The old line goes, "Everybody wants to go to Heaven but no one wants to die."
Most people whom are asked confirm, " I want to go to heaven". It is assumed that at death everyone is destined for eternal bliss and happiness.
My contention is most people not only are not going to Heaven, they don't even want to go. They just want not to go to the other place. And since Heaven seems to be the only alternative, it wins by default.
Some people would not be happy in Heaven. Nothing about it would appeal to them. They would be forever out of place. So, God is not going to make them go.
I'd like to interject a question or two into the next conversation on who expects to go to Heaven. After the interviewee attests that, "yes, I expect to go to Heaven," I want to ask, "For what reason? What do you expect to happen in Heaven?"
Since the Scripture is the only solid authority we have-- we look to it for hints on what takes place in Heaven. The news is not good for a lot of people.
In fact, once they find out what goes on in Heaven and who's going to be there, I have no doubt that some of them would change their minds and opt for the other place. After all to be eternally out of place is a form of hell in its own way.
I want to raise four brief questions about Heaven:
1. what's there,
2. what activities go on inside its borders,
3. who will be present and
4. who absent?
What's in Heaven?
Unable to express the inexpressible, to describe the indescribable, the Apostle John spends more time telling us what is not in Heaven. That gives us some kind of insight as to what might be there.
No death and no hell (Revelation 20:14).
Heaven is the dwelling place of God (Rev. 21:3).
No tears (Rev. 21:4).
Not only are there no more tears, but God is going to personally wipe them all away. Through some personal act of compassion He will wipe them from my memory.... From my eyes.
No more death or mourning or crying or pain (Rev. 21:4).
According to Revelation 21:10-21, Heaven is a real place, more glorious than anything we have ever seen.
There's no church building there. "No temple" (Rev. 21:22).
No sun or moon. No locks or bars, no security system needed.
No night.
Nothing impure will be there. (Rev. 21:27) That alone is going to upset a lot of people who got their earthly delights out of various impurities.
What activities go on in Heaven?
I wish we knew. We don't, except for a few broad areas.
They sing a lot. (Revelation 19.) So, count on music being a staple. Furthermore, while they might sing an oldie or two (Rev. 15:2), for the most part it appears they're singing new songs, composed just for this auspicious occasion (Rev. 14:3).
They eat sumptuously. See what Jesus said in Matthew 8:11. Pay close attention to the numerous parables He gave on "a great king" or "a great man" throwing a wedding feast (see Matthew 22:1-14 and Luke 14:15-23).
Great. Pentecostals love to eat!
They worship. This Almost goes without saying, doesn't it. But our worship here, which is so partial and shadowy and limited, will be nothing compared to the glory of worshiping the Lamb in the very presence of Heaven's hosts.
It will not be constrained by the weakness of our bodies, lack of time, or lack of adequate words.... For the first time we will be able to completely express of thanks for all He has done.
" Oh for a thousand tongues to sing"
They serve the Lord. (Revelation 7:15 and 22:3) You thought that was over? To serve the wonderful Savior is no drudgery, no punishment, and no evidence of the curse. It's the greatest privilege, the highest honor, the purest joy.
So will those who serve their own agenda down even want to be there?
God is in charge, .... This would be a literal hell for many!
Who will be in Heaven?
Staying with Revelation, here are a few glimpses of Heaven's roll call....
Jesus is there. He will be the focal point,
"When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He said to John, Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Rev. 1:17-18)
The saints are there.
"These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?" And he said, "These are they who have come out of great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."(Rev. 7:13-14)
This line from Revelation 17:14: With him will be his "called, chosen and faithful followers."
"Come you blessed of the Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you invited me in, naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to me."
These are those who practiced the golden rule,
These are they who loved one another with a pure heart fervently...
These are they who went the extra mile, who turned the other cheek...
Who's discipleship was bore out by their " love one for another"
You see it really dose matter, and God is keeping score.
And, equally important, who is not in Heaven?
No dogs, ( sorry Pattie ) the Apostle John was not referring to the canine variety. He means the real rascals of society, the mangy curs who spread trouble and disease and heartache and dissension. Men of great importance down here, as they continually divide and conquer,
Don't look for them in Heaven. (Rev. 22:15) He describes those who were given that nickname,
Dogs: those who practice the magic arts,
Dogs: the sexually immoral,
Dogs: the murderers,
Dogs: the idolators,
Dogs: everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
One of the most telling lines is Revelation 21:8. "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolators and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
Did you see who is leading that unholy parade into Hades? The cowardly. That would be those who knew the right path, but who feared what people would say or do more than they feared God. So they never acted on what they knew. Their cowardice not only caused them to suffer through out their earthly life, but banishes them from Heaven's wonders forever.
Cowards live in a hell of indecision and fear now, and are destined to spend eternity in the same condition. Christianity has never been the choice of the faint hearted, it takes courage to walk the path less traveled.
If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:15)
The conclusion then is that Heaven is not going to be like any place we know. And the troublemakers of this planet, who always seem to wrest control, will not be there.
Those who arrive in Heaven will be those made holy in the blood of Jesus and who thereafter lived a life of service to him and others.
Here are a few reasons some might not enjoy heaven;
--They don't love the Lord and He is what Heaven is all about.
--They don't enjoy worshiping the Lord, so why would they want to go where that's the daily routine?
--They never serve the Lord here, so they certainly would not want an eternity of such.
--They care little for the people of God, and they make up the entire population of Heaven.
-- only He will receive any of the glory, praise and admiration, and their world is all about them,
Therefore, God is not going to make them go.
He really is a God of mercy, isn't He?
Thank you for reading, and as always your comments are always welcomed.
Blessings!
Lm
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