The Way of the Master ministry is very well-known for its evangelizing techniques. One of the main things they start off with is asking people whether or not they think they're a good person. Then they ask this: "Do you think you're good enough to go to Heaven?"
Now, I am not downplaying what The Way of the Master does. If it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't even know where to start with witnessing to others about Christ. However can it be possible to focus too much on Heaven and not on the God behind Heaven?
The Bible is totally all about being close and intimate with God. He is holy and sovereign and good. He is also relational, as it is even shown in the three separate persons whom He is composed of. They are all individuals, but all work and commune harmoniously together.
God desires a relationship with us. And it is not because God needs a relationship with us. He doesn't need us, especially after we have sinned and screwed up so many times against Him. However God wants to be with us. That is why He sent His Son to die for us. Nahum 1:2 says, "The LORD is a jealous and avenging God" This does not mean that God is an obsessive, abusive control freak. This is especially the case when you look at the context of this verse. What this verse is saying is that God is jealous for our affection and will do absolutely anything to obtain it. This is almost like a man seeking the affection for another woman as his bride. He will do absolutely anything he can to win her affection: buy her dinner, get her flowers, buy a $3,000 engagement ring, etc. The same goes with God. His jealousy also went as far as sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to provide that way to Him. He did so by His death. He died and bore the wrath of God. He took that vengaence that God should rightly have against us. He took it and through Him we are set free from our sins.
There is more to Christ's selfless sacrifice than just our sins being wiped away. We are now free to seek God no matter where we are. We could be in a church service lifting our hands, or we could be at home eating breakfast in a bathrobe with morning breath and a bedhead. God meets us where we are at. He hangs out with us, He encourages us, He just plain shows affection to us.
Have you ever felt the warm embrace of God? I have. There was one time a few weeks ago when I woke up in the middle of the night really distressed. I was worried about a lot of things concerning money and these next few months. I knew it was wrong and confessed it to God in tears. As I was weeping, I felt God's warm embrace and His peace all around me. I felt warmth like no blanket or heating system has ever given me before. All my muscles relaxed and I felt peace. This was God's peace. I believe He was holding me and hugging me.
So will Heaven be nice? Absolutely. But Heaven won't be nice because of tricked out streets of gold, seeing old friends long gone and not having to deal with the burdens of this sinful world. Heaven will be nice because of Jesus Christ! I'll be able to see Him face to face! I'll be able to walk with Him, talk with Him, ask Him questions, and did I mention WORSHIP HIM?! I'll be seeing that beautiful throne like what John describes in Revelation as Jesus sits upon it. Not only that but I can freely approach that throne without fear of rejection or anything like that because Jesus Christ has redeemed me.
So going to Heaven is not just about comfort. It is about Jesus Christ. If you think Jesus Christ is not in Heaven, then you are not thinking about Heaven.
"Whom have I in Heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My heart and my flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
-Psalm 73:25-26
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