Jesus, the author of our faith, never asked this question. Jesus never said, “Hey, Matthew do you want to go to heaven?” He never said, “Hey, lady at the well with 5 husbands, heaven or hell? The choice is yours.”
We do know that at least twenty times he said, “Follow me.” He did say, “Believe in me.” He even said, “Love me.”
Some might say it’s just a difference in syntax. But words matter. Truth matters. Representing Jesus in authentic ways matters.
Jesus calls us into relationship with him. This misrepresentation has led us down a dangerous path where relationship with Jesus in the present has taken a backseat to a very rudimentary, destination focused religion.
Our concern is more about going to heaven than loving the King.
Francis Chan, Crazy Love
Christianity isn’t about getting your get-out-of-hell free card. It isn’t about cashing in on that mortgage free mansion on Gold Street. It’s about walking with the Creator, Our Redeemer and becoming transformed into his likeness right now, today, on earth.
Jesus prayed, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Jesus said, “The kingdom of God has come upon you.”
He also said, “I am with you always.”
How does this change the way we do things?
Jesus is near.
There is a big difference in the way we endure suffering. One says, “If I can just hold on until I die everything will be better.”
The other says, “This is hard. I am with you in this valley. Let’s do this together.”
For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 2 Cor. 1:5
Heaven is near.
I remember singing this old hymn at Mt. Zion Church of Christ, “Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.” I find myself from time to time singing this to myself. Heaven did come down. Jesus did enter the darkness. We are rescued. We are redeemed. The transfer from darkness to light has been initiated.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. Col 1:13
Joy is now.
There will be a moment upon Christ’s return that our joy will be magnified, yes. But our joy is not deferred. It’s here. It’s in us because he is in us.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
