Bible verses

If we went high enough in the sky, would we find heaven?

Answer: No one but God knows exactly where heaven is. But the best way we can describe its location is to say it is “up.” If we rode a spaceship up, way out into space, we would not find heaven – it can’t be seen or found by people.

Only God can take us there. And that’s what he does, after we die, if we have trusted in Jesus as our Savior.

Key verses: Not long after this, Jesus rose into the sky. He went up into a cloud, leaving them staring after him. They were straining their eyes for another look at him. But suddenly two white-robed men were standing there with them.

They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has gone to Heaven. And someday he will come back again, just as he went!” (Acts 1:9-11)

Related verses: John 3:13; Luke 24:50-51

Related questions: Where is heaven? Is heaven up?

What is heaven like?

Answer: The Bible uses some wonderful pictures to tell us what heaven is like. In our world, we think that gold is important because it’s so valuable. But in heaven, the streets will be gold – we’ll walk on it.

The best way to picture heaven is to imagine the most exciting and fun place that you’ve ever been to. Heaven will be like that only much, much better. Jesus told his followers that he was leaving earth to go to heaven to prepare a place for them.

He has a special place for us, where there is no crying or sadness and we will be filled with joy.

Key verses: [Jesus is speaking] “There are many homes in my Father’s house. I am going to prepare a place for you. I will come again and take you to me. Then you will be with me where I am about to go. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly.” (John 14:2-3)

Related verses: Isaiah 60:17; Revelation 21:21

Related questions: What will we do in heaven? Are the streets in heaven real gold or just painted gold?

Does god sleep, or does he just rest?

Answer: God does not have a physical body like us, so he doesn’t need to sleep or eat. When the Bible says God “rests,” it means he has stopped doing something. To us, that is like rest.

But God doesn’t get tired or worn out, so he doesn’t need to rest the way we do. And when we go to sleep at night, God doesn’t close his eyes too – he continues to watch over us.

Key verses: He will never let me stumble, slip, or fall. For he is always watching, never sleeping. (Psalm 121:3-4)

Related verses: Genesis 2:2; 1 Kings 18:27; Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

Related questions: Will I be safe at night? What does God do in heaven? Does God eat?

Note to parents: This kind of question arises from the faulty thinking that God is just like people. Most false gods that have been made up by various cultures, such as those the Canaanites worshiped or the Greek gods, were much like comic book superheroes – just like people with superhuman abilities.

But God isn’t just a greater human. Clearing up this question will correct this faulty way of thinking about God.

Who created god?

Answer: No one created God – he has always existed. We can’t understand this because everything that we know has a beginning or an end. Each day has a morning and night; basketball games have an opening tip-off and a final buzzer; people are born and they die. But God has no beginning or end. He always was and always will be.

Key verses: Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! You were there before the mountains were made. You were there before the earth was formed. You are God without beginning or end. (Psalm 90:1-2)

Related verses: Hebrews 13:8; Revelation 1:8, 18

Related questions: Where did God come from? Will God ever die? How old is God?

Dad, why do I need two fathers, you and god?

A: We call God “our Father” because he created us, watches over us, and provides everything we need. He’s like a human father, only perfect. God has given us human fathers and mothers to take care of us on earth.

That’s why God tells children to obey their parents and their heavenly Father-it’s for their own good.

Key verse: (Jesus, is speaking] “You sinful men even know how to give good gifts to your children. So won’t your Father in Heaven be sure to give good gifts to those who ask him for them?” (Matthew 7:11)

Related verses: Exodus 20: 12; Ephesians 6:1-3

Related questions: What does it mean that God is our Father? What’s the same and different about human fathers and God? Why does God say kids have to obey their parents?

Question: Does god see everything that we do?

Answer: Yes, God sees everything we do, both good and bad. We can’t hide from him. God is happy when we do what is right and sad when we do wrong. God can reward us for doing what’s right, even when no one else knows about it.

Key verses: [Elihu is speaking] “For God watches the deeds of all mankind. He sees them all. No darkness is thick enough to hide evil men from his eyes.” (Job 34: 21-22)

Related verses: Job 11:11; 31:4; Psalm 147:5; Matthew 10:28-31

Related questions: Does God see the bad things I do? How can God know everything? How can God see everywhere?

