Heaven's Not 'Here'

"If I could just make a little more money ..."

"If I could just bench 50 more pounds, ..."

"If I could lose just 20 pounds ..."

"If my spouse looked just a little bit better..."

"If I just drove that kind of car..."

"If only I could work there..."

"If only that person were attracted to me..."

"If only my kids would..."
"If only more people liked me..."

"If only I were smarter..."

"If only this..."

"If only that..."

"If only this were different in my life, then I would be so happy."  "... then peace."  "...then heaven."

Heaven is not here.  Heaven is not in the next job, in the next 20 pounds you lose, in the next relationship, in the next paycheck  .... so stop falling for the same trap every. single. time.  

Heaven is with Jesus.  Is He with you?  Are you with Him?  

Jesus said:

If He is not your foremost desire, then your eternity will not likely be spent with Him in His Heaven. You must turn from your ways and turn to Him fully.

For centuries, the Devil has hatched the same old plan from generation to generation... and the majority of people buy his lies without ever questioning the "system" he established.  A system of insecurity.  A system of instability.  A system where nothing we attain or 'achieve' in this life will ever really be enough.  He keeps the masses wanting more.  While the masses are in search of pseudo-peace and pseudo-joy, they refuse to raise their head up from the filthy earth that they spend most of their lives sweeping to absolutely no avail.  The dirt gets moved from one location to another as you sweep, but it will never be anything other than what it has always been... dirt...filth... Moving the dirt won't change what it is.  This world system is temporary.  Why put so much effort in that which is temporary?  

I'm not suggesting you crawl into a cave and live out the rest of your days.  I am saying stop allowing your aspirations of peace and heaven to be dictated by this faulty world system.  Man works for a living and provides for himself while journeying through this life.  But, don't believe those pitiful lies that suggest making the pleasures and extras of this life your highest aspirations.  That is idolatry.  When man seeks most diligently to achieve success in this life, he is certainly not focused on the next life. The fact is you are being prepared in this life for the next one.  The question is WHO is preparing you?  Is Jesus preparing a place for you in the presence of your enemies?  Do you believe that those who truly follow the Shepherd will receive all the provision they need as they journey through this world to the next, which is Eternal?  Listen, you really have to believe it. Not just verbally say, but it must be an eat, sleep, pray it kind of belief.  It must be the very air you breathe kind of belief.  Your belief in the promise found in Psalm 23:5 must be steadfast and unmovable.

Otherwise, Satan is never far behind when disbelief is present in you.  You see, Satan is also preparing a table, but it is one void of godliness, void of godly transformation, void of holiness;  it is a table filled with greed, hate, anger, jealousy, lust, false religion, deceit --- anything that opposes God.

From which table are you eating?  

With God, there is provision that will prepare you for the True Kingdom of Heaven.  There will be tribulation.  There will be trials.  There will be enemies.  But, most importantly, there will be the True and Living God guiding you, teaching you, and preparing you for an Eternity with Him.  Heaven Is With Him.  No dirt.  Just purity.  Just Holiness.  That which abides forever in Righteousness.

Heaven's not here.

The truth is this:  Nothing less than the true Grace of God can open anyone's eyes to the silliness of this insecure satanic system.  I'm not talking about a "I'm covered by grace no matter what I do down here" lie.  That false definition of grace was also created by the serpent and is perhaps the center piece on his table... "Ye, shall not surely die" (Genesis 3:4).  He's the same serpent who has people frantically running around trying to 'be' something or to 'know' something in order to feel like they 'are' something.  Don't you get sick of the Devil's garbage floating around in your thought process?  

Pray that God will renew your mind.  Does He not show us in His Word that our minds can, in fact, be renewed?  Do we believe what His Word says?  Listen, we don't really believe in Jesus if we read certain scripture and think, "that's not really possible with me."  Who do you have faith in... yourself or Him?  He said to BELIEVE.

Again, we can only truly have our minds transformed by Him, His Grace.

Wow!  That kind of Biblical Grace excites me because without it, I am lost.  And so are you.

This Grace isn't a "magic wand".  It comes with directions.  We are called in the Word of God to resist temptation.  Whatever it may be, resist the temptation to sin against God.  If we do, there are valiant promises of reconstruction and transformation that His Grace provides.  That excites me!

Look closely at what God calls us to do, and look closely at what He promises His Grace will do:

"Here" wants us to get caught up in the 'will' of the world.  What drives the world wants to drive you, but the Word of God is in stark contrast to anything the world considers right: