Heaven & Eternal Life

Eternal life is a relationship with God. It is the only thing we can possess that lasts forever and never ceases to grow. However, many people have their focus wrong. Eternal life isn’t about heaven, for heaven is a resting place prepared by Jesus, but how eternal life is about a relationship with Jesus, regardless of a place.
“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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” – John 14:2-3.
This verse has been taken out of context of what Jesus is talking about. So many people talk about, “Oh, I am so excited to see my mansion in heaven,” and “Seek God so that you will have a mansion rather than a tent in heaven.” First of all, who even cares whether you are in a tent or a mansion, for all that should matter is that you’re with Jesus. Is He more important than a dwelling place, or have we made the dwelling place more important than Him? That would indicate that we have this whole dwelling place thing as an idol. Now obviously, heaven is that dwelling place with Jesus in eternal life, and heaven is very beautiful. However, let’s not put heaven above God, for God is our absolute number one priority in ALL things during this lifetime and beyond this lifetime on earth.
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” – Exodus 20:4.
This verse specifically tells us that we are to not have idols in the likeness of anything on earth, but also in heaven. Sadly, too many people are more concerned about getting to heaven rather than having a relationship with God. That’s like saying you are more concerned about getting a nice house than having a relationship with your spouse or best friend. Nowadays, the church has gotten so focused on people just coming to say the sinner’s prayer to get people to heaven, and such, but only some will actually teach the purpose of life of having this relationship with God. To many people, their time with God is just a few hour service once a week. In reality, that’s not spending time with God. Spending time with God is a 1-on-1 thing with Him. It’s personal. Therefore, if we have lost this very essence of pursuing God and a relationship, then we have lost our purpose. What’s the purpose of something if there isn’t a purpose? Well, there isn’t because then it’s just vanity. Solomon greatly discussed life as vanity in Ecclesiastes because He didn’t see a purpose in any of it except for the fact that God lasts forever. Jesus has given us a reason to live and a reason to be on this earth for this time. Our purpose of creation, now, and eternity to come is a relationship with Him because that is all that ever matters. As for the time on this earth, our assignment was very specific and clear on reaching the people of this world, bringing the good news. What’s the good news? That you could go to heaven? Yes, but more importantly that the wall that stood between men and God was torn down so that we could be righteous through Christ, so that we could have communion and fellowship with the Lord, commonly referred to as a relationship. The whole sinner’s prayer thing has its place, but not as a formula. It should be from the heart to God’s heart, not as a script. That prayer is you telling the Lord that you want to receive Christ and change your life. It isn’t a prayer to join a club but a life-altering change. It is when you become born again. Being born again is more than just being saved, but rather the start of a new life. Too many people get born again and never do anything with God as if it is their ending rather than their beginning. How would it feel if you got married and your spouse just gave up and never did anything to nurture your relationship with you? That is exactly how being born again and never pursuing God feels like to Him.
“So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.” – 2 Peter 1:10 NLT.
This verse tells us specifically to be diligent in our pursuit of God because it proves that you are truly seeking that relationship with Him, and it keeps you from backsliding away from Him. So overall, heaven is simply that dwelling place with God, not the main focus of eternal life. Don’t just be born again so that you can make it to heaven, but be born again to seek that relationship with Him and to be called into His own family.