Heaven 101

A guide and reminder for those that are seeking eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

Adam and Eve were created by God to enjoy all of His provision and abundant blessings. Eve was tempted by the devil in the Garden of Eden and disobeyed (sinned) the only request that God made of them; do not eat the fruit of a specific tree. Adam, who too understood God’s command regarding the forbidden fruits from that specific tree, went along with Eve’s logic (which amounts to man’s wisdom) and ate of the FORBIDDEN FRUIT. By the sin of Adam, all men were given over to their sinful nature. For years upon years men would struggle with the mystery of how to please God and resist their nature.

Abraham, a man who trusted and believed God (Abraham’s faith was proven by what he did and was willing to do for God) was given righteous credit by God for his obedience. God promised Abraham that He would make him and his seed a great nation because of his righteousness. And so, it was, Abraham’s seed (Isaac, Ishmael. Esau, Jacob, future generations etc.) spread throughout the land and ruled the nations. Overtime, as is natural with man, they lost focus of God and became distracted by worldly things like power, riches, status, tradition and religion, thereby forfeiting the promise and their favor with God.

Over time Israel found itself in bondage and without hope. Then a child called, Moses was born into poverty and called out of destiny to lead God’s people out of slavery and into the Promised Land. God empowered Moses with many gifts and miraculous signs. God also gave Moses commandments that the people were to live by and obey as a guide toward holy acceptance and favor. Through the anointing and faithfulness of Moses, God’s people were led out of captivity (saved from their slavery to Egypt, but not yet attaining that which was promised). Although called, many died and were never able to receive the promise because of their disbelief, disobedience, and longing for that which had enslaved them (looking back).

God raised up many a prophet and leader to demonstrate His power, and express His frustration with man. Continually, disobedience, idolistic worship and traditions of man hindered man’s ability to know God. Thus the scripture “All day long I stretch my hand out to a stubborn and disobedient nation”. Mankind was doomed to reap the wrath of God (the due wages of sin/ disobedience). It was only out of God’s immeasurable love and desire that all men be saved for eternal life with Him, that He sent His only begotten Son to earth. Jesus came to earth in the form of man to show us how to live and walk according to God’s will.

Jesus showed us how to remain obedient and faithful in the face of death; Jesus showed us how to please God and to faithfully stand on His word and the Promise of Eternal Life. (Check out the formula) It starts off with humility (acknowledging that you need God’s divine presence in your life) and that leads to obedience (submitting to God’s will and trusting His word despite what you feel or see), which will inevitably lead you into some fiery trials and tests which, if you endure and pass the test, you will be delivered new and righteous. Now, you will receive the promised Holy Spirit that will keep you and guide into a life of holiness (Be Holy for I AM Holy). Jesus was and is the Blue-Print, the map or THE WAY to Heaven (the only Way!), which is the goal of all Christians. By His death on the cross, Jesus destroyed the wall of hostility that existed between God and man and became the mediator (peace-maker) of a new and better covenant between man and God. By His blood, Jesus re-paid the debt of sin that originated with Adam, and freed us that we might be indebted to Him (The Heavenly Bailout Plan). It is by God’s grace that we have been afforded this opportunity to re- establish our relationship with the Father, and be born again as children of God. Jesus came down from Heaven to reveal the mystery of God and die that our sins would not be counted against us. Now through the promised Holy Spirit, we possess the hope of the glory of eternal Life with God, the Father, if we hold to His Word. We no longer live by the flesh or it’s desires, but we live by the spirit of Jesus Christ that dwells within us who believe (Believe=Submit, Follow or Obey). The sprit of Christ now leads us, teaches us and fills us with godly wisdom, knowledge and discernment so that we can avoid the temptations and traps of the devil.

As Believers we are grateful that God realized that we couldn’t meet His Righteous expectations alone. So He came down off of His throne and became like man in order that He could show us how to please Him. God’s grace is not a license for us to continue in sin; otherwise Jesus went through all that He went through for nothing. It is the blood of Jesus that covered and erased our sins and if we continue to sin we crucify Him all over. On the contrary God’s grace is an opportunity that none of us can afford to miss because scripture says that he will come like a thief in the night. With this being true, we must run our race with endurance, perseverance, joy and focus that we will earn our crown of righteousness, which is required to enter the gates of Heaven.

None of us has ever been to Heaven, but Jesus is from Heaven and if Heaven is really our goal, doesn’t it make sense to let Him do the driving?