How Do I Know I Am Going To Heaven When I Die?

Many of us have spent our whole lives trying to do enough good deeds, in the hope that God will allow us into heaven. But is doing good deeds the requirement to get into heaven?
Jesus said, “Be perfect as Your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Jesus also said, “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20) . The Pharisees and scribes were the ones who followed the law to a tee and who were the supposedly the most righteous people of those days. And none of us have been more righteous than they. So how do we enter heaven when we die?
The answer is found in the Gospel, which is also known as the Good News. The Good News is NOT “if you are a good enough person” then God will let you into heaven. Romans 3:23 teaches us that “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God”. Romans 3:10 teaches us that “There is no one who does good, not even one.” Ezekiel 18:20 teaches us that “The soul that sins it shall die”.
The Bible paints a desperate picture for everyone in the human race. “All have sinned”. The picture gets more grim when it says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) . God will one day judge sin and the penalty for committing sin is spiritual death and separation from God forever (Matthew 25:46) . This reality is not the most popular truth to bring up at a birthday party or a wedding, but nonetheless, God has spoken and His word is truth.

The Bible never teaches that if a man or woman does enough good things in life that God will weigh the scales and allow people into eternal peace and the place known as heaven. “There is no one who does good, not even one. There is no one who seeks God or who understands”.

The Bible does give us Good News, however. The Good News is God’s Good News to humanity. It is the Gospel. And God’s Gospel given by God to humanity is God’s plan for people to get into heaven when they die. Do you know what plan this is? It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is simply this: Jesus lived a perfect and sinless life, Jesus died on the cross to pay our sin debt to God, and Jesus earned the perfect righteousness that is required to get into heaven on judgment day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) . Jesus rose from the dead and is seated in power and glory and offers eternal life to all those who will turn from their sin by placing their trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. “He who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved! (Romans 10:9,10,13) “

Question: What if I reject God’s plan of salvation and eternal life/heaven?
Answer: Then you will be judged by God for how you lived your life and what you believed. God teaches us in His word that “if we say we are without sin we make God out to be a liar and His word is not in us (I John 1:10) .”

Question: Is the Gospel the only way to get into heaven? What about all paths leading to heaven?
Answer: Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6) . Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is the only way that God has made for anyone and everyone to enter into heaven when they die (Matthew 1:21; Philippians 3:9; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-10) “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12.

Question: Why has God made only one way to get into heaven?
Answer: Ephesians 1 teaches us that God made a plan before the world began to save His people from their sin. This plan was in Jesus Christ alone. There is a benefit in this as well: God has made clear and very simple from Genesis to Revelation that Jesus is the only way to heaven and that all other ways are dead ends and are in fact false (John 10:7-12) . There is only one Gospel of God unto salvation for man. “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8) .”

Question: What does God do with the sin that I still commit even after He saves me through Jesus?
Answer: When God saves us in time and in history, He forgives our sin and declares us righteous in Christ. The theological term for this act is Justification by Faith. This is a positional and once for all declaration of God that deals with our standing before God. God now begins to live through us and in us to accomplish His purposes in our lives. This second part of our life and process of God is called “Sanctification By Grace”. Sanctification does not save us or give us heaven. Sanctification does not produce justification. Jesus has already given us eternal life and heaven. We have already been Justified by God through faith. Sanctification purifies us in view of the fact that we are already saved and justified. Our position in Christ is firm and secure. We are children of God through Christ (Romans 8:11-16) . But our sinful nature must be purged from us until we are made completely like Christ. The Roman Catholic position is that this purification takes place in purgatory. But Scripture never teaches anything about purgatory. Scripture teaches us that Jesus has forgiven all of our sin through His death on the cross. “It is finished (John 19:30, Hebrews 9:26) .” Scripture teaches also that Jesus will carry on His good work in us until completion and the day of Christ (Philippians 1:6) . Keep in mind it is Jesus that is carrying on the good work and not us who are meeting God half way in sanctification in order to one day be justified by works. “No flesh shall be justified by the works of the law (Galatians 2:16) . “ Believers are justified by God once for all and believers are being sanctified by God for the rest of our lives. This is why we can say that in Christ, sin no longer reigns, but that sin still remains. We are at the same time “justified” and sinner. We are forgiven and declared right with God but are being made more spotless and clean until the bride is ready for her Savior and Lord to take her home. At that time she will be without sin and completely made righteous.

