Why We Are Going to Heaven

Introduction

I want to remind you of our hope of going to heaven. Through the ages, saints have longed for this better place to live. We should avoid these dangers: a) an obsessive desire to die, to be persecuted unto death, or to commit suicide like Muslim extremists, so that we may enter heaven, b) an indifference toward heaven not really believing that such exists. Heaven seems so far removed; some mockingly call it “a pie in the sky in the by and by.” Heaven is not so far away, as we might imagine, in either time or distance. It can happen, as the Bible says, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” (1 Cor. 15:52.)

Here’s how I know that we are going to heaven.

#1: Because Heaven Exists

Solomon wrote that when you go into the house of God, we should let our words be few because “God is in heaven and thou art upon the earth.” (Eccl. 5:2.) Later, he wrote, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Eccl. 12:7.) He spoke of man “going to his long home (or eternal home).” (12:5.) Jesus often spoke about “the kingdom of heaven.” This means a kingdom whose origin and destiny is heaven itself.

Obviously, we could not go to a place that does not exist or that exists only in the imagination of one’s mind. We are going to heaven because it really does exist. Our Lord told the apostles, “In my Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2.) We have Jesus’ words on the matter—it does exist. If it did not, though believed throughout the ages, he would have corrected this false and harmful idea.

Paul believed that heaven exists. He wrote, “The first man is of the earth, earthy. The second man is the Lord from heaven. . . As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” (1 Cor. 15:47-49.) The apostle John saw in his divine visions on the isle of Patmos “a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, kindreds, people and tongues, stand before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands.” (Rev. 7:9.)

There’s a holy and beautiful city

Whose builder and maker is God

John saw it descending from heaven

When Patmos, in exile, he trod

Its high, massive walls is of jasper

The city itself of pure gold

And when my frail tent here is folded

Mine eyes shall its glory behold

#2: Because God Wants Us to Go There

Heaven is the domain of God. He controls it; it is his habitation. No one could enter heaven without his permission. Like Kings of old, he allows only those to whom he lifts the golden sceptre. The most amazing thing about this King is that he does not want to restrict the number who are allowed into his presence. If this King had his will in the matter, everyone would be allowed into the throne room of God! We are going to heaven because the God of heaven wants us to go there. He invites us to come into his presence.

He wants the saved to be as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sand on the seashore. (Gen. 15:5, 22:17.) God promised that to Abraham. He was referring to his spiritual seed, not the physical lineage.

“(God) who would have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4.) “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9.) It makes sense to me that would not want any person to fail to enter into heaven. He is the father of all mankind; he made us in his image. No parent, father or mother, would want their children to be lost. God is that father in the story of the prodigal and elder brother. He longs for and waits his son to come home and pleads with the elder brother to come inside and enjoy the party. (Luke 15:11-32.)

#3: Because the Angels Want Us to Go There

The Bible portrays the angels of heaven as being intently interested in God’s work of redemption.

“Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls, of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you . . . which things the angels desire to look into.” (1 Peter 1:10-12.)

“But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Heb. 1:13-14.)

When the shepherd found the one sheep that went astray, the Bible concluded that story with this statement: “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7.) And when the woman found the piece of silver that she lost: “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.” (Luke 15:10.) When the son came home, there was music and dancing in the house. There was joy. (Luke 15:25.)

The angels of God serve on our behalf for our salvation. They angels rejoice when one sinner repents and turns back to God. We have the angels of God working for us, just as they looked after the Lord when he was on earth. We are going to heaven because the angels are not working against us, but rather for us.

#4: Because Even Our Hope Saves Us

The Bible says that we even our hope works to ensure our salvation. “We are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man sees, why does he yet hope for it? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Rom. 8:24-25.) This passage is found in the most encouraging chapter in the Bible concerning man’s redemption. The theme of Romans is how sinful man can be just before a holy God. In this climatic chapter, enumerating the mountain top blessings of those in Christ, we have this passage about hope. We have the Christian hope because of all those other things that are named by Paul as ensuring our salvation. In the beginning of Paul’s epistle, things look rather bleak for man. All have sinned; there are none who are righteous. There are none who really seek after God. Man could not be justified by keeping the law. No flesh was ever justified that way. Who could be saved and how? After having begun the answer in Romans 3:21, he now reaches the crescendo in Romans 8. Even our hope works on our behalf. But how?

Part of the answer is found in John’s epistle. He wrote, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God. It does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3.) Someone has defined hope as desire, but not desire alone. It is desire and expectation.

Suppose that a person was taught such a perversion of the Gospel that left him hopeless. If he were taught that he had to save himself by doing a long list of things almost perfectly. And if he ever messed his life up, he would not get a second chance. Do you think that that person would be involved in Christianity, in the church, and would live a better life? Many people are just like that. What they have heard leaves them without any hope. The elder brother was in effect saying concerning his younger brother, Don’t give him a second chance. God not only gives us a second chance, but he forgives us more than 70 times 7. It is blasphemy against God to say that he does not give us a second chance in life.

#5: Because Man’s Accuser Has Been Cast Down

In the story of Job, Satan opposed Job. When Joshua the high priest stood before the Lord for the nation of Israel, Satan stood there to resist him. Satan means the adversary, the one who is against us. But Satan has been defeated; Jesus bound the strong man so that we may spoil his house.

John described the long conflict between the Lord and the Adversary in Revelation. The conflict came to a head in Jesus’ life. When Jesus completely defeated him, John wrote, “I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, strength and the kingdom of God and the power of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Rev. 12:10.)

Paul wrote, “Who can lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Rom. 8:33-34.) Paul asked three questions: 1) Who can lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? 2) Who can condemn us? 3) Who can separate us from the love of Christ? The answer to all three questions is, No one!

#6: Because Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6.) The song correctly says that the way of the cross leads home. We are saved by Jesus accomplished for us, not we accomplish.

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:11-12.) Eternal life is obtained through the Son. If you have the Son, you have life. We have the righteousness which is of God by faith. (Phil. 3:8-9.) “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1.) Justified means that God counts you righteous (or right with Him) due to your faith in his Son.

One of the most encouraging verses in the Bible is this one: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32.) God will give all that we need to make it all the way to heaven. Jesus is not only the author, but also the finisher of our faith. (Heb. 12:2.)