Q: IS THERE A MCDONALD'S IN HEAVEN?

A: No. In heaven, we won't need people to work to make us food. Our bodies will be different. They will be "glorified," or perfect bodies. We don't know if we will eat there or what kind of food we will need. God will make sure that we have everything we need. Heaven will be fun. It will be great!

KEY VERSES: [When Jesus appeared to the disciples] Still they stood there, unsure. They were filled with joy and doubt. Then he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish. And he ate it as they watched! (Luke 24:41-43)

RELATED VERSES: Romans 16:18; Philippians 3:19

NOTE TO PARENTS: Children are concerned about food. Food is important to them, and they don't want to be hungry. Curiosity about what they will be eating in heaven may underlie questions like these.

Q: WHY IS HELL DARK IF THEY HAVE FIRES?

A. The Bible uses a lot of pictures to give us an idea of what heaven and hell are like. Fire means burning and pain. Do you remember having a fever? You felt like you were burning up, but there was no flame. Darkness means loneliness. Can you imagine anything more lonely than sitting by yourself in total darkness? What God is telling us is that hell is a terrible place. We certainly don't want to go there.

KEY VERSE: [Jesus is speaking] "And many . . . shall be thrown into outer darkness. They will be put in the place of crying and pain." (Matthew 8:12)

RELATED VERSES: Luke 16:28; Revelation 20:15

NOTE TO PARENTS: Children hear conflicting descriptions of hell. They hear that hell is a dark place (Matthew 8:12) and yet a lake of fire (Revelation 19:20). (They may also have heard that it is cold.) Instead of grasping the meanings of these metaphors, the child is taking the images concretely.

Q: WILL GOD GIVE CHILDREN TOYS IF THEY ASK HIM FOR THEM?

A: Some People think God is there to give us toys and other things we want. But God doesn't just hand out stuff to us. His purpose is to make us into people who are like Christ. God really cares about us, and he knows what we need. Although toys seem important sometimes, there are other things that we need more. God also doesn't want us to get our happiness from toys, but from him and from other people.

KEY VERSES: You want what you don't have. So you kill to get it! You long for what others have. So you start a fight to take it away! Why don't you have what you want? Because you don't ask God for it. When you do ask you don't get it because your whole aim is wrong. You want only what will make you happy. (James 4:2-3)

RELATED VERSES: Philippians 4:4-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:17

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Extracted from the book "Over 200 Questions Children Ask about God and the Bible" By David R. Veerman and others.