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PACKAGED FOR HEAVEN

Apr 29, 2015, 10:38 AM | Article By: Galandou Gorre-Ndiaye

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20)

Who me, packaged for heaven? Yes, you! Why, do you think it impossible? Well, if you think that you are not material for heaven then you have believed the lie of the devil. How? Because that is contrary to what the word of God declares regarding your future destiny. God has two testaments (Old and New) in which he re-emphasises that he loves me unconditionally to the point that he sent his Son to earth for my salvation – to set me free. He has even reserved a place for me in heaven. “Where I am, there you shall be also.”(John 14:3)

Jesus fashioned me for heaven after his brief transit through earth. If you still want to sojourn here, I have a word for you. The Word of God, the Bible, states that the world is a place of transit. Everything here will pass away so where would you go, to heaven or to hell? The choice is ours.

In the book of Deuteronomy chapter 30 verse 19, God says we must choose life, and the better kind of life which is eternal in nature.Our final destination is heaven. Why would someone want to stay here indefinitely, I wonder? There is no resting place out here. Besides, this world, the theatre of the prince of this world, is corrupt and highly unpredictable. Disguised as an angel of light, Satan is roaming about scheming and ‘seeking whom to devour.’ He specialises in deceit and in counterfeit. The baits he throws at you are meant to short-change you. Hell is a place where those who associate with him will end up. It is a terrible place to sojourn!

Just note that you have a place prepared for you in heaven from the beginning of time. Didn’t someone tell you? A place in heaven, for me? Yes you, who else? Just believe! “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” (2 Corinthians 5:1) Our Lord Jesus confirmed; “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)

Be careful not to lose this place already reserved for you. It is vital that you keep it. Actually, there’s nothing by way of your performance that would qualify you other than to believe in Jesus and to abide by his commands. No ‘goodness’ of your own is required as entry fees, because our deeds do not match up. By the way, places in heaven are not for sale. Entry is free for those who have been saved in Jesus Christ. All our good deeds are supposedly like filthy rags. “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. We all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

You see, God has made provision for us already. Heaven is in your heart. This is no joke! “He has set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what he has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Heaven is the final dwelling place of all the saints.It is our Father’s abode “Heaven is my throne,, and the earth is my footstool.” (Isaiah 66:1) The passport for entry is Jesus “... who is the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) This sounds so easy! And I am sure you would like to play a part in the process. All you need do is to believe in order to receive. God does not need our help in anything. Receive the package and that’s a done deal. “... if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10) “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

An eagle that does not want to fly to the mountaintop will stay at ground level scavenging for worms and other tit-bits - missing out on all the delicacies available up there. Isn’t it time we opened our eyes to what God has in store for each one of us? He says repeatedly that he is the God of the impossible, (Luke 1:37), “the God of all Comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3)

As ‘a child of God’ born of the spirit and not of human volition, you are indeed special. You are a new creation! (John 1: 12; 2 Corinthians 5:17) Consider yourself a saint not because of who you are but because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Yes, you are a saint not a sinner. Get your identity right. You are the righteousness of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Anything else is mistaken identity.

Getting to heaven is free; all you have to do is confess Jesus as Lord.