How about you? Have you trusted Jesus for forgiveness of your sins and His righteousness unto eternal life? If not, and you feel the conviction of His word upon your soul, pray a prayer such as this to God, “Lord Jesus forgive my sin. I believe that You lived the perfect life, died on the cross for my sins, that you were buried and resurrected the third day. I trust you with all my heart as I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

if you trusted Jesus and would like more resources on how to grow in your relationship with Jesus feel free to contact me at 702-376-7123.

Blessings to you in Christ our Lord!

Proverbs 8:18 Wealth In Christ

Proverbs 8:18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.

In 8:11 he says that wisdom is better than jewels. When comparing the jewels of the world he declares wisdom’s superiority. Here in Proverbs 8:18 He testifies that riches-true riches are with Him. Forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, the righteousness of Christ credited to one’s name, and the promise of a life that never ends-these are the riches that are with Christ. Honor is also with Him. Honor in the Hebrew carries with it the idea of weight and heaviness. In the Greek honor refers to preeminence, value, and worth. In Revelation 5:12, we read, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”  Throughout the book of Revelation Jesus receives honor and it is the highest honor that He is receiving. Yet, in His great generosity and love He also shares this honor with his brothers and sisters-those who call on Him as Lord and Savior. To be bestowed the title son or daughter of God and adopted into the royal family of God is the honor above all earthly and heavenly honors. This honor is weightier than gold and more valuable than earthly recognition and worldly prestige. Romans 8:15–17 “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (ESV) Christ is the reigning King of kings and the very image of the invisible God. To be an heir with Him means that believers are entitled to everything that He has rightly earned and gives to them. Children of God is an honor to have and an honor to receive. When our children are born, we bestow upon them the honor of “son” or “daughter”. In like manner, when a believer is drawn to Christ in relationship having  been born again and trusting in Jesus by turning from sin, God bestows upon him or her the distinct honor of “son of God”. Where does one find honor in this world? Honor is not found in a pilgrimage to Mecca or in a life of abstinence from worldly pursuits.  Honor is not attained through works righteousness. Honor is found “with me”, in Christ. 

Enduring wealth and righteousness are also with Him. Enduring describes that which is on going, constant, and never ending. Wealth refers to someone or something that has worth. What Christ has is wealth and this wealth endures forever. Do you want wealth? Get Christ. Do you want righteousness? Get Christ. Christ has the righteousness that endured to the very end.

“For ^eChrist is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”-Romans 10:4 Christ, in His perfection lived a life of complete obedience, active and passive. He did all that God required Him to do and did nothing that God forbade to be done. The Pharisees and scribes thought they could find righteousness through the keeping of the law. But Jesus demonstrated that in keeping the law, no one shall be justified (Galatians 2:16, Matthew 5:20). Jesus said that the righteousness of the Pharisees will never qualify a man to enter the Kingdom of God. One must exceed their righteousness to gain eternal life. Paul says that he has not his own righteousness (Philippians 3:9) which comes from the law but that he has the righteousness of another, that of Jesus Christ. This is enduring righteousness. When Jesus cried “It is finished” (John 19:30) He signaled to all that the law had been kept perfectly-that this was the finished work of obedience and redemption. His resurrection from the dead was proof that God the Father has accepted Jesus’ perfect work and sacrifice on behalf of God’s elect.

Psalm 23:3 He Restores For His Name’s Sake

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake-Psalm 23:3

“The consolations of the Holy Spirit are the still waters by which the saints are led; the streams which flow from the Fountain of living waters. Those only are led by the still waters of comfort, who walk in the paths of righteousness…in these paths we cannot walk, unless God lead us into them, and lead us on in them.” (1)

When God gives rest He is also giving  the soul something more: the restoration of the soul. This seems to be the quickening Spirit of God exerting His divine power into the actual life of a man’s soul. His soul, or spirit, is his inner existence, his true and real man. It is the seat of his emotion, intellect, and will. His true and real man was dead in sins and the iniquity of transgressions. But when the Shepherd came along and restored his soul, he came to life! If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed (John 8:32) . The prayer of every man’s heart should be, “Shepherd, restore my soul!” 

