Heaven Is Our Ultimate Goal
1Corinthians 15: 19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
THE transition of believers into heaven is, indeed, the blessed hope of the church. Our Lord Jesus Christ purposely came to this earth to reconcile human with God. This is to enable them have cordial fellowship with Him and also to spend eternity in heaven.
Our Lord Jesus Christ came with the main aim of drawing human closer to God and also to prepare them for heaven. The gospel of Jesus Christ is clear; He enjoined the people to embrace Him so that through Him they will get to His Father, the Creator. He presented Himself as the only Son of God, who has come to bring the people back to God. He made disciples whom He charged to continue with the work of evangelism till He returns to take them to heaven.
Luke 19: 13 says: “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, occupy till I come.” The whole earth and the people in it are the field for evangelism. Jesus Christ taught the people love and also showed it to them; He healed all manner of sicknesses and diseases. He delivered people from their satanic bondages and also brought salvation to the world.
Those who have accepted Jesus Christ’s word of reconciliation will be with Him in heaven. It is to make rapture a reality that Jesus Christ has promised to come back to the world for His people.
The Bible in 1Thessalonians 4: 13- 18 says: “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18: Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming back to take the saints to heaven. This is the moment the church is waiting for. The risen and the living saints will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. This is the blessed hope of all believers. The core message of this passage are:
• the reassurance that Jesus Christ is coming back.
• the revelation that Jesus Christ is coming back, the rapture of the church, and the re
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22: And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23: Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24: For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect
union of all believers is near.
• all believers are comfortable that Jesus Christ is coming back.
The signs that Jesus Christ is coming back are daily being fulfilled. Man can do nothing to stop it, except to prepare for the day. The only purpose of His return is to take the saints and it is only the people who are prepared for Him that will go with Him. The church is very much aware of this and is seriously preparing for His return.
The world is full of distractions and the temptation to pursue wealth or engage in sinful activities that could derail one from making heaven is very high. We should shun worldly activities and be prepared for Jesus Christ’s coming. We brought nothing into this world and shall leave with nothing. Our soul, which will leave the world to either heaven or hell fire, is more important to God than all the wealth of this world. This is why Mark 8: 36- 37 says: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37: Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
The soul does not die and its ultimate destination is either heaven or hell. God’s plan and purpose for every man is that the soul should come back to Him in heaven. Unfortunately, those that deviate from the will and plan of