A few years ago, the magazine “House to House, Heart to Heart,” had these sayings from various nine-year-olds.  “Maybe I’ll die someday, but I hope I don’t die on my birthday because it’s no fun to celebrate your birthday if you’re dead”—John.  “When you die, they bury you in the ground and your soul goes to heaven; but your body can’t go to heaven because it’s too crowded up there already”—Jim.  “When you die, you don’t have to do homework in heaven, unless your teacher is there too”—Marsha.  “Only good people go to heaven.  The other people go where it’s hot all the time like in Florida”—Judy.
Here are some things we learn about heaven from the first book in the Bible, the book of Matthew:

•    Heaven is the home of God.  Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father who is in heaven” (Matt 6:9; cf. 1 Kings 8:30; Eccl 5:2).
•    Heaven is a place of great reward.  Jesus preached, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matt 5:12 ESV; cf. 10:41-42; 16:27).
•    Heaven is a place of treasure.  Jesus taught us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt 6:20 ESV; cf. Luke 12:33; 1 Tim. 6:17-19).
•    Heaven is a place to meet Bible heroes.  Jesus said, “I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 8:11 ESV; cf. Hebrews 11:16).
•    Heaven is the destination of all children.  Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 19:14 ESV; cf. 18:1-4).
•    Heaven is the home of angels.  Speaking of children, Jesus said, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 18:10 ESV; cf. 22:30).
•    Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.  There’s a great day coming when Jesus will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt 25:34 ESV; cf. John 14:2-3; Hebrews 11:16).
•    Heaven is eternal life.  Jesus said that those on his left would “go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matt 25:45 ESV).

Someone wrote, “Just think…  Of stepping on shore and finding it heaven.  Of taking hold of a hand and finding it God’s hand.  Of breathing new air and finding it celestial air.  Of feeling invigorated and finding it immortality.  Of passing from storm and tempest to an unbroken calm.  Of waking up and finding it home!”