How to Get Ready for Heaven

Getting Ready for Heaven

2 Peter 3:11-14: “What manner of persons ought ye to be?”

If we were expecting to migrate permanently to another country, what changes would this prospect make in the pattern of our daily lives? Would we not begin to prepare seriously for life in that new land, so that when we arrived, we would not be complete strangers?

Our lives would be dominated and revolutionized by this new and exciting prospect. The language, laws, customs, dress, climate, diet, currency, sicknesses, standard of living, politics, religion and education of the citizens of our future homeland would immediately become our major preoccupation.

If we were in danger of carrying some sickness, or contracting one when we got there, would we not take thorough precautions before our departure?

Inasmuch as we are expecting to migrate soon from earth to heaven when Jesus comes, should we not have the same serious attitude towards preparation for life in the heavenly world?

To help us to get ready for the coming migration, God has given us the Bible. It is a faithful mirror of the standards that will govern our conduct in the world to come. In this ln this article we will study these principles of Christian living, and our relationship to them.

The Relevance of Christian Standards

The Bible standards of conduct have a two-fold relevance. Not only do they help to fit us for live in our future, heavenly home, but they help us to grapple more effectively with the practical realities of life in this present world!

There is a widespread notion abroad today that Christian standards of morality are arbitrary, repressive and obsolete. Advocates of this view are saying: “There are no absolute standards. Truth, beauty and decency are only relative. Every man must be permitted to create his own moral values, and to do his own thing, in his own way, in his own situation!”

Dr. Henry Emerson Fosdick has written a hard-hitting reply to this irresponsible, twisted, pagan view of life:

“Go into a science laboratory and tell them there are no standards in their work and they will throw you out!! Standards are their central business… Standards of induction, of verification, of technique, and behind these, profound standards of veracity, integrity, and disinterested devotion to truth.

“Wherever you find a great work being done in engineering, in architecture, in agriculture, in medicine, in music, in art, in literature or in science; amid the infinite variety of expressions, you will find at the core and centre of it all standards… concerning which men are persuaded that nowhere can their disregard be right, and nowhere can their observance be wrong!”

The Foundation of Christian Standards

The ultimate foundation of Christian morality is not merely what God requires, but what God is.

1 Peter 1:15,16: “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”

God’s “holiness” is His moral excellence, His stainless, incorruptible goodness; His unquenchable enthusiasm for righteousness; His uncompromising and total recoil from evil.

Deuteronomy 32:4: “A God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is He.”

Bible “holiness”, therefore, has nothing to do with haloes, or stained-glass-window “saints”, or sanctimonious words and attitudes. It is positive, active, and virile, not negative, passive, and supine. It means “total commitment to goodness, and total separation from evil”.

Romans 12:9: “Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good.”

2 Timothy 2:19: “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Furthermore, God’s character does not change. The constant ebb and flow of human opinions and values does not alter His character by a hair’s breadth.

Malachi 3:6: “I am the Lord, I change not.”

It is out of this fundamental fact of God’s unchanging holiness that His authority, His claims, and His commands arise. His standards are the faithful and unalterable reflection of His character!

The Scope of Christian Standards

God’s claims are so broad and far-reaching that they take in every department of our lives.

Luke 10:27: “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind.”

1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Philippians 4:8: “Whatsoever things are true, honest, just , pure, lovely – think on these things.”

Though God’s standards cover every area of human conduct, He does not regiment our lives down to the last microscopic detail. Instead of long, complicated lists of rules and regulations, He gives us great, unchanging principles, illustrated in the Bible by scores of practical examples. He then leaves us free to apply these principles in our individual circumstances, under the guidance of His Spirit.

a.       In health and temperance

Please refer to fouraspectsoflife.blogspot.com post “How to Care for God’s Living Temple”.

b.     
          Speech, swearing, tale-bearing

Ephesians 4:29-32 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.

Matthew 5:33-37 Swear not at all.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace.

Proverbs 26:22 The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds.

c.      
      Decency, chastity, social purity

Proverbs 6:32 Whoso committeth adultery destroyeth his own soul.

Ephesians 5:3-5 Fornication and all uncleanness, let it not be once named among you.

Proverbs 4:23-27 Keep thy heart with all diligence.

Etc.

d.     
      Courtship, marriage, home ideals

Genesis 2:18-24 Therefore shall a man cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.

Ephesians 5:25-28 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church.

Exodus 20:14 Thou shall not commit adultery.

Proverbs 17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices with strife.

Etc.

e.      
      Recreation, amusement

Isaiah 5:20: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.

Romans 12:2 Be not conformed to this world.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Etc.

f.      
          Dress and personal adornment

1 Timothy 2:9,10: That women adorn themselves with modest apparel.

1 Peter 3:3,4: The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.

Revelation 17:4 The apostate church, adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls.

Etc.

g.    
          Honesty, truthfulness, integrity

Exodus 20:15,16,17: Thou shall not steal… bear false witness… covet.

Leviticus 19:13: Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him.

Romans 12:17: Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

Etc.

The Rewards of Christian Standards

Think first of the present rewards:

Proverbs 3:2 “Length of days, and long life and peace shall they add to thee.”

Proverbs 6:22: “They are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

The impression is sometimes given that in this present world, the Christian life is all hardship and sacrifice, but no gain. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even if there were no hereafter, God’s standards would still be the best guarantees of present liberty, peace, health, prosperity, security and happiness – the blessings that we all covet most!

God’s commandments proved to be a sound insurance policy for Daniel and his companions (Daniel 1:15,19,20,21). So will they be to us.

Now consider the eternal rewards:

Galatians 6:8 “He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

The Living of Christian Standards

At this point, many will say: “I respect and applaud these standards, but I cannot live them. It’s like asking a helpless paralytic to climb to the top of Mount Everest, or jump to the moon! It just can’t be done!”

2 Corinthians 2:16: “Who is sufficient for these things?”

If we try to live these standards in our own strength, we are doomed to dismal failure, but in the strength of the Spirit of God, all things are possible.

 Ezekiel 36:27: “I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My Statutes.”

Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.”

Conclusion:

John Ruskin said: “The great object of God’s salvation is to make people not merely do right things, but enjoy them!

-          Not merely honest, but to love honesty…

-          Not merely just, but to love justice…

-          Not merely truthful, but to love truth…

-          Not merely good, but to love goodness…

-          Not merely pure, but to love purity…

-          Not merely holy, but to hunger and thirst after holiness!”

Ruskin was wise enough to see that God’s biggest problem is not the problem of getting us into Heaven, but the problem of getting Heaven into us!

When this marvelous transformation has taken place, we will obey God’s standards as naturally as a candle gives light, or a fire gives warmth, and we will not be strangers in our future heavenly home.

We will be ready for Heaven, because we already have Heaven in our hearts!