Do You Really Want to Go to Heaven - Really?

Seeking the Coming City

You may think this a silly question.  However, do you know anyone who talks about going to heaven that does not follow the authority of Jesus Christ in the New Testament?  Right away, those in the denominational world probably pop into your mind.  But folks,  Matthew 7:21 applies to those in the Lord’s church as well.

The main purpose of the epistle to the Hebrews was to stem the tide of the deathly backslide of the Hebrews to Judaism. Why? The Hebrew writer knew that going back into Judaism would be to forfeit the heavenly hope. 

Judaism was once the religion of Jehovah God but only for the purpose of bringing the Messiah to the lost world.  Judaism was fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:17) and abolished Judaism could not then or ever offer man the redemption of sins that would lead him to heaven.  It is only through Jesus Christ and His precious blood which was shed “outside the gate” that will bring redemption to mankind (Hebrew 13:12).  Therefore, one must “go forth therefore unto him without the camp,” that is, one had to leave Judaism behind.  Those who would follow Christ could not be ashamed to stand by Him “without the camp” in His humiliation upon the cross.  This is the only way one could take joy in sharing His reproach.  The same is true of the followers of Christ today!  

We often look at the Hebrews of the Bible and see a fickle and wavering people in their faith, faith  that went up and down like a roller coaster. They relied on things such as Jerusalem, the Holy City  and “The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord,” (Jeremiah 7:4). But the city of Jerusalem would soon be made desolate and the temple of the Lord would soon be toppled and then their gross error would be made manifest. 

But, are we any different?  The things written about the Jews in the Old Testament were written for our learning and admonition (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12).  Therefore, let us not put our sole trust in such things as crying out “The church of Christ, the church of Christ, the church of Christ.”  The body of Christ is most important but it will not redeem our souls.  Just attending church will not bring redemption. Seeking heaven is much more.

Our hope is upward and lies in seeking the “new Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:2) and seeking implies activity. One cannot be  passive. Every Christian has a great part to play no matter the number of his talents (Matthew 25:14-30).  The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men but that grace teaches that we must deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and that we are to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (Titus 2:11,12).  God’s grace toward us is great but grace alone, as some contend, will not redeem us.  Christians cannot be passive but must activelyseek the heavenly city to come (Hebrews 13:14).  2 Peter 2:5 tells us that we are “lively stones” in the church of our Lord and“lively” implies activity.

Therefore brethren, we must attend  worship  and worship our God  in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  But beyond that, we must read, study, and learn of God’s will for us.  We must live it and teach it by our example and by our words (1 John 3:18) at every opportunity.  Then, we must seek opportunities to do good unto all men (Galatians 6:10). So, let us put Christ first in our lives and seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness(Matthew 6:33) before all else.  Let us be crucified with Christ, put away self, and let the world see Christ in us (Galatians 2:20).

God’s grace will save only those who are submissive, active seeker’s of the kingdom of God. We must give all to seeking that kingdom now (Matthew 22:37) looking forward, with earnest expectation, to the kingdom to come (Romans 8:16-19).

Do you really want to go to heaven - really?   

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