And as they were looking intently intently into heaven at His going, Lo! two men stood beside them in white attire, who say also, "Men! Galileans! Why do you stand, looking into heaven? This Jesus who is being taken up from you into heaven shall come thus, in the manner in which you gaze at Him going into heaven."
Acts 1: 10-11, Concordant New Testament
Anyone who has been witness to the current events of this world may have wished at one time or another for its coming. The place where our Lords glory reigns. Where justice and peace for all of Gods children can be found. For thousands of years, men have dreamed of their ultimate destination when this life is over. The mainstream church has all too often used our time in heaven as a sort of reward for the toil and sacrifice we endure here in this world. If we're good enough. If we meet the Lords standard, then we too will enjoy a heavenly reward. The truth is, our heavenly destination was intended to be more of a homecoming than a get out of jail free card. The temporary bodies we inhabit are not our one true home. Our home, our destination, is in the presence of the Lord. Why would God not desire His children to return to Him? Why would a loving God not desire to share His home with the children He loves so much? This is the truth of our future in heaven, and it fly's right in the face of all we've been taught. Growing up, I was told that only the good will be rewarded with eternity in heaven. This was our incentive to live as close to a Godly life as possible. The better we did, the better our chances of reaching heaven...and God. The trouble with that way of thinking is that the man made church made the rules of how well one must do in order to succeed in reaching heaven. The church decided if you had been good enough to deserve your final home. How many believers have perished not knowing the true love and acceptance of God? How many have struggled and toiled chasing the righteousness set forth by man? This was never the Lords intent. God has never desired that heaven be a contest. What He DID desire is that we would be one with He and His Son {John 17:21}. Jesus has prepared for us a place in heaven {John 14:2}. Consider the thief crucified on the cross next to Jesus. He never toiled in his quest to be righteous. What he DID do is recognize that only through Jesus would he enter his final home {Luke 23:43}. If we seek our eternal home in heaven, then Jesus is where our search should begin {John 14:6}.
For we are aware that, if our terrestrial tabernacle house should be demolished, we have a building of God, a house made not by hands, eonian, in the heavens.
2 Corinthians 5: 1, Concordant New Testament
The apostle Paul speaks to our final home in his letter to the church in Corinth. Paul speaks of a building of God, a house not made by human hands {2 Corinthians 5:1}. Not surprisingly, Paul did not speak to the effort and toil it would take to achieve our final home. What he did was speak of our expected destination. I wonder what the church spin would be on the words of Paul here. We have a building made by God...if we are good enough. We have a building made by God...if we behave. Does this sound like a heaven in which a loving God desires for His children? To me this sounds more like a reality show competition than a homecoming. Millions of contestants with very few winners. If it seems as if the deck is stacked against us, you're right. At least from mans point of view. By mans standards, very few will achieve the righteousness needed to enter into heaven. By Gods standards, all are welcome. Yet speak this truth to well meaning Christians and you will get a shocked response. What? God desires ALL to enter into heaven? But what about all those sinners? Yes, what about them? Again, scripture tells us our Lords desire {John 3:16-17}. Many a Christian knows John 3:16 by heart, but selectively forget the next verse in the passage. That the world may be saved through Jesus. The world...everyone. I recently watched the film Come Sunday, which depicts the career of pastor Carlton Pearson. Pastor Pearson was heavily criticized by the church for speaking that there was no hell. Indeed, this fly's in the face of all the church teaches. Take away the threat of hell and all you're left with is a loving Father who desires a homecoming for His children. THAT, is the true desire of the Father.
For God does not dispatch His Son into the world that He should be judging the world, but that the world may be saved through Him.
John 3: 17, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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