Alot of people want to go to heaven. The Bible describes it as a beautiful place with streets of gold, beautiful jewels everywhere, trees by the river bearing all types of fruits at once ( and if you are like me this is really appealing-living on an island you'd think I'm always at the beach. I'm lucky if a see the sea or a river at least once for the year.). Not to mention the parts about no more pain, sorrow, sickness, etc. Well I realise after talking to some people over the years that quite a few of them sought religion for this purpose- the promise of the perfect life. Very appealing, but I'm more excited about living with my Lord and King everyday for eternity!
Those who believe that once they were "good" here on earth it automatically guarantees them a spot in heaven are gravely mistaken. The Bible clearly states that to live in heaven we must accept the "owner' of heaven. How can you live with someone you don't have any type of relaationship with? Even on earth now, a roommate isn't just a random person. Even if you don't know them well, you will know them and that isn't usually a permanent situation. But if you are planning on permanently living with God, you must have a relationship with Him. His word says "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3 verse 16. Very famous verse, but it's important to note that heaven is not attainable without Jesus.
Jesus went on to further say in John 14 vs 1-2-"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." And Jesus told his disciple Thomas a few verses down in verse 6 that "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
And "by Jesus" simply means by believing that Jesus is the Son of God sent from heaven to die for our sins. That He is the Saviour from which we should seek forgiveness and spend our lives serving Him by doing what He made us to do. Finding our purpose in Him.
This is a part of a prayer Jesus said while he was on earth recorded in St. John 17 vs. 21-22
"That they may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:"
I love developing a relationship with Jesus Christ now on earth, and it is work just like any other relationship. But can I tell you how exciting it is to anticipate seeing Him face to face one day?!
