Are You Sure You Want to Go to Heaven?

I know that title sounds rather absurd. Of course, everyone wants to go to Heaven. After all, it's supposed to be a wonderful place, although the idea is rather nebulous to most. Certainly it is beautiful; of course it's perfect; and surely it's a utopia such as we have never experienced here on earth.

But what else is it? Many images have angels playing harps and floating around on clouds. Or some seem to think we become angels after death—remember The Littlest Angel? Heaven is definitely better than Hell and it is certainly something to be attained, to "strive for." And many actually believe they can reach Heaven on their own, or that because God is a loving God all good people will be there. But all those concepts are figments of the imagination. They are what the average person wants to believe. And they sound totally boring to me.

There's an old chorus that goes like this:

Heaven is a wonderful place,
Filled with glory and grace,
I want to see my Savior's face, 
Heaven is a wonderful,
Heaven is a glorious,
Heaven is a wonderful place.

The Bible indeed promises us that Heaven will be a wonderful place. John F. MacArthur writes in his book The Glory of Heaven, "Scripture repeatedly makes clear that heaven is a realm of unsurpassed joy, unfading glory, undiminished bliss, unlimited delights and unending pleasures."

But notice the phrase in the middle of the chorus I quoted above: "I want to see my Savior's face". Being with our God and our Savior are the most glorious aspects of being in Heaven. All of eternity will center on the God of Creation and the Savior who accomplished what we cannot accomplish for ourselves—a restored relationship with God the Father. 

...Christ Jesus is the One who died—
more than that, who was raised—
who is at the right hand of God,
who indeed is interceding for us.
Romans 8:34

 God created us to bring glory to Himself. But we are a fallen race. Even when we have accepted His great gift of salvation, when we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, we trip up and cease to glorify Him. When we reach Heaven, however, even our bodies will be redeemed. Sin will be done away with. We will finally fully accomplish God's purpose for us—we will glorify Him in everything we do or say. 

But I ask you, why would anyone want that if they have no relationship with God here on earth, if they have no desire to glorify Him now? Wouldn't Heaven become a place of guilt and regrets and great discomfort? Would they really want to be there? Could Heaven be perfect with such people there? 

And whatever you do, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17

Are you living in right relationship with God? If not, do you really want to go to Heaven where you will forever revel in His love, where you will forever praise Him, where you will forever give thanks for His great and gracious salvation?

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