by Ester yusufu | 5 March 2020 08:46 pm03
It’s important to understand that seeing a vision of heaven is not the same as arriving in heaven. A vision is simply a divine preview—it is the start of the journey, not the end.
In His mercy and love, God sometimes allows certain individuals to see heavenly things—visions of paradise, glimpses of His glory, or insights into the eternal home prepared for His people. These experiences are intended to encourage faith, strengthen hope, and give a sense of purpose. But they are not proof that someone has already entered heaven.
In John 14:2–3, Jesus assured His disciples:
“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… that where I am, there you may be also.”
That place is real—but we must still get there through faith, obedience, and perseverance.
This truth is clearly illustrated in the story of the children of Israel. After God delivered them from Egypt, He led them through the wilderness toward the Promised Land—Canaan. When they were close to entering, God instructed Moses to send twelve men to spy out the land.
Numbers 13:1–2 –
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel… one leader from each tribe.’”
These twelve men explored the land and confirmed that it was rich and fruitful:
Numbers 13:27 –
“We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.”
But even though they saw the land, they did not possess it. In fact, only two of them—Joshua and Caleb—eventually entered it. The rest of the generation perished in the wilderness because of fear, unbelief, and rebellion.
Just like the Israelites, many believers may receive glimpses of God’s promises, whether through dreams, visions, or revelation. But these experiences are not the final destination. The Promised Land was still occupied by giants. Israel had to go back, prepare, and fight to possess what God had given.
This mirrors our Christian journey. Satan, the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), seeks to occupy the inheritance meant for us. We must overcome him spiritually, not through physical warfare, but by living in faith, obedience, and holiness.
Jesus said:
Matthew 11:12 –
“The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
That means entering God’s Kingdom requires spiritual determination, discipline, and victory over sin.
Satan knows how glorious heaven is and does everything in his power to prevent people from reaching it. He used the same tactic in the wilderness—raising false prophets, stirring rebellion, and creating fear. Of the two million Israelites who left Egypt, only two entered the Promised Land (Numbers 14:30).
Why? Because many of them:
1 Corinthians 10:5–11 –
“But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness… Now these things became our examples… they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
Seeing heaven or knowing about it is not enough. We must overcome. The Bible is clear that heaven is prepared for those who finish their spiritual race faithfully.
Revelation 21:7 –
“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”
But for those who shrink back, live in sin, or reject the truth, there is no entrance into heaven:
Revelation 21:8 –
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral… and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Revelation 21:27 –
“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles… only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
Even the Apostle Paul, who was caught up to heaven, didn’t boast as if he had already arrived. He spoke with reverence and awe:
2 Corinthians 12:4 –
“[He] was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”
This shows us how sacred and unimaginable the heavenly realm is.
So what should we do?
- Surrender your life to Jesus if you haven’t.
- Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him daily (Luke 9:23).
- Stay alert, because the enemy is doing all he can to block the path to eternal life.
If you’ve only had a glimpse of heaven, don’t stop there. Let it motivate you to pursue Christ even more passionately. Seeing is not the same as possessing. Like the Israelites, we must fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12), remain holy, and live lives that honor God.
The journey may be hard, but the reward is eternal.
Hebrews 10:23 –
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
God bless you—keep pressing forward. Heaven is real, and it’s worth every sacrifice.
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