Delusive Appetizers

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20)

What between eternal life and the present one is of greater worth?

What between an appetizer and the main dish is more substantial?

Yet when was the last time you heard any preaching on heaven? When was the last time you heard a song about heaven? When was the last time you read a book about heaven?

This is the clearest indicator that the church has swayed too far from God’s purpose. That the church as presently is has no similitude to the church Christ died for.

There is nothing wrong with breakthrough. There is no problem with increase and favor. And it is not a sin to succeed.

But those are the toppings on God’s gift, eternal life.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (1Corinthians 15:19)

Have you ever heard a preacher read or quote this verse in his sermon?

Yet that is the clearest comparison we have between this life and the next in Christ.

If the present life is all there is to God’s gift, we could then be the most lost people the world over simply because we are choosing the icing instead of the cake.

We could actually be like the swine trampling on the pearl to be able to eat the wrapping it came in. We could be like the toddler who will choose a sweet or cheap toy instead of a wad of cash.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)

Yet the preaching of these days is all about this world and all that it can and does offer.

We are so fixated on this world that I know many would faint if they had the smallest glimpse of heaven, because of God’s presence and glory.

Yet you find many believers who are scared even to read about eternity (or the end of this life) because they think it will put a damp on the pursuits of this world, as it surely will, only that it will not be for the reasons our popular preachers advance.

You see, you cannot compare the temporal with the eternal. You cannot compare this life and eternal life.

The disparity between earth and heaven is more than that between light and darkness.

And it is not simply because eternal life is endless as I wrote in a post not so long ago.

Heaven is the desire of any true believer in Christ.

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)

Can you imagine a mansion God, who created the world as it is in six days, has been preparing for two millennia and counting?

That is not a reality to glide over. It should be an all-compassing reality guiding everything I am and do.

Why did Jesus overcome?

He had the big picture. He was clear of His assignment. He knew where He was going.

He therefore was not living from one day to the next. He was doing everything with a destination in sight.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. (John 8:14)

That is why we see Him repeatedly saying that His time was not yet

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9: 51 – 53)

It is the focus of where He was going that made His complete focus set on enduring the cross and the shame and pain it compassed.

Heaven defined Him and shaped everything He said and did, and how He said and did it.

And it was not only Him. Believers of all ages have demonstrated the same.

From Stephen who appeared to be rejoicing at his stoning because he had had a glimpse of heaven to Paul and Silas who could sing and pray in a prison under immense pain and wounds and the restriction of their painful shackles.

And over the ages we have enough examples of those who sang through the flames of their burning at the stake for their faith.

No breakthrough on earth can make us undergo such suffering. No rewards on earth have even the smallest spark or fuel to allow us to enjoy deprivation and persecution true faith is sure to attract.

And it is for the single reason that it is temporal. In short, there is no reward beyond what we can experience.

A student deprives himself of sleep and comfort to prepare for exams because he knows that a good grade will offer him better prospects. A person may deprive himself of the comfort his contemporaries are enjoying because he is saving for a piece of land. Tourists deny themselves so much for years to be able to save for a holiday.

Heaven is such a prize. It is worth everything, and more.

Then comes the modern preacher and his believer.

You tithe because God will make the 90% remaining do more than the 100% would have done. You give so that God will hit you back with more and better. You give yourself to ministry because doing so will open doors that would not have opened otherwise.

In short, everything we do has to have a here and now reward.

But nothing could be farther from the truth.

Stephen did not gain anything this side of eternity from his stoning. Paul gained nothing for the suffering he underwent as part of his calling. Even Jesus gained nothing earthly for going through the cross.

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; (Philippians 1: 23 - 25)

According to Paul, heaven is far better, a greater destination that he longed for with all his being.

The only thing holding him back was the assignment Christ had for him, and for that he was willing to suffer so that his assignment is complete.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2Corinthians 4: 17, 18)

I hope you are grasping what I am saying.

We should for a moment be still and focus on heaven. We should focus more of our effort and resources on heaven.

Heaven should dictate our whole existence.

Think about the secret agent or undercover investigator.

They will be given everything they will need for the success of their assignment. But the focal point is the assignment and nothing else.

It will be a tragedy of incredible proportions if they can be bribed to abandon the assignment. In fact, should they even attempt that, their end is many times worse than that of defectors.

Getting comfortable with the perks of the task and neglecting the assignment makes one worse than a deserter, even worse than an enemy.

Yet is not that the way the church is for the most part?

Why have we stopped preaching against sin for the longest time?

We have simply forgotten about heaven.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6: 9, 10)

The focal point of the Lord’s prayer is heaven.

It goes without say that if heaven is on my cross hairs, I will be living a markedly heaven-leaning life.

As I said about the fear of God, the view of heaven will ensure that I will live in such a way as will reflect or radiate heaven to those beholding me.

Heaven will dictate how I look at life.

Sin is rampant in church because preachers have forgotten about heaven, meaning that the congregation has no idea it even exists.

I can’t have a view of heaven and lie, however white the lie might be, forget about those big sins. And we will avoid even those sins because we fear the shame that we could attract if we get caught. We are therefore more scared of shame than we are of sin.

But the reality of heaven will very easily reverse that order because we will be more scared of behaving in an unheavenly way even when we know we will not be caught.

Heaven is the clearest antidote to sin and temptation because an eternal reality is the stopper of everything enticement brings. And the clearer that reality is the better.

Will we pray that God brings our hearts on what His Son went to prepare for us?

This is a very short message on a very expansive topic.

I therefore want us to treat it as an awakening call. A call to God’s people to refocus on heaven, where God is.

It is very sad that we are all the time talking and calling upon God’s presence in our events when we have lost interest in His abode, the place where His presence is the reigning reality.

May God help us.