STEPS TO HEAVEN

As a Believer one of our chief goals is to make it to the Kingdom of Heaven. Books and songs have been written about it preachers and teachers have taught and preached about it, and it is our hope someday to be with the LORD, yet nowhere in the Bible does it say some one has ever been to Heaven and returned to earth to tell us what it is like. Did you know there are 582 verses in the KJV of the Bible that talk about Heaven, it must be a wonderful place to dwell. Oh, there are plenty of crack pots out there trying to make a fast buck on dimwitted Christians who do not know their Bible and want to believe with all of their heart this person died and went to heaven or hell for that matter and came back, but after time and when the facts truly come out they are exposed as a liar, a rich liar, but a liar none the less. You know if you really think about it for a moment it really does not matter what heaven is like because it is light years ahead of the only alternative home for all of eternally, hell. We have all of these concepts, images, and ideas about Heaven and I guess that is okay for some, but we really do not know for sure. Often when we talk of Heaven we often quote, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9) and think Paul is talking about Heaven, but read the next verse, "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." (1 Corinthians 2:10) Paul is talking about the things that God "by His Spirit" here on earth "hath prepared" for us now so that we can make it to Heaven. I surely hope God has prepared things for me and my family now on earth and we do not have to wait till we get to Heaven. But, again all of that does not matter. I mean, what are we going to do if we do not like what God has prepared for us in Heaven? My Bible Teacher Charles Haun talks about a dream he had about going to Heaven. When he was in the first heaven (you know Paul talks about a man he knew that was caught up into the third heaven 2 Corinthians 12:2) he said he was in a big auditorium standing around talking and drinking coffee. Charles said he was not too impressed. Then suddenly an Angel came walking by and Charles asked him where am I and the Angel replied, Heaven. Then Charles asked the Angel where he was going and the Angel said to the second Heaven. So Charles asked if he could go with him and the Angel said, yes. The Angel stepped up to a wall and then walked through it and Charles followed, suddenly he was in a world of light and music. Charles said he has never, in his entire life, felt so wonderful, every cell in his body was alive and worshiping God. The Angel motioned to a bench and Charles took his place, his clothing was suddenly changed and now he was wearing a robe of white light. The Angel touched him on the shoulder and said, come and go with me to the third Heaven. Charles said no this is Heaven to me I am staying here forever, but the Angel said no come and go with me to the third Heaven. Charles agreed and when he stepped forward from the bench his white, light robe was laying neatly folded on the bench and he followed the Angel to another wall and through they went. The Angel motioned for Charles to take a seat and when he did a screen came down in front of him and he saw himself sitting behind the wheel of his car and a man was yelling and cussing at him. It looked like he just ran into this man's car and he was letting Charles know it. Just then he felt waves of energy scan his body up and down, then he woke up. Charles said he thinks he was being checked out to see if he qualified to enter into the third Heaven. Yes, I am sure Heaven will be an amazing place, but really what matters is not what Heaven is like, oh no, what really matters is do we know how to get there? You can ask 100 people how to get to Heaven and you may get 100 different answers so I guess the only real source for us to use to find out how to get to Heaven is to use the Scriptures. Now before we get going we must understand the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven because they are not the same thing. As a matter of fact the Kingdom of God is not a place at all. Now the Kingdom of Heaven is a place where we shall dwell with the LORD for all eternity, where ever that is, then in the New Jerusalem on earth (see Revelation 21:1-5). But the Kingdom of God is much different. Paul tells us what the Kingdom of God is, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." (Romans 14:17-19) This is what Jesus came preaching after John the Baptist was thrown into prison, see Mark 1:14. As I said it does not matter how wonderful Heaven is going to be and will we earn a mansion and a crown, oh no, what really matters is do we know how to get there? Now, if you closely read the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:1-12) you will find the kind of folks who have overcome things in this world to be able to be God's son and occupy Heaven. John writes, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." (Revelation 21:7) So what are