Lesson 9: Eternity — Heaven and Hell
“For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.”— Hebrews 13:14
My Childhood Thoughts on Heaven (and Why It Sounded Like a Nightmare)
Growing up, I didn’t understand eternity — and honestly, what I did understand, I didn’t like.
Heaven was described to me as a place of golden streets, enormous mansions, white robes, and harps. We’d float around forever, singing to God in the sky. And I mean forever.
I remember someone saying: “Your whole life is like a grain of sand. Now imagine every grain of sand on every beach, in every desert, on the whole earth... and that still doesn’t come close to how long eternity is.
”For a kid with a vivid imagination, this was pure nightmare fuel. I pictured Casper-style puffs floating around trying to greet each other:
“Hi Jim, I’d hug you, but... I don’t have arms.”
“Hi Jane, I’d invite you in for coffee, but... no kitchen. Or mouth. Or coffee.”
And the mansions? I didn’t want to live in one alone. I wanted people, not endless square footage and lonely gold décor. No food, no sleep, just forever. On paper, it sounded holy. In my child brain, it sounded like eternal sensory deprivation.
Later on, I read a few near-death experiences thinking it might help. One guy claimed he flew over hyper-colored fields of flowers… on the back of a butterfly. Someone else described going down a tunnel toward a bright light where Jesus stood waiting in the glow. I wasn’t comforted. In fact, I was more confused than ever.This sounds like a Pixar film, I thought. Is this really what I’m supposed to look forward to?
And quietly, deep inside, a terrible thought slipped in:
Maybe hell makes more sense.At least people would feel something. At least it wouldn’t be boring. Surely there’d be conversation — maybe even music and games. How bad could it really be?
I didn’t know it at the time, but that entire view was a product of a mind that desperately needed renewal.
I wasn’t the only one who misunderstood eternity. Many people are walking around right now believing either that heaven will be dull — or that hell won’t be so bad.But neither are true.Both are real, and both are forever — and God has already told us everything we need to know in His Word.
What Is Heaven Like?
What does God say about the place we’ll spend eternity?
1. Heaven is a real, renewed place — a restored creation, not clouds.“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…”— Revelation 21:1
2.God will dwell with us — face to face.“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people...”— Revelation 21:33.
There will be no more pain, sadness, or death.“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…”— Revelation 21:4
4. We will have new, resurrected bodies.“The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable... it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”— 1 Corinthians 15:42–44
5. We will know one another and be known.“Many will come from east and west and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...”— Matthew 8:11
6. There will be worship, purpose, and creativity.“His servants will serve Him… and they will reign forever and ever.”— Revelation 22:3–57. It will be beyond our wildest imagination.“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no human mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.”— 1 Corinthians 2:9
What Is Hell Like?
Not just a place of punishment, but of separation — a reality God never intended for us.
1. Hell is real.“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”— Matthew 10:28
2. Hell is a place of separation from God.“They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might.”— 2 Thessalonians 1:9
3. Hell is described as fire, darkness, and regret.“Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”— Matthew 25:30
“Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”— Revelation 20:15
4. Hell is just — but not God’s desire.“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise... He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”— 2 Peter 3:9
5. Hell is final.“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”— Hebrews 9:27
6. Hell is not a party.There is no joy, no friendship, no music, and no comfort in hell. Only separation, sorrow, and finality. It is not a place of freedom, but of loss.
My Realization: Eternity Changes Everything
Once I came to a better understanding of eternity — of what heaven truly is and what hell really means — something changed in me.
God’s heart for people… became my heart for people.
I finally understood what it means to care about someone’s soul. This is the Great Commission. This is why Jesus said we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. It’s not just about living a nice life — it’s about eternity.
I want all the people to go.Even the ones who’ve hurt me. Even the ones who mock God. Even the ones who are lost in deception right now.
It breaks my heart to think there are people who don’t give eternity a passing thought. That they live for what’s temporary and never ask, What comes after?
This… this is the why.This is the reason I speak up.This is the reason I pray.This is the reason I tell my story.Because eternity is forever. And our time here is not.