THE ASSUMPTION OF HEAVEN

 Matthew 7:21 (NIV)

“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

               America has been blessed to have been shaped from its beginnings by Christianity. Although it is obvious that not everyone who has lived in America is a genuine believer, it is still true that our culture, in the main, has been shaped by Christian beliefs. As we have become more and more secularized many of these Christian beliefs have been watered down or abandoned. But there are still vestiges of Christianity that linger. One of those is the belief in heaven. Nearly ¾ of all American adults still believe in heaven. Their understanding of heaven is by no means consistent or universal, but it is foundational for many people.

               One of the aspects of belief in heaven that stands out is the idea that most people will go to heaven when they die. Only the really bad people will miss out and go to hell. If a person has lived a relatively good and moral life, then they expect that heaven is their destination. This attitude was confirmed for me the other night as I was watching a TV show. At one point, one of the main characters asked the other if he believed in heaven. She expressed her utter confidence that she would go to heaven when she died and that she would see her loved one again.

               For many people, the idea of heaven or a positive afterlife has been divorced from religion or from specific faith in Jesus Christ. As long as a person has a vague idea of God and has lived a “good” life, then they expect heaven to be their reward. For most people, heaven is about seeing loved ones who have died. It has very little, if anything, to do with being united with Jesus. It is true that the Bible promises us that we will be united with those who have gone before us, but that is secondary to knowing Christ and entering into His glory.

               The people of Israel had an idea of heaven based on the Law. If they were faithful to the Law all of their life, they would be rewarded with a place in God’s heavenly Kingdom. They felt that anyone outside of the Law was excluded from the Kingdom of God. This same concept is true in Islam. Only true Muslims will go to heaven. Everyone else is fodder for the fires of hell. In both cases the assumption is that if I am in the “right” group then I’m in.

               Jesus had a different take on the issue. Jesus is very clear that outwardly claiming our place in heaven is not enough. In Matthew 7, Jesus clearly states the criteria for entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 7:15-23 (NIV)
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

               Bottomline for Jesus is not how religious a person has been, or how good, or how well they kept the Law, but whether they had a relationship with Him. A person who has a genuine relationship with Jesus will show that through the fruit they produce. Their position before God is not based on bearing good fruit. Bearing good fruit is the outcome of having a relationship with Jesus. Jesus is clearly saying that it is not enough to go through the motions of faith outwardly. There needs to be an inner commitment and transformation that has taken place.

               There was an animated film back in 1987 called All Dogs Go to Heaven. The idea is that because dogs are loyal to their masters they all go to heaven. There is a loose idea that love, friendship, and loyalty are the keys to entrance in heaven. In many ways, that is how so many people see it. If I am generally loving and loyal to my family and friends then I will get a free pass to heaven. Unfortunately, that is not reality.

               If we have placed our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, then we can be assured of our place in heaven. But we should not presume upon this. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 13:5; Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? We do not have to live in fear, but we do need to be sure that we are genuinely in a relationship with Jesus. Having a relationship with Jesus is not a moment in time, but a life-long adventure of following Him. It is the greatest adventure in the world for those who truly embrace it.

               No one earns a place in heaven by living a good life. Heaven is a gift from God to all those who have placed their faith in Jesus. Everyone who enters into heaven has been invited there personally by Jesus and will be welcomed in with open arms.

John 14:1-6 (NIV)
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."