the things we must overcome to be able to make Heaven our home? Well, I am glad you asked. If you notice in the sermon on the mount you will find some things that we must overcome and notice the reward is not the Kingdom of God, but the Kingdom of Heaven. Now I am not saying if you overcome these things you will go to Heaven, but what I am saying is these are some things we will have to be and overcome in our lives to make it to Heaven. I hope you see this point. So for this article let us use the nine things Jesus said we are "blessed" as steps and if we do them we shall make Heaven our home. Matthew writes of Jesus' words, "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:1-12) Now I am not sure if they are in sequence order or set at random, but for sure they are true to heart because Jesus promised us in this world we shall have tribulation, see John 16:33. So the first step to make Heaven our home is to be "poor in spirit" or not to see any value in our earthly self, humble, meek, lowly in spirit like Christ (see Matthew 11:29), spiritually bankrupt. Here we chose do we want the things of the world that rusts and the moth eats or the things of God that are eternal riches, notice in the Kingdom of Heaven, not Kingdom of God. All of the other steps are built on this first step. If we cannot be "poor in spirit" God cannot use us we will disqualify our self for service. The second step is if we mourn we shall be comforted. Now that is not mourning for the dead or even feeling bad about our situation in life, but it is a mourning where we put our mouth in the dust (see Lamentations 3:27-32), we keep our mouth shut until God tells us what to say, then we have something important to say. The third step meek in spirit goes with the first step, but it pertains to our earthly witness before men. When we come from a position of meekness people will listen, but if we come all preachy and as a know-it-all people will tune us out. Karen always reminds me I can say anything as long as I say it nicely. The next, the fourth step is critical, hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Our thirsts and hungers will carry our direction, purpose, and completion in God. Do we hunger for the things of the world, the things to work for God in ministry like most Christians, or God Himself? Now notice it does NOT say we will be filled with righteousness, oh no, it says we shall be filled. Filled with what? I believe whatsoever we need to do that which God wants us to do. Step five, being merciful. Not too many Christians are merciful. We like to get our pound of flesh in an argument or we like to cram that last bit of truth down some poor sinner's throat. Not to mention business dealings. Giving mercy especially to the one who cannot return your mercy is one of the greatest signs of spiritual maturity and development in God. Wow, who wants to see God? Well, step six and the condition to be able to see God that is now on earth and sometime in Heaven is to have a pure heart. David tells us in the Psalm, "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." (Psalm 24:3-4) Well, how do we get a "pure heart?" Only one way my friend and that is through God's dealings and judgments in our lives. His work in our lives is a purifying fire. Not too many Christians want to be purified because if they are there will be nothing left of themselves. The seventh step has a lot to do with to do with our ability to bring peace and strength into situations and circumstance in life through God. Why is the person blessed if they are a peacemaker? Well, he is at peace with God and himself now He can bring peace to others. Unless we are at peace with God AND our self we will never be able to affect peace in our lives and in the lives of others. What is the value to someone who is in gloom, despair, depression, a gnawing anger for themselves and others, and then someone comes with a life line of cheer, sunshine, and hope? And, the eighth and ninth step go together they are the biggest steps to climb to make it into Heaven because they will be the greatest obstacles we will face in our lives. Now notice if we are persecuted for righteousness sake ours is the Kingdom of Heaven, but NOT if we cause the persecution. We cannot escape from persecution my friend, we cannot escape being reviled, we cannot escape being spoken evil against they did all of this and more to Jesus, they even killed Him. Do we think the servant is greater than the Master? Oh no my friend, all the days of our lives we will have to endure persecution. Paul told Timothy and us, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2Timothy 3:12) Persecution use to be normal experience for the Christian in the Bible, they even looked forward to it, but not so today. I am afraid we (now I include myself here) have gotten soft, maybe that is why we do not see a lot of godliness? Heaven is to be our eternal home, but focus not on Heaven, focus your life on doing the things you need to do to make Heaven your home. Written by David Stahl