“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. (Joh 14:2-3 NKJ)

The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. (Rev 21:21 NKJ)

Yesterday we looked at Matt 19:16-22, “Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “`You shall not murder, ‘`You shall not commit adultery, ‘`You shall not steal, ‘`You shall not bear false witness,’ `Honor your father and your mother,’ and, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” The young man came seeking eternal life, heaven or as the Jews would have seen it, the ‘age to come.’ Feeling quite proud of himself, the young man boasted that he had kept the commandments from his youth, but Jesus knew his heart and gave him a paraphrased version of the sixth commandment, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” The young man rejected the ‘good news’ and walked away.  Being rich wasn’t the problem, it was what he did with his riches.  God had blessed him, but instead of using his wealth for Kingdom purposes, he hoarded what he had and probably sought more.

So, why are Christians so concerned with the material? Rather expressing a desire to be in God’s presence, Christians are concerned about the size of their mansion and the gold streets, if that is all your concerned about beware. First, the term mansion is an analogy for a big place with room for everyone. Second, the golden street is John’s way of expressing the brilliance of God’s glory.  Third, the New Jerusalem happens when heaven appears on the earth.

We need a biblical view of heaven and not one produced by Hallmark.