Have you ever wondered what heaven would look like? What makes the place our aim? Why is it that many cannot wait to go there?
Well, come with me on this journey to the heavenly place—the place you cannot wait to enter. The place some Christians say, "When you die, you go there." The place where, anytime a celebrity dies or someone we admire dies, we say they go there, no matter how they lived. Let us get a glimpse of heaven, taste it, and see how it is.
Earthly: "My wife has really upset me right now. I will give her a piece of my mind. I will speak hurtful words to her to show her my pain."
Heavenly: "On second thought, let me not do this. I made a vow to love her, and love doesn't speak words that wound for the sake of wounding. Love heals, love protects. I will be gentle. I don't feel like it, but love is not based on feelings, but on what is right. Therefore, I will remain silent until the words of my mouth will heal instead of wounding."
Behold this man who suffers long with the mistakes of his wife. Who doesn’t say hurtful words to her, who seeks to uplift her continually. Who doesn't just say meaningless words of "I love you" to her, but who demonstrates it by his actions. Behold his self-control in holding back his tongue, his emotions, lest they burst forth and tear her world apart. Behold him taking the lead in making sure his wife enjoys being at home; she looks forward to being there because he is her joy.
Behold this man, who is easy to talk to, not easily angered, kind, patient, and forgiving. He provides the space for her to be herself, and she grows. His wife glows; she lives in an abundance of love.
The heavenly man understands that his wife's behavior, or his own tiredness, frustration, and mental state, is no excuse for the mistreatment of his wife, for to do so would reduce him to the state of a beast who is governed by impulse and not rationality. The heavenly man understands that he must always be on guard against his internal beast that would seek to destroy his loved ones. He is a husband, a "houseband," that binds the home together in love, and he must defend it with his life. He defends the home against all threats, including threats proceeding from his own heart. In order for him to love his wife and those around him, he must, like a hunter in a village, guard the door of his heart with a spear, so that anytime the beastly nature of revenge or violence seeks to enter his marriage, he slays it with self-control, tenderness, and love.
Look at his wife, slow to anger. When she is mad about something, she doesn't speak right away. She studies herself, understands her own emotions, and knows the best time she can speak. Maybe speaking is not it for her; maybe she texts him. It is easier for her not to say hurtful things in this way, and she practices it. Because she says, "I love my husband, and how could I break that love by wounding it? I would rather battle these rash feelings of mine, subdue them first, and then I will speak to him when I am calm." Love doesn't wound. She thinks all day about, "How can I make the life of my husband more pleasant? What are the things he needs, and how can I provide them for him?" My husband is my gift from God, and I will treat him as so.
The wife, having walked with God, understands that having her monthly cycle, a bad day, frustration, etc., doesn't release her from her vow to love and respect her husband. She understands, as a matter of fact, that real love is revealed in times of adversity. Having known herself as she walks with God, she too, like a hunter, guards her own heart with due diligence and vigilance. She watches over it for any hints of the serpent within seeking to slither out and strike her husband with her poisonous tongue. She is ever ready to strike the serpent with the spear of self-control, silence, and prayer, lest it destroy her husband even as they remain married. She knows it was in talking to the serpent that the man and woman lost paradise, and she will not allow the serpent in her lower nature to destroy the paradise of her home. She knows love is not a given, but it must be built and guarded with vigilance.
Look at this politician who ran for office on the promise he will help the people and does all he can to fulfill his vow. He tells the truth as it is, even to his own detriment. He failed in his endeavor; the people voted him out, but they know he was an honest man.
Look at this pastor at a church; his priority is the spiritual health of the people. He treats them with love and kindness. He doesn't look down upon them or take advantage of their ignorance, but prays for them, intercedes for them.
Look at this man in traffic who is not enraged when someone cuts him off, but prays for safe travels for that person. Look at him giving to the poor beggar who comes to his window.
Look at the man who uses his money to help others, who doesn't take advantage of others by the use of his money. He sees his money as a gift from God, and he will use it for the betterment of humanity.
The man who understands that all human beings, no matter their skin colors, nationalities, or backgrounds, are members of one human family. He doesn't hate his neighbor, but loves him and treats him as he himself would want to be treated. A man who looks beyond superficial differences and sees the truth. He has evolved from the ignorance of racism to genuine wisdom. He focuses more on what we have in common than what separates us.
Look at the man or woman who sacrifices self daily, moment by moment, so they can be a blessing to others, so they can make the lives of others better. The man or woman who keeps their vows to love through thick and thin. The man or woman who understands that love is more than empty words, but actions. Love is concerned with the well-being of the other. The man and woman whom people in the closest ties to them will testify of their love, their patience, tenderness, and self-control. The man and woman whose very home resembles a piece of heaven on earth—and you will get a glimpse of heaven.
For heaven is not merely a place, but a lifestyle, an attitude of self-denial for the betterment of others.
Satan was in heaven, but was cast out because his attitude of selfishness was incompatible with that place. His attitude made heaven a hellish place of suffering; his mind was turned into darkness, and he could no longer dwell there.
Those who practice similar behavior will not enter heaven because they are citizens of hell.
Those who begin to get a glimpse of heaven here in their own lives will be fit to enter into the heavenly realm in the hereafter. There is no need to wait until you die to go to heaven; heaven on earth is possible to some degree. It requires us to start living like heavenly citizens, to seek the good of others, to restrain self, and promote love.
Charles Darwin spoke of evolution, of man rising from his ignorance, from the primordial slime to become what he is now. The heavenly man is the truly evolved one, for he has risen from a hellish mindset of ignorance and selfishness. He saw a glimpse of heaven in the life of Christ, in God's Word, and through prayer and practice, heaven has come into his life, and heaven walks with him, abides with him in his daily living.
The man who dwells in heaven has died here, for the way to heaven is through the gates of death. Heaven begins when the self begins to die; the greater the death, the more joyful the heavenly home. As we die to self more and more, those around us will experience a greater revelation of heaven. Do not wait to physically die to experience heaven when Christ returns, for only those who die daily here will be able to enter there.
Heaven is practical. I hope you have seen a glimpse of it today. Go and practice. Go and build a heavenly home today.
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