1-3)

Peter affirmed Jesus’ promise when he wrote that we have “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”

Of course, the skeptic and infidel would say this is ridiculous since they think Jesus is a myth. However, the historicity of Jesus cannot be denied. Secular historians affirm his existence. Scholar Ben Witherington wrote, “There is more historical evidence for the existence of Jesus than there is for the historical existence of Julius Caesar.”

Not only did Jesus live, he died and miraculously arose from the dead. Peter witnessed it. So did the rest of the apostles. And the women who followed Jesus. Furthermore, Paul affirmed that over 500 people at one time saw the resurrected Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-8).

When Jesus died the disciples were dispirited and depressed. They ran like scalded dogs. They met in hiding. Probably fearing for their own lives. However, his appearance from the grave turned their sadness into gladness. It fueled their faith. It fortified their hope. And provided the motivation to evangelize a lost world.

These men were not fools. They did not suffer persecution, endure hardship, and give their lives for a hoax. Paul affirmed that the gospel message is founded on the hope of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:15-20). And Peter said our hope of heaven is founded on “the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Pet. 1:3).

C. S. Lewis was right when he wrote that “we’re made for another world.” As the old time preachers used to say, “Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.”

While politicians, pop stars and pundits have a media platform to propagate their nonsense, pastors, preachers, Christians and churches need to proclaim Jesus’ gospel at every opportunity. Let us not be shy about declaring our faith. And affirming our hope.

Schwarzenegger became known for his line in the movie Terminator, “I’ll be back.” Well, Jesus promised, “I’ll be back.” He’s coming again to take the saved home. Home to heaven.

That, my friends, is not a fantasy. But a fact.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman