The Spiritual World: Talks for Children by George de Charms

8.  Houses in Heaven

Everyone who dies first comes into the world of spirits, and abides there while he is being made ready to go into heaven. After he or she has lived in the world of spirits for a certain time they feel a longing to enter into heaven, and then, looking. round to find the way there, they see a road that they have not seen before. If they follow this road they will come at last to a gate, which will be opened by one who watches over it, and who will allow him or her to pass. And soon after going through this gate the person will meet an angel who will ask them why they have come there. If they have come by the Lord's permission, this will appear at once from their replies, and they will be permitted to proceed further into the society to which the gate was the entrance. If they have not come by the Lord's permission, then will they be turned back at this point, and will follow some other road.

Let us suppose that a person has come by the Lord's permission. They will then be told to go forward into the society, and to wander round among the streets and houses of the city, or the country in which these angels dwell to see if they can find a house that they will recognize as their own. For if they are really to remain in that society, then will there appear a new house, never seen there before, which they will know at once belongs to them.

How do you suppose that that person could know this? If they have never been in that society before; if they have never seen the house before, how can they possibly recognize it as their own?

Much is involved in this incident that teaches us about the houses of the angels and spirits in the other world. In the first place, it assures us that angels and spirits live in houses. Secondly, it tells us that the houses in which they live are all different - that no two of them are alike, and thus that there is a different house for every angel family. Again, it is clear from the description that sometimes these houses are close together, arranged into streets, like those of a city; and in other places they are more scattered, like the homes in the country.

Also it is evident that these houses are given to every angel by the Lord; that they appear instantaneously - that they do not have to be built; and that they are thus more wonderful than any house in this world. The very fact that they are houses involves the idea that they have rooms, halls, stairways, and furniture; also doors and windows, and all other things that belong to such houses as we know on earth. And elsewhere in the Writings we are told that they are far more exquisite than any earthly house, being built sometimes of wood, sometimes of stone, and sometimes of other materials; but if they are in heaven they always glow with a wonderful light, such as that which proceeds from the garments of the angels there. There are palaces of gold and silver and precious stones, surrounded by parks and flower gardens and fountains for the wiser angels. There are less handsome dwellings of marble, with plots of grass and flowering shrubs for angels less wise. But each one has their own house, which they know as their own home, and which they love more than all others - even though it be not so fine or so spacious.

These houses in heaven, it was said, appear at once, as if in a moment, as soon as a new spirit comes to a society in which they are to remain. But they are not really built in a moment. They are built slowly, gradually, through many years, though they are not seen until they are fully completed, and the angels come to enter into them. Nor are they built after we go into the other world. Only the last touches are put on them there - unless we die as little children. They are really built while we are in this world. Who is it that builds them? It is the Lord Himself, who is constantly building a home for us in heaven.

But what kind of home it will be is determined by our own life here. Every good thought, every unselfish love, every kind deed that springs from the desire to serve the Lord is taken up by the Lord and built into that house. All the things we learn and hold in our minds are the materials out of which it is built. Every truth of heaven from the Lord's Word is like a precious stone; every truth about the things in this world is like a piece of marble, or other more common stone. As we learn these things they are gathered together by the Lord; and every time we use them - every time we think about the Lord and His Word, and heaven from affection; or every time we do what the Lord teaches in His Word - certain of these stones are actually built into that house by the Lord.. The more constantly we do what is right and think what is true, the more beautiful will be the design and architecture of that house; but every time we do something wrong its beauty is marred, and an ugly stone or a charred piece of wood is built in where a precious stone ought to be. Only by repentance, and trying to make amends for such evil doing can this ugly piece be removed, and a more beautiful one be put in its place.

Now it is because this house is being built every day, according to the way we live - according to what we think, and love, and do every day here on earth - it is because of this that when we come into the society in heaven where we are to dwell, and see that house for the first time, we recognize it. We know it is our house, for we recognize ourselves in it - the things we did, and the things we thought. To us it looks familiar - even like a home in which we have been born, but which we have not seen for many years. But to another it would seem strange. This is the way we will find our home in heaven. And because that home is being built here and now - although we see it not - you can understand how important it is to love the Lord, and to keep His commandments every day, in order that our home in heaven may not be marred; in order that it may be made beautiful by the Lord.

Lesson: Psalm 122.

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