I read an article several years ago entitled, “Not Many People Want to Go to Heaven Anymore.” I believe what was written then applies to us more today than it did in the past. According to the author, many people still believe heaven exists, but they don’t let the reality of heaven have any influence in their lives today. The author states of many people, “They find the hope of heaven a comfort at death, but would much prefer there be no death at all.”
There is more than a little truth to what this person says. Do we have a heavenly view of how we live life every day? This isn’t to say we should all want to die immediately. However, do we approach life now so that whenever we face death later, whenever it happens, we have a sure hope in being in eternity with God (Hebrews 6:19-20)? One of Satan’s greatest temptations to us is to become consumed with the physical. It’s easy to give the spiritual just a token significance, to have little, if any, concern about the spiritual. To believe in God, to attend worship occasionally, to pray here and there, is more than enough religion for many. God is a loving God, so it doesn’t really matter all that much anyway, may be the way some people think. Heaven is everyone’s prerogative, and ultimately God will save everybody, many people hopefully theorize. Again, this is a delusion of Satan. Jesus’ words are still true and applicable for us today. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
I don’t know of anyone who wants to spend eternity in hell, but the question is, do we take the time to live so we can go to heaven? Paul said, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Colossians 1:3-4). To live in heaven tomorrow means we live for heaven today. Heaven is promised to the faithful, and we do not get to decide what constitutes faithfulness in the eyes of God. To those who commit their lives to Him, to live in Him and for Him, each and every day, heaven is a blessed, precious and sure promise.
Don’t be so busy living life that you don’t have time to live for God. Each day brings you closer to eternity, but which one? “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). Allow the hope of heaven to offer a positive influence on your life today. Rejoice that God offered His Son for you so that heaven can be a reality for you. Live your life in such a way that heaven will be a reality when this life is over. “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
