Seven Links to Heaven

 

HEAVEN IS THE ABODE of God and of the hosts of angels although the Almighty’s presence is not really confined to any region (1Kings 8:27). In Isaiah 66.1 the Lord asserts “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Besides, Could you build me such a resting place?” Psalm 11:4 says “the Lord is in His holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth”.  St. John’s vision in Revelations 4:2 reports ‘’And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne’’.

The structure of heaven itself is never fully discussed in the Bible. Old Testament envisioned the heavens as having multiple layers. St. Paul describes three layers. There is almost no mention in the Old Testament of heaven as a possible afterlife destination for human beings, as the eternal home of the righteous dead. These are instead described as "resting" in Sheol (Genesis 25:7-9, Deuteronomy 34:6, 1 Kings 2:10). Genesis 1:1 indicates heaven and earth came into being together, created by God. Information on heaven is sparse and far in between in the Holy Bible. We get a bolder glimpse of heaven in Revelations 21 and 22.

 A Christian is bound to heaven through seven golden links namely:

1. Your Father is there (Matthew 6:9)

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy

The preceding complex discussions about heaven must not let us lose sight of the primary aim of this essay – the seven golden links that bind us to heaven. The concept of God as our Father did not seem to be very popular in the Old Testament. There are only about a dozen occasions you find this mentioned, but primarily in the sense of "God the Father (Almighty)", in His capacity as "Father and creator of the universe".  But the Father Jesus Christ introduced to His followers is a God who is a father personally interested in the affairs of His “children”, not unlike our earthly father on whom we are dependent, who is responsible for our welfare. We believe we can communicate with Him  and fellowship through prayers, He listens to our prayers and answers us.

Ephesians 1:5 says God predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will. According to Peter, we are born anew into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay, imperishable, unsullied, and unfading (1Peter 1.4). There is yet another dimension as well to the theme of God as Father. He is the Father and the first person in the Holy Trinity. Our Sonship is distinctly different from Jesus’ Sonship. He is the Son as the Logos, the Second Person in the Trinity. Jesus has referred to the ‘Father’ 165 times in the gospels, in both senses. Jesus’ calling God His Father was one of the contentious issues the religious leaders had with the Lord.

Your Saviour is there (Hebrews 9:24)

Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf.

The Old Testament High Priest went before God once a year for the forgiveness of the nation’s sin. Christ makes perpetual intercession for us before God for us. Christ’s continuous presence with the Father in heaven assures our sins have been paid for and forgiven. This wonderful assurance frees us from guilt and fear of failure. Christ has paid for your sins once and for all. It is said in the book of Hebrews, the “original” (heaven) was shown to Moses in the Mount Sinai, and then a corresponding model of a tabernacle was built on earth by him. The most holy place denoted heaven; the mercy-seat and the Shekinah were symbols of the presence of God, and of the fact that He shows mercy in heaven. The entrance of the high priest was symbolical of the entrance of the Redeemer into heaven; the sprinkling of the blood here was a type of what the Redeemer would do in heaven.

3. Your name is written there (Luke 10:20)

But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.

Though it is an honor to be able to work miracles, to be blessed with spiritual gifts and learning, yet it is a subject of "chief" joy that we are numbered among the people of God, and have a title to everlasting life. It was the practice of the old to enter names of citizens of a city or state in a book, from which they were blotted out if anyone became unworthy, or forfeited the favor of their country. The church in Sardis was assured that their names would never be erased from the Book of Life  (Revelation 3:5) as a reward for their purity. That their "names were written in heaven," means that they were "citizens" of heaven; that they were friends of God and "approved" by Him and would be permitted to dwell with Him. This was of far more value than all earthly honor, power, or wealth, and this what you should rejoice in more than in possession of wealth, pleasure, position, or power.

4. Your life is there, hidden in Christ  (Colossians 3:2, 3)

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 

 “For you died to this life” means you should have as little desire for improper worldly pleasure as a dead person would have. A Christian’s real home is where Christ lives. This truth provides a different perspective on our lives here on earth. To think about things of heaven means to think at things from God’s perspective and seek what He desires. By seeking only what Christ desires, we break the attractions of worldly pleasures. We also don’t get involved in meaningless religious exercises. Love and serve to please God and live in harmony with Him. What does it mean to say a believer’s life is “hidden with Christ”? ‘Hidden’ means concealed and safe. This is not just a future hope, but an accomplished fact right here and now. Our service and conduct do not earn our salvation, but they are the results of our salvation. Rejoice in the fact your salvation is secure and live each day for Christ.

5. Your treasure is there (Luke 12:33)

Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.

Money can easily take God’s place in your life. It can become your master. How can you tell if you are a slave to money? Ask yourself: Do I think and worry about it often? Do I give up what I should do or like to do in order to make more money? Do I spend a great deal of time caring for my possession? Is it hard for me to give money away? Am I in debt? Money is a hard and deceptive master. Wealth promises power and control, but often it cannot deliver. Great fortunes can be made and lost overnight and no amount of money can provide health, happiness or eternal life. How much better to let God be your master! His servants have ease of mind and security, both now and forever. “But people who want to get rich keep toppling into temptation and are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires that plunge them into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil……..”(1Ti 6:9, 10).

6. Your citizenship is there (Philippians 3:20)

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

As the citizen of your country, you are expected to promote the interest of your country and maintain its dignity through your talents, treasure, and time. In the same way, citizens of heaven must promote the interest of heaven on earth and lead life worthy of heavenly citizenship. Many of us fail to transfer our citizenship to heaven, we are neither here nor there. The pull of earthy pleasures is too strong to resist. Paul reminded Colossian Christians they are citizens of heaven where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. Have you transferred your citizenship to heaven? What steps have you taken to promote heaven’s interests on earth? Heavens are waiting for your prayers and actions.  “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”, said Jesus (Mathew 18.18).  

7. Heaven is your destination and destiny (John 14:2, 3).

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

The earth is not a believer’s permanent home. We are only aliens and travelers here. God has left us here until we are saved and sanctified; and to carry on the work Jesus has commanded us to do, with the help of the Holy Spirit. It is dangerous to develop an attachment to it, to become too comfortable down here. At His return, Christ will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control (Philippians 3.21). Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength (1Corinth 15:43) Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace (Daniel 12:2).

Revelations 21 and 22 give us some details about our future home in heaven: God will dwell among those who have arrived there. There will be no need for a temple. They shall be His people, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; There will no longer be any curse; the first things have passed away.

Everything will become new! (Revelations 21.5) Our lives there will not be a replica of our earthly life. With the sea and sun have gone, the part of earth’s crust, waters, and atmosphere that supported our earlier life (the ecosystem that comprised the entire earth and the organisms that lived in it), our lives will be drastically altered.   The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

Jesus will return any time and put into effect His plans for His followers’ future. Until then He wants us to remain expectant and alert praying constantly for the Second Coming.