Basic Preparation for Transformation
Week 5, Email 3, Friday
Week 5, Email 3, Friday
Manual for Preparing for Heaven
Each of the Togethers represents an area for persistently strong spiritual growth because it is gained under the opposition of a sinful environment. Therefore, each Together so obeyed yields solid abilities of faith to take with us to heaven. Each can prepare us for a higher quality of living in the wonderful world of our eternal destination.
For example, the opportunity to forgive rather than take revenge exists only this side of heaven. The Christian who stubbornly chooses revenge over forgiveness will enter heaven with some aspect of faith underdeveloped, in this case an underdeveloped appreciation of Christ’s death. There will not be the “computer chip,” so-to-speak, to relate to the deep, deep love God has for those who have accepted forgiveness in Christ and done the most horrible of things.
In contrast, the Christian who turned away from revenge and forgave would have for eternity a greater ability to praise God’s mercy and forgiveness. To trade out revenge for forgiveness would require a much greater realization that those who inflict pain and suffering were damaged by the sin the devil has sown in the world. This would result in a more complete understanding of that Christian’s own offenses against God and the undeserved forgiveness received in Christ. As a result, that Christian would have throughout eternity a more thorough thanksgiving for God’s sacrifice of his Son. He or she would be able to offer greater praise because God purchased forgiveness for not only herself or himself, but for all shades of sinners.
Additionally, this Christian would have a testimony of stories showing how the Holy Spirit helped him or her avoid revenge and escape bitterness and have peace and joy instead.
This portion is the hardest to write because it seeks deeper understanding of the results of righteousness far beyond my own righteousness and application to a sinless environment to which I have not yet gone.
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We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature,
but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. . . . However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” – the things God has prepared for those who love him – these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Cor 2:6-7, 9-10 |
The difficulty of describing the wonderful results of Christ-likeness gained in the midst of sin is twofold. First, some of the Togethers will have expression in heaven somewhat like what their presence was before death. Harder is to try to imagine how a spiritual skill tied to sin, like carrying another’s burden resulting from sin, translates to life in a perfect environment.
In other words, what specific spiritual value does each of the Togethers practiced this side of heaven produce for life in heaven where there is no sin?
It just makes sense that obedience in the face of temptation and the opposition of a sinful culture has to have some unique, eternal benefit for living in eternity. This is not meant to devalue in any way today’s righteousness as an extremely valuable offering of love and worship to God. That would and should be enough. But, it just seems reasonable that chosen obedience that changes character into godliness would somehow carry over into the next life.
For example, a homicide detective (choose your favorite one) who becomes a Christian would have no murders in heaven to figure out. But, what about all those deductive reasoning skills? Why wouldn’t they go through the pearly gates with him? And, of what use would they be in heaven?
It seems highly unlikely that our intellectual powers will shrink when we enter after death into Phase Two of Eternal Life. While we leave behind the sinful intelligence of the old self, there is likely use for the intelligence of the new self.
Perhaps our born-again, set-free-by-death homicide detective will use those deductive reasoning skills in figuring out things in heaven. Because they were developed under sin-contaminated distractions, they would be very highly focused, able to sort out the relevant from the irrelevant. Then, that detective would go around heaven showing others things they cannot figure out on their own. This would enhance community in the eternal society of the redeemed.
Righteous obedience under fire from both internal and external sin creates strong, patient, resolute Christ-like character. Pre-death life is a boot camp for heaven and eternal living. Difficult obedience requiring suffering under strong temptation simply develops spiritual strengths that cannot be attained outside of a sinful environment.
And those stronger qualities of faith go with us through death to enhance our “forever life”.
It is like playing a video game. Those on level 3 will be enjoying themselves and those on level 8 will feel good about getting to level 8. Neither will be unhappy, but their quality of gaming will be different.
In other words, what specific spiritual value does each of the Togethers practiced this side of heaven produce for life in heaven where there is no sin?
It just makes sense that obedience in the face of temptation and the opposition of a sinful culture has to have some unique, eternal benefit for living in eternity. This is not meant to devalue in any way today’s righteousness as an extremely valuable offering of love and worship to God. That would and should be enough. But, it just seems reasonable that chosen obedience that changes character into godliness would somehow carry over into the next life.
For example, a homicide detective (choose your favorite one) who becomes a Christian would have no murders in heaven to figure out. But, what about all those deductive reasoning skills? Why wouldn’t they go through the pearly gates with him? And, of what use would they be in heaven?
It seems highly unlikely that our intellectual powers will shrink when we enter after death into Phase Two of Eternal Life. While we leave behind the sinful intelligence of the old self, there is likely use for the intelligence of the new self.
Perhaps our born-again, set-free-by-death homicide detective will use those deductive reasoning skills in figuring out things in heaven. Because they were developed under sin-contaminated distractions, they would be very highly focused, able to sort out the relevant from the irrelevant. Then, that detective would go around heaven showing others things they cannot figure out on their own. This would enhance community in the eternal society of the redeemed.
Righteous obedience under fire from both internal and external sin creates strong, patient, resolute Christ-like character. Pre-death life is a boot camp for heaven and eternal living. Difficult obedience requiring suffering under strong temptation simply develops spiritual strengths that cannot be attained outside of a sinful environment.
And those stronger qualities of faith go with us through death to enhance our “forever life”.
It is like playing a video game. Those on level 3 will be enjoying themselves and those on level 8 will feel good about getting to level 8. Neither will be unhappy, but their quality of gaming will be different.