The Edifier
West Allen Church of Christ
Is Heaven Your Destination?
"These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes (Psa 50:21)."
As we journey through our lives on Earth, we should always keep in mind where we are headed. Truly every believer in God wants to go to Heaven, but as the old song says, "Everybody that talks about Heaven is not going there." Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ "And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matt 7:21-32) Can you answer yes to ALL these questions?
Have You Obeyed the Gospel?
In the passage cited above, Jesus said one must do the Father’s will if he is to see
Heaven. The Gospel draws people to God, and we are called through it by Him
(John 6:44-45;
2 Thess 2:14).
It is His power to save
(Rom 1:16),
so one who wants to be saved must answer its call. Though foolishness to men
(1 Cor 1:18),
the facts of the Gospel are the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus
(15:1-4).
The Gospel, to be effective, must be obeyed
(Rom 6:17-18).
It is obeyed in "form" when a penitent believer who has confessed
his faith in Jesus Christ is baptized
(John 1:12;
Acts 17:30;
8:37;
2:38).
The Lord will take vengeance on those who do not obey
(2 Thess 1:7-9).
Have you obeyed?
Are Your Affections Set Above?
Paul tells us, "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on
things above, not on things on the earth"
(Col 3:1-2).
It is so easy to put our faith and trust in what can be seen and touched. Jesus tells
us to lay up treasures in the security of Heaven and not on Earth
(Matt 6:19-21).
We must not love the evil allurements of the world
(1 John 2:15-17).
Such friendship makes us God’s enemies
(James 4:4).
Are You Growing in Christ?
Grow, add, abound three words found many times in the New Testament.
"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby"
(1 Pet 2:1-2).
This growth is to be in the grace and knowledge of Christ and God
(2 Pet 3:18;
Col 1:10).
To go to Heaven you must add virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness,
brotherly kindness, and love to his faith
(2 Pet 1:5-11).
He must continually abound in the work of the Lord
(1 Cor 15:58),
abound in love
(Phil 1:9),
and live so his life becomes the Gospel
(Phil 1:27).
Are You Proving Faithful?
If Heaven is your destination, you are proving to be faithful to God and His Word. God is faithful to us and He expects our faithfulness to Him. If you want to go to Heaven, you do not forsake the assembling of the saints (Heb 10:25). A person with the goal of Heaven in His heart does not grow weary as he trods toward his destination (Gal 6:9). His is a determined race—not an aimless stroll through life, He runs that he might attain the prize, exercising self-control all the way (1 Cor 9:24-27). He stands fast in the Lord (Phil 4:1) and does not waver in the onslaught of false doctrine (Eph 4:14). "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev 2:10).
When you answer these questions truthfully, can you honestly and scripturally say that Heaven is your destination?