HEART
In the Bible, the word “heart” rarely refers to our organ that pumps blood but is most often used to describe the seat of our emotions. Strong’s gives “inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.” God has commanded us, “My son, give me thine heart…” (Proverbs 23:26). We are to guard it: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). It cannot be trusted, and we therefore need to ask God to guide us. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways” (Jeremiah 17:9–10). God will resist us when our heart is lifted up in pride (Psalm 101:5, Proverbs 16:5): “But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne” (Daniel 5:20). But we can humble our hearts (2 Kings 22:19). “Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah” (2 Chronicles 32:26).
HEAVEN
Heaven is God’s throne room (Acts 7:49). The Bible often gives the word “heaven” in the plural, and we are told there are three heavens (2 Corinthians 12:2). The first heaven is believed to be the sky where the birds of the air fly (Genesis 1:20); the second heaven is where the sun, moon, and stars are (Genesis 1:14); and the third heaven is where the angels of God are and God’s throne, which is also called “paradise” (2 Corinthians 12:2–4).
Christ has gone to heaven to prepare for each believer his own place to live: “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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2–3). Also Revelation 21:4: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
In the Bible, the word “heart” rarely refers to our organ that pumps blood but is most often used to describe the seat of our emotions. Strong’s gives “inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.” God has commanded us, “My son, give me thine heart…” (Proverbs 23:26). We are to guard it: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). It cannot be trusted, and we therefore need to ask God to guide us. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways” (Jeremiah 17:9–10). God will resist us when our heart is lifted up in pride (Psalm 101:5, Proverbs 16:5): “But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne” (Daniel 5:20). But we can humble our hearts (2 Kings 22:19). “Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah” (2 Chronicles 32:26).
HEAVEN
Heaven is God’s throne room (Acts 7:49). The Bible often gives the word “heaven” in the plural, and we are told there are three heavens (2 Corinthians 12:2). The first heaven is believed to be the sky where the birds of the air fly (Genesis 1:20); the second heaven is where the sun, moon, and stars are (Genesis 1:14); and the third heaven is where the angels of God are and God’s throne, which is also called “paradise” (2 Corinthians 12:2–4).
Christ has gone to heaven to prepare for each believer his own place to live: “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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2–3). Also Revelation 21:4: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”