An Eternal Home :)

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Hebrews 12:22-24 NIV

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,

to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,

to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

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Well, well, well. What have we here? 

I know the concept of heaven and hell is rarely ever talked about in our churches today, except if in passing. It's a doctrine that's slowly being sidelined and replaced with more "modern" and "appealing" ones. 

When I was much younger, I thought about heaven and hell so much more than I do now. In fact, I'd imagine that Heaven was like a supermarket where I'd get as much ice cream as I wanted. This kinda kept me in check because there's some kind of reverent fear that it helped me develop towards God, such that I tried to keep myself from lying, stealing and the like. I feel like the gospel back then was undiluted...the pastors then cared not about stirring our hearts to love them, but about stirring us to the awareness of this inescapable reality. When all is said and done, two commands will be given: "Gather the tares, the chaff, and stubble together - and cast them into the burning lake of fire!" and "Gather the wheat into my barn!". It's entirely upon us, while we are still here, to determine the category in which we'll lie. As for me, I want to go to Heaven 🤧. 

This desire sparked in me an interest to delve deeper into studying what the Word of God has to say concerning these things. It's quite disheartening that many of us (our pastors included 🤧) have either trivialized or completely ignored this reality. Seldom is it preached as the core of the sermons we listen to. This leaves many believers in the assumption that because they are born again, serve God in various capacities and fellowship with others, they will automatically get there. Another group is completely unmindful of these things. Could it be that our priorities are a little misplaced? 

Think carefully about the prayers we often make. It's almost always about academic excellence, getting a job, financial breakthrough, a spouse, children, a beautiful home, expensive cars, luxurious lifestyles, good health, titles, power, fame...it goes on and on. For medical students on this platform, think about how hard we pray to see our names on the passlist every end of the year...it's more or less a matter of life and death. Now, if we're honest with ourselves and before God, we have never prayed with half as much zeal that our names will be written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Not that we don't care (don't get me wrong 🙂), maybe we're not keen to follow it up or are just not mindful of it enough, so to speak.

Concerning this, the Evangelist (featuring 'The Pilgrim's Progress' by John Bunyan) specifically tells Faithful and Christian, "Let nothing in this world capture your highest affections..." The Kingdom was to always be before their eyes. It's almost like we've treated this world as our home, yet we are but sojourners. We've let the things of this world entice us and drag us away from the way that leads to the world that is to come. The sad reality is that all these things we pray about so passionately will soon fade away. After death, none of these things will matter anymore. I think I now get why the author of Ecclesiastes is as rash in his words as he is. In his introduction he says, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." As he comes to a close, he says:

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Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV

Now all has been heard; 

here is the conclusion of the matter: 

Fear God and keep his commandments, 

for this is the whole duty of man.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

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Solomon wasn't just yapping and venting his frustrations as he wrote this book. He's a man who had it all... the power, the fame, royalty, wisdom, honor, immense wealth, and (perhaps top of the list) sexual pleasures from literally a thousand different women. He had it all yet felt that he had lost it all. He had simply been chasing after the wind, sorry to say. At the end of the book, however, he highlights the one thing that is most important, and proceeds to emphasize the concept of judgement. This is no coincidence. Judgement is a very crucial concept in both the New and Old Testaments. We cannot escape this reality. Here's a set of verses that capture this beautifully 😊.

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Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV

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. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

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If there's one thing we should constantly pray and cry out to God about, it's that He alone would be our greatest treasure and the supreme desire of our hearts. God is very much concerned about preparing for each one of us an eternal home in Heaven (John 14:2-3). The prime purpose of Salvation was that we would not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). Much as this eternal life begins here on earth, we are to be very careful that we are not carried away and end up missing out on that day of judgement. Jesus specifically tells the disciples not to rejoice that the spirits were subject to them, but that their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:20). That should ring a bell. In God's list of priorities, where we spend eternity is of much more significance than the exploits we do for Him as we serve Him here on earth. 

Now here's something else I'd like you to think about. Oftentimes, when altar calls are made for people to get born again, you hear things like:

Jesus is able to heal your broken heart...

He is willing to make you whole...

He is able to set you free...

He is able to make a way for you...

He is able to provide for you/heal you/restore you...

He paid the cost for your salvation

All you have to do is receive Him...

Personally, I got born again after watching some drama on Heaven and Hell by CITAM during a weekend challenge on 30th June 2019 (spiritual birthday dates are important too 🤭). I know most people don't approve of this kind of evangelism because it sort of "scares" or "threatens" people to receiving salvation. One might also argue that such a strategy will raise christians who obey only because they've been threatened to and not because they're in a loving relationship with God and want to please Him. It's probably why other approaches are much more popular especially in today's society. Either way, I don't think that's reason enough to downplay the significance of letting people know the truth about the coming judgement.

Regardless of why one comes to Christ, it's the lessons taught during discipleship that significantly shape the kind of believer one becomes. The Holy Spirit was sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement (John 16:8). By default then, the doctrine we teach MUST have the three essentials if at all it's to be considered wholesome. Let's not do away with any one of them because they are the determinants of our eternal home. It's time we talk, think, teach and pray about this a lot more, don't you think? Check this: 😊

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1Thessalonians 4:15-18 NIV

According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Therefore encourage each other with these words.

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Conversations about rapture and the coming judgement shouldn't be a scare for us, but an encouragement. If it's a scare then we can always make a point of praying that God would prepare us for that day, that when the trumpet sounds we will be found ready. I don't know about you, but I really want to be among the number. I know I'm still not very confident that if He were to come now I'd be ready, but I'm glad He's helping me be more mindful of these heavenly realities. It's a good place to start 😊. I've actually studied very little about heaven, but I'm hoping to begin this journey with Him. Most importantly, we have a Helper, the Holy Spirit. He plays a significant role in our sanctification thus helps us to live blameless lives. We are not alone. 

Three times in the final chapter of the Book of Revelation Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming soon." I need not emphasize that any further. In any case, even if we die before that happens, we'll still have to face judgement you know. That said, here's the final remark 😊:

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1Thessalonians 5:23 NIV 

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

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