There is an old joke about St. Peter showing a man around Heaven. At the end of the tour the man asked St. Peter where people were from various denominations. St. Peter said, “See those walls. They think they’re the only ones here.” Obviously I’m starting in a humorous mood, so hold on.
God has a place for all of his children
What do we really know about the hereafter? Most of us haven’t seen Heaven, let alone a Seventh Heaven. The Seventh Heaven is possibly the highest Heaven, where God and the most exalted angels dwell.
Some think that when we die we are absorbed back into God. Some claim to have been to Heaven, seen beautiful intense light reflecting the love of God, and visited with dead friends and relatives in a paradise setting, then come back.
I can tell you this: If there is a stairway to Heaven and it goes above three stories, I’m climbing back down because I get disoriented at 30 feet. If there is a highway to Heaven, I’ll probably run out of gas. If I’m older, there had better be a wheel chair.
If there is a chariot and horses of fire that appear and takes me up to heaven in a whirlwind, like happened to Elijah, well, I suppose I’ll look for the inevitable manure droppings behind the horses, but I won’t complain. – In 2Kings 2:11.
The Bosom of Abraham refers to the notion developed around 200 years before Jesus where the righteous dead await. It’s actually in the mythology of several cultures. Jewish belief has no official belief of life in the Torah about after death for mere mortals, but people can’t be denied the obvious. When the Jews saw or dreamed apparitions of dead relatives, well something obviously was afoot.
We simply don’t know what awaits our soul beyond death. But calling Heaven the Kingdom of God is like calling a cruise on a ship, home. The cruise and experience is the purpose. Home is the final destination.
The Kingdom of God is the journey for those who try to do what God requires of us. “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8
The Kingdom of God
The expressions “Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” are kind of used interchangeably, but with slightly different nuance. The Kingdom of Heaven is only a part of God’s Kingdom.
The early followers of Jesus identified as “Followers of The Way.” They weren’t confused that the journey was somehow the glorious end. “The Way,” identified the way of life that Jesus showed us to live, as previously shown to us by God.
I understand journeys, and as I told my grandkids, “I’m in my third childhood. If I don’t get this one right I’ll have to do a fourth.” My grandkids are so much fun I’m kind of hoping for a fourth.
The Kingdom of God is simply where-when God reigns as king. The word “King” is likely a metaphor for what at that time people recognized as something with power over all of them, as are such words as “obedience.” The reality is that we willingly follow the ways to live, that God and Jesus showed us because they work and we want to be better people even if they are very difficult sometimes and we often fail.
The New Covenant
Jesus ushered in the Kingdom of God with the New Covenant. We have “the Law” written in our hearts according to the Prophet Joel, Jesus, and the Apostles. We don’t need someone telling us what is right from wrong, we know it. – Jeremiah 31:33. Joel 2:28-29. Acts 2.16-18. Romans 2:15. 2 Corinthians 1:22. 100 Bible Verses about Written In Our Hearts.
The New Covenant is a new relationship with God. It’s exemplified by forgiveness for the asking. No need to sacrifice. God is merciful and very patient and tolerant with us. God understands the journey. God has goodwill toward people.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27 (NIV)
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10: 10 (NIV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” – Matthew 5: 43-45 (NIV)
While there is no separation from God created by sin, because forgiveness is for the asking, this doesn’t mean that this is a shortcut to the Kingdom. The Kingdom is a journey.
From my book, New Generations Walk with Jesus: We don’t see the “You’re going to Hell if you don’t shout Jesus’ name.” We don’t see the exclusiveness, we see inclusiveness. Jesus said to the Roman soldier (not a Jew): “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 8: 10-11 (NIV)
Even the thief on the cross who recognized his sin, Jesus said to him that today he would be with him in paradise.
It may be the ones shouting the loudest, mostly for their selfish interests, who don’t make it. Jesus said in Mt. 7:21-23 (NIV) of those who do shout his name that, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven [the way Jesus showed us to live]. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Too many overlook the “doing” part and substitute their own biases.
Here, now, and forever, open to everyone
Where is the Kingdom?
Having said that the kingdom is not of this world, Jesus also clarified: “Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Luke 17: 20,21 (NASB)
As many say, the kingdom of God is within each of us. It isn’t something to occur later, it “is in your midst.” It’s now. And it goes on forever and includes everyone who enters forever, including into Heaven.
God’s Kingdom is open to everyone
Jesus went to many people who weren’t Jews, not just the Roman soldier mentioned earlier, and marveled at their faith. In the area of Tyre and Sidon he talked to a non-Jewish woman and commented on her great faith. (Matthew 15:21).
At the end of his time, Jesus appeared again to his Eleven remaining apostles and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)
The Apostle Peter said of everyone having the law of God in their heart, and being acceptable to God by their behavior: “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all).” – Acts 10:34 (NIV)
Heaven
Jesus’ and the Jewish focus are on the here and now – being in the Kingdom, doing what God asks of us. The hereafter is not the focus. Jesus told us almost nothing about Heaven, which the Jews would have called Paradise after the Garden of Eden.
Distilled from what others have said who have experienced heaven, in heaven all our hate, fear, and negativity are gone, and all that remains is love. We are in harmony with others as if part of a never-ending music piece. I love music. It had better be rock music or I’ll complain. In my time in radio I had to play all music genres. I learned to tolerate them, not like them.
What about those who are still imperfect when they die? Perhaps it’s at the end of life that our personality integrates our experiences the most and we see our lives and world from a very different, whole perspective, devoid of the negative baggage we now have and can’t throw out the window.
Take Home points
Some think “we” will be the only ones in Heaven. In reality it’s those who are forgiven (demonstrated in spirit if not actually asking) and who follow the ways of God. We are these who are in the Kingdom of God, part of which is in Heaven. Life is a journey and when we journey in the Kingdom of Heaven we drop the negative and focus on love for all of God’s people.
Our ideas of exclusiveness reveal our inability to accept others as they are, to love them, even to want the best for our enemies. It reflects a willingness to reject others forever, even to the extreme of eternal punishment. These ideas don’t reflect the inclusiveness of God and God’s love for God’s creation.
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Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.
– Dorian
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