You Say You Want to Go to Heaven, but You Really Don’t…
Take a poll of any cross section of people and ask them if they want to go to heaven. Most would reply with a resounding, “Yes!” Now take another poll asking the same question to only Christians. Your positive answer to heaven should be near 100%.
But it is time for a Christian reality check. Because while your words say you want to go to heaven your actions clearly state that you don’t.
1. If you really wanted to go to heaven, you would talk about it more! Now that summer is approaching everybody is talking about their plans. They boast of vacations to the beach and treks all over the country. Facebook posts and Instagram pictures and all other forms of social media are replete with nothing but the excitement and documentation of these journeys. But rarely do I hear such excitement from Christians about going to heaven. I don’t see stories of how they were able to secure tickets or how much they anticipate the experience. And I don’t see them inviting their friends and family to come with them. Why not? I must conclude that people are investing more of their heart in these temporary trips.
2. If you really wanted to go to heaven, then you would be getting ready! Every trip involves preparation. We buy new things for trips. We get our clothes washed and packed. We arrange for all business to be taken care of. We make sure even those for whom we are responsible are provided for. So many Christians must not really want to go to heaven because they have not started packing. If anything I see them getting more and more things that they don’t need for the journey. Their spiritual clothes are dirty but they have just been piling them in the hamper. And they are not taking care of the spiritual business of forgiving others, repenting of sin, and preaching the gospel. I must conclude that not getting ready means not really wanting to go.
3. If you really wanted to go to heaven, then you would want to go right now! Who wants to go to the beach? Who wants to go to Disneyworld? Usually, everyone says, “I do and I want to go today! I can’t wait!” But ask most Christian people about heaven and they say they want to go later. They have things they still want to do and see here on earth. They might say they want to watch their children and grandchildren grow up and that they want to live a full life here on earth first. I don’t recall 1st century Christians ever feeling that way. 21st century Christians don’t get it. How sad! Obviously, they don’t understand heaven. They have missed the whole point. Once you have been raised with Christ you are supposed to, “Set your affections on things above; not on things of the earth. For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:2-3). I must conclude that people who want to go to Florida today and heaven later must really, really love Florida more than they should. Or maybe they just don’t realize how superior heaven is to the beach and God is to music stars and Mickey Mouse.
You see, if you really wanted to go to heaven, it would be in your heart and mind with such anticipation, that you could hardly stand another minute of this old world. You would talk about it, prepare for it, and desire it all day, every day. It is hard to long for heaven and earth at the same time. Our hearts and our citizenship can only reside in one place.
Maybe we should take that poll again…Do you really want to go to heaven? Help me to believe you…
“Earth holds no treasures but perish with using, however precious they be. Yet there’s a country to which I am going. Heaven holds all to me” – Tillit S. Teddlie
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