Recently, I made a new friend who, although not a practicing Christian, was very curious about the Bible. We spent a long time talking about Jesus and the Church, and I felt the Holy Spirit flowing through me as I answered her questions with stories and inspiration from Scripture. Normally, I stumble over my words when I try to talk about the Bible. But this time was different—I'd just been through a trial of faith, and Jesus was filling me with His Spirit constantly.
However, when she asked me about heaven, I felt a bit stuck. I guess I hadn’t thought much about it before. Like many, I used to imagine heaven as some far-off place in the sky, or another dimension, where we all float around like ghosts. That idea never seemed very appealing to me. But as I’ve grown in faith, I’ve come to believe that heaven will be greater than anything I could imagine, because even the peace I feel with Jesus now is so much richer than how I used to live.
Still, it was hard to put that into words, and I told her I’d get back to her. So here I am, exploring what heaven might truly be like. With the help of an artificial intelligence tool called ChatGPT, I began my journey. I shared what I knew about purgatory, heaven, and hell, and asked it to help me create a story to share with my friend. What it came up with moved me deeply. For those who aren’t familiar with the concept of purgatory, it might sound unusual, but I found this explanation beautiful, especially in light of St. Paul’s description of a refining fire. I hope this fills you with as much hope for heaven as it did for me.
The Journey Home
When she asked, "Where do you think you'll go when you die?" a vision began to stir—a vision of home, brighter and more glorious than I had ever known.
Imagine beginning this journey in purgatory, not as a place of torment, but as a place of cleansing. Here, the path to God unfolds as Christ's light reveals the attachments that still weigh on your heart. St. Paul describes a refining fire: “Each one’s work will become manifest… it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done” (1 Corinthians 3:13). Purgatory isn’t punishment but preparation—a space where, like standing in morning sunlight, you feel God’s warmth purify you, lifting the fog from your spirit so that you’re ready to fully enter His presence.
Then, imagine stepping through this refining process, now fully free, into heaven itself. Heaven is not a place where you drift without purpose but where you are alive with meaning and joy. As the Bible says, “The dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them” (Revelation 21:3). Heaven is not some distant, cloudy realm; it’s a restored earth, a new creation where you finally look upon God’s face, surrounded by His light.
In heaven, there’s meaningful work, yet it feels nothing like toil. You are filled with love and strength, free from fatigue or stress. It’s like Eden restored, where Adam and Eve once tended the garden in harmony with God. Now, because of Christ, you can trust God fully, free from fear or doubt. Heaven becomes a place of creativity, growth, and discovery, where every act is worship. Imagine working alongside friends and loved ones, building, exploring, and celebrating in unity with creation itself. Isaiah wrote, “They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit” (Isaiah 65:21), and this promise feels vibrant and real here.
Then, you see the banquet: a table stretching endlessly, covered in the richest, most beautiful food—nourishment for body and soul. Each person passes food to their neighbor, laughing, sharing, and lifting each other up. You aren’t just feeding yourself; you’re feasting together, in perfect harmony and love. Jesus often described heaven this way, like in the parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:2-14) and the banquet for the prodigal son (Luke 15:23). There’s no lack, no hunger—only a sense of fullness and togetherness.
Now, consider a glimpse of hell, a banquet of the opposite kind. The table is laden with food, but the people sit in lonely isolation, each unable to reach the food before them. It's as if their arms are bound, or even missing. They cry out in hunger, frustration, and despair, but no one helps. Here, people are wrapped up in themselves, unable to break free, cut off from God’s love because they chose to close themselves to it. Where heaven is full of life and purpose, hell feels hollow—like being lost in a world without meaning or connection. Jesus spoke of it as “outer darkness” (Matthew 8:12), a place where even the light feels distant.
Returning to the question, you might say, "Heaven is where God is, and where His love fills everything. It's a place of joy, of purpose, of perfect peace and unity. It’s like a great feast where we care for each other. And hell, well, it’s the opposite—a place where people are so closed off they can't receive or share love, like sitting at a table of food you can't reach, forever hungry."
This vision of heaven is full of life, work, and love. It’s rooted in scripture and the hope that one day, heaven and earth will be united (Revelation 21:1-4). There will be joy, unity, and freedom from all that held us back. Everything that once weighed us down will be lifted, as we enter fully into the love and presence of God.
Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
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