Heaven is for You
As humans we are so preoccupied with getting into heaven, we forget that we can’t ‘do anything’ to get in. We can only prepare ourselves to accept what God has already done for us in the first place. A life of prayer, fasting and taking care of the poor isn’t about getting ‘in’, it is about accepting it in the first place.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose.
Ephesians 1.1-9
As Saint Paul reminds us, ‘before the foundation of the world’ God chose that we should be His children. We cannot be what God has not created us to be. We cannot make ourselves His children. That means we cannot ‘do anything’ to ‘get into’ heaven. It is all up to God.
That doesn’t mean we can’t do something to get ready for heaven. What if I told you we were all going to be in heaven together, the good and the bad? Would you be jealous or outraged that God ‘allowed those others’ to be where you deserve to be? Then you are at risk of experiencing heaven as hell.
Of course, we don’t really know what God’s decision will ultimately be. He is God and we are His creation. If He chooses that we should all ‘stay out’ of heaven, that is His prerogative. Either way, our job is to learn to be ok with His decision.
That is why the life of the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is designed to prepare our heart to accept God’s will, not matter what. The judgment is coming, and the judgment is straightforward. God is God and He alone will decide our future.
That might frighten you, but I’m suggesting that this truth should comfort you. Saint Paul is reminding us today that God HAS ALREADY CHOSEN that we should be His children. That means we are His heirs. We will inherit His Kingdom. That’s because He love us.
We can’t screw it up with our actions. We can only screw it up with our hearts. Starting today, make every day about being good with God’s decision. Starting today, start living like His children, and prepare to inherit His Kingdom. Starting today, start living like you actually want to be with Him in heaven.
