Can We Be Assured of Heaven as the Home of the Faithful?
In times of great uncertainty, as one faces in the United States of America today, it is a sure blessing to know that the certainty of the faithful's home in Heaven is never in jeopardy.
Has God promised a Heavenly home? Yes! The Hebrews writer declared, "But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city" (Heb. 11:26). And the Lord proclaimed a prepared place for His own, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2-3).
The promise has been made – but to whom? Peter wrote, "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:4). The crown that does not fade away is found in Heaven, "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in
heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). The Lord declared to whom that crown of glory, which does not fade, shall be given, "...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10). The answer is that the promise of Heaven has been given to the faithful.
Who then are the faithful? Jesus spoke of the faithful in this way, "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season"
(Mat. 24:45). The answer is: "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing" (Mat. 24:46). The faithful are those who are about the work which their Master has set before them to accomplish. For this reason Jesus also said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Mat. 7:21).
How then shall a man know the will of God? A man may know the will of God by knowing the doctrine of God, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John 7:17).
What then is the doctrine? Notice first that it brings salvation, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee"
(1 Tim. 4:16; cf. Rom. 1:16) – and salvation comes through the Word of God, "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (Jam. 1:21). Therefore, the doctrine of God is His Word. Heaven is promised to those
who obey God's Word.
Is this promise sure? Yes! Notice this from First John, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:13).
Eternal life is as sure as the resurrection. Jesus said, "Marvel
not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28-29); and, "... I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). The resurrection
of life in the Christ is eternal life, "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1 John 5:11).
The resurrection is as sure as the judgment on that last great day, "Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day...He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day"
( John 11:24; 12:48; cf. John 5:28-29; Mat. 25:31-46).
The judgment is as sure as the fact that Jesus was raisedfrom the dead, "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (Acts 17:31).
As surely as the Lord was raised from the dead and reigns now at the right hand of God (Heb. 1:1-3); so eternal life with God in Heaven is promised to the faithful.
John D. Rose