Note to parents: This question may arise from a guilty conscience. Your child may want to talk about something that he or she did.

Does god have friends or is he alone?

Answer: God doesn’t have other “gods” to be friends with. He is the only God there is. God doesn’t need friends the way we do; he is perfectly happy being alone. But God also wants to have friendship with us.

In fact, God wants to be our closest friend. So he has done a lot to make friends with us and to have our friendship. That’s why he created us, sent Jesus to save us, gave us the Bible, and gave us the church.

Key verses: And you are my friends if you obey me. I no longer call you slaves. For a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends. This is proved by the fact that I have told you all that the Father told me. (John 15:14-15)

Related verses: Genesis 1:26; John 17:3

Related questions: Are there other gods? Does God ever get lonely?

Where does god live?

Answer: Sometimes we think of God as though he were another person like us. And just as we can only be one place at a time and we need a place to live, we think that God is the same way.

But God isn’t limited to a physical body or to one place at a time. In fact, God lives everywhere, especially inside people who love him. We call church “God’s house” because that’s where people who love God gather together to worship him.

But no matter where we are, God is with us. We can never be lost to his love. God also lives in heaven-eventually, we will live there, too.

Key verses: [Solomon is speaking] “But is it possible that God would live on earth? Why, even the skies and the highest heavens cannot hold you! This Temple I have built will not be able to hold you either! And yet, O Lord my God, you have heard and answered what I asked.

Please watch over this Temple night and day. For this is the place you have promised to live. Please listen to my prayers here, whether by night or by day. Listen to every prayer of the people of Israel. Listen to them when they face this place to pray. Yes, hear in heaven where you live. And when you hear, forgive.” (1 Kings 8:27-30)

Related verses: Psalm 139:7-12; Acts 17:24-29; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 4:8-10

Related questions: Does God live in the mountains? Where is heaven? How can God live in my heart? Does God live in church? How can God be everywhere? Is God a person or a ghost? How big is God?

Why did god make people red and yellow, black and white?

Answer: Can you imagine a world in which everyone looked the same – the same height, weight, color of hair, length of nose, color of eyes, size of ears, and color of skin? That would be boring – and how would we tell people apart? Instead, God created all kinds and colors of people.

Some are tall; some are short; some are brown; some are pink; some have straight black hair; some have curly red hair. They are all special to God. Don’t you just love the differences and what makes you special? God does!

Key verse: In this new life your nation or race or education or social group means nothing. Christ is what matters, and he has been given to all. (Colossians 3:11) RELATED VERSES: Jeremiah 13:23; Acts 17:26

Related questions: How did people get different color skin when Adam and Eve were only one color?

Did god make people in outer space?

Answer: Although people may talk about creatures in outer space, no one really knows whether there is life on other planets. Most of the talk about other life forms comes from make-believe movies and what people imagine might be true. But if there is life in other parts of the universe, God is in charge of it because God is in charge of the whole universe. God created everything, and he is the God of all life everywhere, no matter where it may be.

Key verse: Christ created everything in Heaven and earth. He created the things we can see and the things we can’t see. All kings and kingdoms, rulers and powers were made by Christ. He made them for his own use and glory. (Colossians 1:16)

Related Verses: Genesis 1:1; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12

Related questions: Are there aliens in outer space? Why did God make Mars and Jupiter?

Were there dinosaurs on the ark?

Answer: Dinosaurs are popular today. They’re on television and in the comics. We even have dinosaur stuffed toys. Scientists say that these unusual animals lived and became extinct over a hundred million years ago, so it’s natural to wonder where they fit into the Bible.

Most Bible experts believe that dinosaurs died out many years before the great flood that we read about in Genesis. So there wouldn’t have been any dinosaurs around to put on the ark.

Another reason we don’t read about dinosaurs in the Bible is that the Bible wasn’t written to tell us everything. It’s not a science textbook. The Bible tells us about people and God’s plan for our life.

