In Matthew 7: 13-14, Jesus teaches, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." John 14:6 records, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" Children can better visualize the road to Heaven passing through Jesus' gate with a paper collage craft. Cut an arch with double opening doors out of construction paper. Glue cotton balls on the lower edge of a light blue sheet of paper and the gate resting on the clouds. Open the doors and draw or paste a picture of Jesus. Label it with the caption, "Jesus is the only way to Heaven."
Heaven is Jesus' residence and He said in John 8:12, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” Therefore the light of Heaven will glow with His brilliance because He is Light. Give children a small taste of the beautiful light of Heaven with a suncatcher craft. Let children create a representation of what they think Heaven will look like by arranging small strips and pieces of brightly colored tissue paper on a piece of transparent contact paper. Cover with another adhesive sheet and trim the edges. Glue to a construction paper frame and attach a ribbon or yarn hanger. Hang it in a sunny place to catch the light and remind children that Heaven is their ultimate goal.
Jesus' disciples watch Him ascend into Heaven on a cloud in Acts 1 after His resurrection and the angel tells them, "This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Children can make a visual to help explain this miraculous episode. Draw or color and cut out a picture of Jesus and tape one end of a long piece of yarn to the back. Punch a hole in the center bottom of a large blue paper or plastic cup. Glue cotton ball clouds around the outside. Thread the other end of the yarn through the hole from the inside and tie a star, heart, cross or cloud bead to the free end. Pull the string to see Jesus ascend to Heaven and let it go to see Him return as promised.
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness." Children understand rewards and punishments so that aspect of Heaven is easier to explain. But the rewards are not tangible things like toys and candy nor riches, power and popularity. Parents and teachers should promote the correct understanding that the reward or crown that believers receive in Heaven is the eternal presence of God, the Creator of the Universe and His approval and satisfaction with their efforts to live for Him here on earth. Let each child make a paper crown and decorate it with stick on faux jewels. For each jewel, he should write under or next to it something he can do now to show that he is a faithful follower of Jesus Christ for which God could add a jewel to his heavenly crown.