The Reality of Heaven
Is heaven for real? Can a person really go to heaven when he dies? Seriously, can the turmoil and pain of this world be left behind for eternity? And a favorite—Can’t a person be saved and then just live as he wants?
Yes. Yes. Yes. And NO. Why would someone want to know Jesus and then choose to not live for Him.
Yes, heaven is for real. & Yes, a person really can go to heaven when he dies.
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
(The Gospel According to John 14: 1-3 NASB)
In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so,
I would have told you;
for I go to prepare a place for you.
If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself,
that where I am, there you may be also.”
Hallelujah, Yes, the turmoil and pain of this world will be left behind for all eternity.
“They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore;
(The Revelation to John 7: 16-17 NASB)
nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;
for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and will guide them to springs of the water of life;
and God will wipe ever tear from their eyes.”
Christians, do not allow us to be filled with fear or be discouraged. Heaven awaits!
Until such time, we are like athletes in a race surrounded by spectators, cheering and encouraging us to run, to push on, and to run the race set before us. However, what does that look like for a runner to “run with endurance the race”? Picture the runner as he races the cross-country course. The path before him is filled with debris, filled with sticks, small pebbles, low hanging branches, twists and turns, hills and valleys, and before him, tree roots protrude from the ground, causing him to stumble—if he does not keep his body, mind, and spirit focused.
A person should NOT be saved and live as he wants.
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
(The Letter to the Hebrews 12: 1-2 NASB)
In a cross-country race, the athlete must consider so many parts of his body: his eyes, his arms, his hands, and his feet.
Therefore, a runner must run his race, looking both ahead of him, at the place where he is going, even as he must glance down at the path before him, so he will not fall. To run the race of faith, runners are “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, . . .”
Therefore, a runner must think about the way he swings his arms, not allowing them to swing across his body but instead swing naturally, bent at the elbow and pumping in a forward motion. His form is important to win the victory he seeks.
Therefore, a runner should also consider the clenching of his hands, for the tight-fisted athlete expends energy as he makes a fist, stealing away the energy he needs to run his race. So, he must relax his hands, allowing them to relax as he runs his race.
And finally, therefore, a runner must point his feet in the direction he is going, not allowing his feet to curve to the side as he runs. The placement of his feet allows the runner to not lose seconds as he races for the finish line.
This is the race believers run. Persecution and trials will come, but we are to persevere. Cruelty and oppression may cross our path, but we are to run with faithfulness as we look to Jesus, who set the example for us to follow. Yes, we are “fixing our eyes” on Him, focus our minds on Him, and run with endurance as He did.
The believer’s race demands it.
The Christian race is not a sprint but a marathon, so we must stay the course, remaining faithful—until the end. Steadfast. Fit. Committed. Dedicated. Disciplined and Self-Controlled. It is not us who set the course, but God. He established the path we are to follow. A daily time of prayer, of worship, of studying God’s Word, of examining our lives, and of confession of “the sin which so easily entangles us,” is necessary if we are to run well.
There are some individuals who “put off” even entering the race of faith, but should a person live as he wants, procrastinating in knowing Jesus personally in this earthly life? Should an individual live however he wants—Hopeful that on his deathbed he will have a chance to accept Jesus in his heart and go to heaven?
No!
No one should wait but should seek God’s offer of salvation today.
How horrible eternity will be IF a person chose to wait for his deathbed, hoping to accept Jesus into his heart and then misses the opportunity to be saved and go to heaven.
Do not wait. Be saved today. Heaven is Real.