Heaven is God

Scott Oliphint and Sinclair Ferguson:

Some time ago we heard a fascinating radio program in which a number of famous people were asked what they thought heaven would be like. A consistent three-point pattern began to emerge in their answers, although its most significant element seemed to pass unnoticed by the program makers:

1. All those interviewed believed in heaven.
2. All those interviewed assumed they would be there.
3. When asked to describe heaven, not one of those interviewed mentioned that God was there.

But it is the presence of God in holy, loving majesty that makes heaven what it is. It can even be said that heaven is the presence of God--being in heaven means living with him forever. 

--K. Scott Oliphint and Sinclair B. Ferguson, If I Should Die before I Wake (Baker, 1995), 44; quoted in Dan Barber and Robert Peterson, Life Everlasting: The Unfolding Story of Heaven (P&R, 2012), 185

Dane Ortlund

Home At Last - Looking Forward To My Real Home

Jewel the unicorn in The Last Battle at the end of all things in Narnia:

 “I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here.

This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now.”

"These men of faith I have mentioned died without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all awaiting them on ahead and were glad, for they agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here. And quite obviously when they talked like that, they were looking forward to their real home in heaven. If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world. But they didn't want to. They were living for heaven. And now God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has made a heavenly city for them."
Hebrews 11:13 - 16 - The Living Bible

What Can Earth Do To You If You Are Guaranteed Heaven?

“Now suppose both death and hell were utterly defeated.  Suppose the fight was fixed.  Suppose God took you on a crystal ball trip into your future and you saw with indubitable certainty that despite everything — your sin, your smallness, your stupidity — you could have free for the asking your whole crazy heart’s deepest desire: heaven, eternal joy.  Would you not return fearless and singing?  What can earth do to you, if you are guaranteed heaven?  To fear the worst earthly loss would be like a millionaire fearing the loss of a penny — less, a scratch on a penny.”
Peter Kreeft, Heaven (San Francisco, 1989), page 183.

Think about it. What are you so afraid of? What keeps you so unhappy? What are you so anxious about? When I take my last breath on earth, my next breath will be in Heaven. The Apostle Paul said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. The person who has been rescued from sin and death by Jesus Christ is already seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. His victory over sin and death is imputed to me, He is my righteousness sanctification and redemption. I will fear no earthly loss because the Lord is with me, He is for me, He loves me, He cares for me, He sustains me, He upholds me, He has saved me. If you are a Christian you are guaranteed Heaven, so what can earth do to you?