You are the dear child of an adoring Heavenly Father. Your Father has invited you to move to his luxurious home. He has already paid for your ticket, but you need to pack your things and be ready to catch your “flight” on time. In other words, you must prepare.
Prepared believers are living for Heaven…now.
Hebrews 11:15-16, Living Bible – “15 If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world. 16 But they didn’t want to. They were living for heaven. And now God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has made a heavenly city for them.”
Your Father’s country, Heaven, is very different from where you live now—it’s perfect. There is no crime, no sickness, no poverty, no fear, no sorrow, no darkness and no death there (Revelation 21:3-4)
Revelation 21:27, Living Bible – “27 Nothing evil will be permitted in it—no one immoral or dishonest—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
The people who live in Heaven are perfect, just as the Father in Heaven is perfect (1 Peter 1:14-16).
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, New King James Version – “9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Wait! Don’t be discouraged. Remember, the Father has paid the price for you to be made perfect.
Jude 24-25, Living Bible – “24-25 And now—all glory to him who alone is God, who saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord; yes, splendor and majesty, all power and authority are his from the beginning; his they are and his they evermore shall be. And he is able to keep you from slipping and falling away, and to bring you, sinless and perfect, into his glorious presence with mighty shouts of everlasting joy. Amen.”
If we want to go to Heaven, then we must start living for Heaven.
Jude 4, Living Bible – “4 I say this because some godless teachers have wormed their way in among you, saying that after we become Christians we can do just as we like without fear of God’s punishment. The fate of such people was written long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Because God is fair, he must punish sin.
Jude 5-6, Living Bible – “5 My answer to them is: Remember this fact—which you know already—that the Lord saved a whole nation of people out of the land of Egypt and then killed every one of them who did not trust and obey him. 6 And I remind you of those angels who were once pure and holy but turned to a life of sin. Now God has them chained up in prisons of darkness, waiting for the judgment day.”
God is gracious, so he gives us warnings and time to repent. Remember the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. God sent two angels to see if the city of Sodom could be spared judgment for its grievous sin. The Lord was willing to spare the city if even ten righteous people could be found. But, men from all over the city tried to rape the angels who had been sent by God execute judgment (Genesis 18:20–Genesis 19:29).
Jude 7, Living Bible – “7 And don’t forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, all full of lust of every kind, including lust of men for other men. Those cities were destroyed by fire and continue to be a warning to us that there is a hell in which sinners are punished.”
We can turn from sin and live for heaven if we… Believe, Trust, Obey and Pray.
- Believe in Jesus – Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and accept Him as your Lord and Savior. (Romans 10:8-10)
- Trust the Bible – Trust the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God. It reveals God’s plan and instructions for your life. (2 Timothy 3:16)
- Obey God – When we have faith in God, we obey Him. God expects us to obey what is written in the Word of God and the leading of His Holy Spirit. (1 John 5:2-4)
- Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you – Struggling with sin? That doesn’t surprise God. The Lord knows we can’t change without His help. When we ask God for help, His Holy Spirit will give us the power to resist sin. (Luke 11:13, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13)
Romans 11:22, Living Bible – “22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is very hard on those who disobey, but very good to you if you continue to love and trust him. But if you don’t, you too will be cut off.”
