Mo Bettah

In our last post, we looked at compare and contrast (c & c) examples from Scripture. In this one, we are looking at c & c with respect to heaven and its alternative. At some point, not long after Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he “…was caught up to the third heaven…caught up into Paradise.” (2 Cor. 12:2,4). The word for “caught up” is the Greek word harpazo, the same word for the Rapture used in 1 Thess. 4:17. But that’s for a different discussion.

The third heaven transcends the first (earth’s atmosphere) and the second (interplanetary and interstellar space), and is the very abode of God Himself.

In court trials,

what is the best evidence either side can offer to bolster their case? Isn’t it an eyewitness? Scripture offers some descriptions of heaven that give us a general, albeit vague, picture of what heaven is like. They include streets paved with pure gold. Twelve tall gates, each made from a single pearl. A river flowing from the throne of God. There’s more.

But we have an eyewitness in the Apostle Paul who wasn’t allowed to speak about what he saw (2 Cor. 12:4). Did you ever wonder why God placed that restriction on him? And what it was that he saw and heard? We don’t know for sure. It could have been to keep him from becoming proud. But unlike modern charlatans who claim to have been there and back and have glowing descriptions that made it through the creative process, Paul gave no sensational, detailed description of what he saw and heard. Remember, apart from the Biblical record of Paul’s trip or vision, Scripture tells us, “…it is appointed for men to die once and then comes judgment” (Heb. 9:27).

The only indication Paul gives

those of us who are in Christ is two snippets of his letter to the Philippians in chapter 1, verses 21 and 23: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,” and “…having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.” It’s like Paul is saying, “Trust me. You want to be there.”

So where does the c & c come in? The only thing we can compare with heaven is hell. There is no middle ground. No Purgatory. No Soul Sleep. It’s one or the other. And I echo what Paul might have said, “Trust me. You want to be there (heaven).” Permit a brief description of the “dark side.”

“…and will throw them (those who commit lawlessness) into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 13:42)

“Bind him hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, in that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 22:13)

“And I saw the dead, the great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books” (Rev. 20:12).

“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15).

“…and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abominations and lying shall ever come into it (the New Jerusalem, heaven) but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27).

From this evidence,

logic seems that everyone would want their name in the Book of Life. And there is enough room, there are enough pages to accommodate everyone. Unfortunately, not everyone chooses to follow the one path that leads to “the Book.”

Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, said this, “ I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14:6. He also said, “…the one who comes to Me, I will certainly not cast out” John 6:37.

How do we “come to Jesus”?

By recognizing we are sinners and cannot save ourselves. Sin brings about death. No amount of good deeds, financial contributions, or self-sacrifice can atone for our sin. Only the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross for us is acceptable to God. For a more detailed picture of your standing with God, click here Steps To Salvation.

Thanks for reading.