Key verses: [God is speaking] “Look at Behemoth, which I made just as I made you; it eats grass like an ox. Its strength is in its loins, and its power in the muscles of its belly. It makes its tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are knit together. Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like bars of iron.” (Job 40: 15-19, NRSV)

Related verses: Genesis 7:1-24; John 1:3

Related questions: Why don’t we have dinosaurs today? Why aren’t dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible? Where do dinosaurs fit into the Bible? Were there dinosaurs around with Adam and Eve?

Note To Parents: The Bible doesn’t mention dinosaurs, but it does say that God created everything (John 1:3). Some verses, like the one about Behemoth, talk about animals almost as big as dinosaurs.

Why did god make mosquitoes?

Answer: When we’re being attacked by mosquitoes, it’s easy to wonder why God made pests and other animals that can harm us. When God created the world, it was perfect. Only after sin entered the picture did animals and human beings become enemies, causing humans to protect and defend themselves.

So now mosquitoes try to feed off of us. They, in turn, become food for birds and bats. In the future, in the new heaven and new earth, animals won’t hurt people or each other.

Key verses: In that day the wolf and the lamb will lie down together. And the leopard and goats will be at peace. Calves and fat cattle will be safe among lions. And a little child shall lead them all.

The cows will graze among bears. Cubs and calves will lie down side by side. And lions will eat grass like the cows. Babies will crawl safely among deadly snakes. And a little child who puts his hand into a nest of adders will not be hurt. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain.

And as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:6-9)

Related verses: Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:19-22 RELATED QUESTIONS: Why did God make bugs that bother us? Why did God make animals that we can’t eat?

Does the devil have claws?

Answer: The devil can take many forms. When he tempted Adam and Eve, he was a serpent. But remember, Satan is an angel and once was an angel of light. So he probably doesn’t look like the funny costumes we see at Halloween (all red, with horns and a pitchfork).

Instead, the devil usually tries to look like something good and beautiful. Remember, Satan is the father of lies, so he is usually trying to trick us. He’ll say that we don’t deserve to be God’s children and that we are not forgiven. But always remember that God is much stronger than Satan (it’s not even a close contest), and God can keep us safe from Satan.

Key verse: Yet I am not surprised! Satan can change himself into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) RELATED VERSES: Job 1:6-13; 2:1-7; Luke 11:4; John 8:44; James 4:7

Related questions: Can the devil hurt me? Is the devil more powerful than God?

Note to parents: When children hear about Satan, they may wonder if he can hurt them physically. Of course that’s possible, but Satan’s attacks are usually much more subtle and focused on keeping people far from God.

Usually, he tries to get us to center our life around anything but God and to ignore God’s commands. Explain to your child that God beats the devil every time and that we can beat Satan too (resist his temptations) if we stay close to God. This means doing what God says, relying on him, and talking to him about everything in our life.

Why is the devil after us?

Answer: Satan is God’s enemy, so he is against anyone who is on God’s side. Satan is jealous of our friendship with God – he can’t stand it when we spend time with the Lord. And he wants to stop us from obeying God and from doing good. The devil hates God, so he hates us because we love God.

Key verse: So give yourselves humbly to God. Resist the devil and he will run from you. (James 4:7) RELATED VERSES: Ephesians 6:11; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:9

Why didn’t God just forgive everybody?

Answer: It would not be right or fair for God to just forgive everyone. There is a penalty that must be paid for doing wrong. The penalty for sinning against God is death, eternal death.

But God loved us so much that he sent Jesus, his only Son, to pay our penalty. Jesus did this by dying on the cross, in our place. Now everyone can be forgiven by trusting in Christ.

Key Verses: Yes, all have sinned. All fall short of God’s perfect glory. But if we trust in Jesus Christ, God says we are “not guilty.” In his kindness he freely takes away our sins.

God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins. He ended all God’s anger against us. Christ’s blood and our faith saves us from God’s anger.

This is the way he could be fair to everybody. He did not punish the people who sinned before Christ came. He was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins. (Romans 3:23-25)

Related verses: Mark 8:31; John 3: 16; Romans 5:8; Hebrews 2:14-17; 8:3; 9:13-14, 22-23; 1 John 1:7

Related question: Why did Jesus have to die?

If god gives us everything we ask for, then how come we don’t have everything?

Answer: God doesn’t give us everything we ask for. He gives us everything we need, when we need it. Sometimes we want things that could hurt us, such as when a baby wants to play in the fire. God knows what can hurt us, so he doesn’t give us those things because he loves us. God wants to give us what is good for us.

Key verse: When you do ask you don’t get it because your whole aim is wrong. You want only what will make you happy. (James 4:3)

Related verses: Matthew 7:7-11; 21:22; Luke 11:9

Related question: Why didn’t I get what I prayed for?

Note To Parents: If your child is older, you may want
to explain that there are three types of prayers: (1) those who don’t ask, (2) those who ask with the wrong motives, and (3) those who consider what God wants and pray accordingly.

This question may be a chance to find a need that your child has and pray with him or her about it.

 What does my angel do?

Answer: Angels are God’s helpers. They live in heaven with him. God often instructs angels to protect people by blocking the evil that Satan directs at them. Angels also carry out God’s purposes in people’s lives. In other words, angels help us do what God wants us to do.

Key verse: [Jesus is speaking] “Be careful that you don’t look down upon a single one of these children. For I tell you that in Heaven their angels can speak directly to my Father.” (Matthew 18:10)

Related verses: Genesis 24:7; Numbers 22: 15-35; Daniel 3:28; 6:22; Matthew 1:21-24; 4:11; Hebrews 1:14 RELATED QUESTION: Are there angels in the room with us?

Note to parents: Some people think that each person has a guardian angel, an angel assigned to a person to watch over and protect him or her. We don’t know for sure if people have guardian angels. But we do know that God uses angels to accomplish his will.

Who is the devil?

Answer: The devil is also called Satan. The word devil means “liar” or “enemy.” Satan used to be an angel. But he wanted to be like God, so he fought against God. God kicked him out of heaven.

Ever since then, Satan has worked on earth, trying to defeat God and God’s people. He is God’s enemy. But God is far stronger than Satan. In the end, Satan will be thrown into hell and suffer forever.

Key verse: But if you keep on sinning, it shows you belong to Satan. He has been sinning from the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

Related verses: Genesis 3:1-15; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:6-13; 2:1-7; Zechariah 3:1-2; Matthew 4:1-11; John 14:30; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Ephesians 6:11; Hebrews 2:14

Related questions: Why did God make the devil? Why doesn’t God kill Satan? Will God forgive Satan?

What do angels really look like?

Answer: The word angel means “messenger.” Angels are God’s messengers. They can also be God’s warriors. In the Bible we read about people who saw angels. Sometimes the people knew they were angels, and sometimes they didn’t.

Some angels described in the Bible have wings. Those angels are called cherubim. But most of the angels in the Bible stories looked like regular people. We don’t know what angels look like in heaven.

Key verses: I, John, saw and heard all these things. I fell down to worship the angel who showed them to me. But he said, “No, don’t do anything like that. I am a servant of Jesus like you, and like your brothers the prophets. I am like all those who hear and act on the truth stated in this book. Only worship God.” (Revelation 22:8-9)

Related verses: Genesis 19:1; Hebrews 13:2

Related Questions: Are angels boys or girls? Do angels eat?

Note to parents: You may want to ask if your child has seen a picture of an angel, perhaps in a children’s Bible, in a painting, in the cartoons, etc. Those pictures often leave mental impressions about an angel’s appearance.

When I die, will I become an angel?

Answer: Angels are spiritual beings created by God. They are different from human beings. You are a spiritual being, too. In other words, you have a soul and will live forever and can know God. But you are also a physical being.

You live on earth and have a physical body. When you die, you will leave your physical body behind and will be given a glorified or perfect body in heaven. We don’t know exactly what our glorified bodies will be like, but we know that people in heaven will be able to recognize us.

One thing is for sure, we don’t become angels when we die. In fact, angels will serve us in heaven. Wow!

Key verse: Don’t you know that we will judge the angels in Heaven? You should be able to decide your problems here on earth easily enough. (1 Corinthians 6:3) RELATED VERSES: Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7

Related questions: How many angels are there? Do you have to die to be a spirit?

Note to parents: According to Matthew 26:53 and other passages, there are thousands of angels.