by Kevin Burton
When I was a senior in high school my teachers warned me to up my game to get ready for life in the “real world.”
It didn’t take long for college professors to start talking about a greater real world and the realities I needed to get ready for.
Neither set of leaders had anything to say about Heaven and Hell. But it doesn’t get any more real than that. The Bible teaches that both places are permanent with no transfers possible.
You have arrived at an eighth-period Heaven Prep class at the Earthly School for the Spiritually Blind. This takes the place of College Prep that you would find in most high schools.
The absolutely essential preparation for Heaven is salvation through Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that trusting in Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Any other path, even if it be paved with good intentions, leads one to eternal Hell.
This is the whole reason I am studying here with you to avoid spiritual blindness. The stakes could not be higher.
“If we think about it, life on earth really is all about preparing for our future. It’s about accepting God’s gift of Salvation, recruiting others to go with us, and storing up treasures in Heaven,” writes Lynette Kittle in an article on www.oneplace.com.
“It’s true what Matt. 6:21 explains, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
“Even the happiest place on earth doesn’t compare to the ultimate place of peace, joy, love, and more waiting for all of us who receive God’s gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ,” Kittle writes.
Kittle lists three ways those who have already trusted in Jesus can continue their preparation for Heaven.
First, leave the fear of death behind. Jesus has turned death into your liberator.
“Hebrews 2:9 explains how Jesus suffered death so that He might taste death for everyone. Because He died for our sins, we don’t have to fear death,” Kittle writes.
“As 1 Cor. 15:54 describes, ‘But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’’”
Second, recruit as many people as possible to go to Heaven with you. Use the skills we discussed in our Public Speaking class last week.
“Jesus encourages us to preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15), and when we do, others can receive eternal life with Him and never perish. “..and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand,” John 10:28 NASB).
Third store up treasures in Heaven rather than earth.
“Isaiah 51:6, describes how the earth is set to wear out like a garment,” Kittle writes. “So rather than spending our time, energy, and resources storing up earthly treasures, Jesus urges, ‘But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal,” (Matt. 6:20 NASB).
“Unlike things we collect in the world, God’s treasures are made to last an eternity,” Kittle writes. “1 Tim. 6:18 encourages us to store up this kind of treasure by doing good, being rich in good deeds, and being generous and willing to share.”
“As 1 Tim. 6:19, assures, “storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”
Class notes, eight period, Heaven Prep: The “real world” to focus on is life after death in either Heaven or Hell. The entire bible points to salvation through Jesus as the only way of entrance into Heaven.
One for the spiritual road: From the hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”: “Turn your
eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light o His glory and grace.”
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