Jesus said, "I am the way to heaven." I'm betting that he's not a liar. I'm betting that he told the truth.
I've often said why does God leave us here on earth, once we accept Christ, once we're in the family, why didn't he just kill us. Why leave us here? Well, because he's working on our character through these trials, these tribulations, we're learning to practice what we're going to do in heaven. So really, the kingdom mindset is actually the eternal mindset. It's not just about eternal life. Eternal life is getting ready for that.
Salvation is not a religion. It's not rules or regulations or rituals. Salvation is a relationship. That relationship doesn't begin when you get to Heaven; it begins here on Earth.
Keep your hope in the Lord and your eyes focused on the hope of Heaven, not just on the here and now.
What you BECOME on earth matters far more than what you DO. You're taking your character to heaven, not your career.
Every church is flawed. Still, you'd better learn to love it since it's the only group Jesus said he's taking to Heaven.
I do know I'm going to heaven. I have read all of the Scriptures and the passages that define paradise and things like that. To me, what matters is I'm going to be with Jesus and I'm going to be in his presence. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. At that point, you know some to judgment, some to salvation.
I can't imagine God not allowing my dog into heaven.
It is very clear that the heavens declare the glory of God. We learn a lot about the glory of God without even Scriptures. We know God is organized. We know God likes variety. We know God is powerful. All these things.
You've got a lot to look forward to in Heaven. Compared to what's in store for you in Heaven, your current pain and problems are petty.
That's one of those questions I'm asked more often than anything else. Will my dog go to heaven? And I say well, the lion will lay down with the lamb.
Why is this happening to me? Why am I having such a difficult time? One answer is that life is supposed to be difficult! It’s what enables us to grow. Remember, earth is not heaven!
To me, God says, "I've given you this gift of grace, which means you don't earn your way to heaven. You don't work your way to heaven. You simply receive my gift."
You may have done some really nifty things in life, but if you think they're going to get you into Heaven, forget it. The only way any of us are going to get in is by receiving God's gift of grace, which is available to every person.
Most of us want to have enough... good works to get into heaven, but enough bad works to be fun.
Bible makes that really clear that there are rewards in heaven. I believe there is reassignment. In other words, faithful in little things I will trust you in much. And if you have not been faithful with that which is not his own, who will give you your own. And if you've been unfaithful with unrighteous mammon who's going to trust you the true riches of heaven.
To me, heaven is a real place. I don't believe it's a state of being.
What we can't do in heaven is sin and witness. And obviously God didn't leave us here to sin.
I'm not getting to heaven on my integrity. I'm not getting to heaven on my goodness.
You know a multicolor God who created this world is not going to put us in a white heaven. I guarantee you. But we're going to serve Him in heaven. So what does God want us to do? Practice.
Jesus meets every one of our deepest needs. And what we need to do is accept his gift of a pastor-given, purposeful living home in heaven.
