the basic message # E122
1 Corinthians 2:9
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
What is the motivation in your Christianity? For me, it’s all about Heaven. Does that surprise you? I like to “interview” people and ask them questions about their relationship with God. I’m always puzzled about how little thought most Christians give to the real meat of their Christian motivation. Here’s some of the reasons people give for being a Christian: Happiness- (plenty of Atheists are happy), A sense of belonging- (yes, plenty of Atheists feel like they belong), A life of order and purpose- (you guessed it, plenty of Atheists have very orderly lives with great purpose).
I’m sorry to be the bearer of this information, but Atheists generally have everything we have, and in some cases, they actually have a richer, fuller life. So what are they lacking? A Savior. But since they don’t believe in God, they see no need for a Savior. Look up Atheist in the dictionary and learn that they are “one who denies the existence of God”. A true Atheist doesn’t hate God, he simply doesn’t believe in him. Therefore, no need for a Savior exists.
So, back to Christians. Why do you need a Savior? “Because I’m a sinner”. Thank you very much- what else? “Because I want to be with God someday”. EUREKA!!!!!, we’re making progress! How can you someday be with God? Well, let’s think about it for a minute: God is in Heaven, and we’re here on Earth. God isn’t coming to live here, so that must mean that we have to go to him. And so, my friends, it’s all about Heaven. Cut out all of the fluff in the middle of what we call life and realize that being focused on our final destination is all we really have. Probably a couple hundred of you are saying, “John has really trivialized the concept of Christianity”. How so? Work with me here: If God suddenly spoke to you and said that he had just destroyed Heaven and Hell, why do you still want to be a Christian? You’ll live a life of maybe 80 or 90 years on earth and then die. You’ll be planted in the ground and you will literally become dust. Your soul simply dies with you and no further action is processed. Do you still want to pursue the Christian life? Please don’t misunderstand- I love being able to pray to my God and see the results of prayers answered. I love being obedient to God because besides showing God that I love him, it just makes life easier and richer. But remember that a large percentage of Atheists have rich, full lives with great meaning. The only trouble is that when the Atheist dies, he goes to the Hell that was created by the God he doesn’t believe in. Maybe you’re just trying to stay out of Hell, but for me, it’s all about Heaven. I am relentless in my quest to be there. I used to just hope to stay out of Hell, like many others. When I finally quit looking over my shoulder for Satan and started looking upward, my life began to take on new meaning.
Hebrews 12:7-8
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
God, please discipline me, because I want to be a true son. I want to spend eternity with you and your precious Son. Do whatever it takes to mold me into the Christian you want me to be, because for me, it’s all about Heaven.