Is Heaven a real place or a state of being? – Part 1
Heaven does not have streets paved in gold. Nor are there clouds on which to sit. There is no procession of people passing through pearly gates. Heaven is much better than that.
The physical descriptions of heaven are merely attempts to describe Paradise in a way that everyone can understand and visualize. Of what use is a street to the immortal soul? Does one’s soul require a car? By the same token, why would there be actual houses in Heaven? To shelter our souls from the rain, perhaps?
The task of describing a spiritual realm is daunting. Even among those who think in metaphysical terms, such a description is more art than science. The Church has the additional burden of having to explain Heaven in a way that anyone can readily appreciate, regardless of education or culture. The same challenge exists in trying to describe Hell.
The fire and brimstone of Hell are as euphemistic as the golden streets of Heaven. Would a physical flame actually burn one’s soul? No, the torment of Hell is not physical suffering. It is separation from God. What could be more agonizing than finally glimpsing God in all His glory and knowing that you will be forever separated from it? Separation from a loved one can be very painful, especially if it is prolonged. How much more painful would it be to know that the separation would be permanent and that there could be no surrogate? And if this permanent separation is not from a spouse or relative, but from the source of all goodness and love? What could be worse than to spend eternity contemplating the ultimate loss?
Whereas Hell is a state of unimaginable suffering, Heaven is a state of unimaginable joy. In Heaven, one basks in the glory of the Creator, finally enjoying the reward that was sought while on Earth. Trapped in our earthly bodies, Humanity sees God only dimly. We know of Him, but we are limited by the metaphysics of our reality, and we are distracted by this mortal coil. Once freed of its mortal shell, the soul can finally fully experience the glory, power, and love of God. Still, this does not happen in a particular location. God is everywhere. There is no need to go anywhere to find him. Heaven is simply the state of being with Him.
Heaven is not a place. It is the state of undiluted access to God and the complete, eternal happiness that would ensue. Who would trade that for a Rolls Royce driven on gold pavers?
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