so, you wanna go to heaven?

so, you think you wanna go to heaven...

are you fit for the kingdom? What will it be like? What are the prerequisites for getting there? What will go on in heaven?

Well, the only thing I feel certain about is that we will be forever with Jesus, the One who died to give us that Home...

We read in the Bible of certain characteristics of the place we look forward to. Some seem to be metaphorical (though God can make the place whatever He wills): pearly gates, golden streets, etc. Some seem to be very real to us: no pain, no regrets, everlasting peace and happiness...

Whatever wonder He prepares for His own, there is one intriguing question we seem to like to debate: Who will be there?

Well, for all my growing up, I was taught that the litmus test for entry into Heaven was how we worshipped on Sunday morning (oh, and whether your church had one pastor or several elders... and whether your church had a headquarters... and - for some - whether you had a kitchen in your building or not or used one or several cups to serve communion...) and, perhaps - way down the 'qualifications' list - how you lived...

As I continue to learn and understand just a little bit, my 'qualifications list' gets shorter and shorter... as if it matters what I think!

i.e.: Are you a believer? do you believe Jesus is God's Son and came to earth through a miraculous virgin birth, lived as a man, died on a cross for our sins and rose on the 3rd day?

(I have lots of friends who have such a myopic view of who's gonna 'make it', I wonder if they will be shocked to see folks in heaven who didn't believe exactly the way they do...)

God's Spirit inspired Paul to write 'there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved'

but here's the best part: we don't have to decide! God is the righteous judge, and He came to earth in human form so that "none would perish, but everyone would have everlasting life"...

We have spent so much time arguing about who's right and who's going, and I have stopped... really... I have stopped that fruitless exercise...

Our job is to scatter seed....

so how 'bout we stay busy doing that?

Let's let God be God and get out de way so He can do His work...

Blessings!