When the sheep would come back to the sheep pen after grazing in the green pastures, the shepherd would be there to count them in and to inspect their bodies for any signs of harm. They may have been pricked by thorns or thistles. They may have been bitten by insects or venomous creatures. They may have a laceration or gash in their flesh and the shepherd will discover this and mend its wounds. The shepherd restores them back to health. 

To have one’s soul restored is difficult to precisely compare to anything in our natural world. Because God does the supernatural to restore it! He waters the soul with His word. He quickens the soul with His Spirit. He invigorates the soul with passion and strength. He gives the soul vision for the future and a determined resolve to continue on despite difficult or troublesome circumstances. 

Why does He lead in paths of righteousness? For His name’s sake. It is simple to gloss over this idea of His name’s sake. But the cosmos was spoken into existence for His name’s sake. Man fell into sin and death, that the Shepherd would be given over to death and rise again, for His name’s sake. Genesis to Revelation are for His name’s sake. There is no life apart from God. Life itself exists for His name’s sake. His name’s sake is the primary reason that God wills and acts in the ways that He does. He does so that all may praise and honor His name. Listen to this passage from Isaiah 48:11, “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.” God will not give his glory to another, meaning not to competing rivals. God will share His glory with His own who are washed in His blood and purified by His soul restoring Spirit. But He will not yield His glory unto idols, adversaries, or wayward sinners who refuse to come to Him for forgiveness and the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Let us not forget that His name is holy. His ways are just. His love is true. And His mercy endures forever. It is this very God, this very shepherd, who leads me in paths of righteousness. 

What are paths of righteousness? It is the way that is right. It is the way of truth. He guards us from the path of ruin and places us in a position to travel in the right direction, His direction. “This God-his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. “- Psalm 18:30 As Albert Barnes says, “He conducts me in the straight path that leads to Himself.” The path does not lead to an earthly happiness that is apart from God. The path is found in God and He at this path’s end. To find God is to find true happiness and joy made complete in Him. “And these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”-John 17:13

Before we are set on the path of righteousness we must know our position before God in Christ. 

Some world views teach that men must be righteous in their actions in order to become righteous before God. The biblical worldview is that there is none righteous (Romans 3:10, 23) and that we must be declared righteous in order to do righteousness. “The just shall live by faith”-Romans 1:17. Hence, the glorious truth of the Christian faith alone is that we become righteous not by our own deeds, but by the deeds of someone else, Jesus Christ. And the way in which we become righteous because of Jesus is by grace through faith. Grace is God’s unmerited favor toward chosen sinners. Faith is the instrument that God uses to unite the repentant and believing sinner to Christ and to His benefits. The best place to find this truth is in Genesis 15:6, “And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” Here God makes a threefold promise to Abraham: a land, a nation of people, and a Seed. Notice, Abraham does not obey God to be counted as righteous. Rather, Abraham believes God to be counted as righteous. The Apostle Paul expands upon this passage in Romans 4:9 when he says, “Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.” Paul begins with Abraham and proves that believers who shall come after Abraham are counted righteous in the same way that Abraham was. “For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.” – Romans 4:13 “ But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, (Romans 4:23-24) “. This righteousness of God comes to believers by way of “imputation”. It is a crediting term often used in courts of law and in the world of financing. It basically means to charge something to someone’s account. Here is how the redemption of God’s people is played out in God’s courtroom: Jesus is declared a sinner, though righteous. We are declared righteous, though sinners. In essence, He is declared guilty and condemned to die. We are declared righteous, forgiven, and are set free from sin and death, to live forever declared righteous because of Jesus. This is the teaching of justification by faith. He leads me in paths of righteousness. This is our starting point in God. Once declared righteous in Jesus, we are now free to love and do righteousness not to become righteous, but because we are righteous. “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17 (ESV)

There is a positional righteousness that we just spoke of. There is also a progressive righteousness. Once we are positioned in Christ Jesus because of Jesus, we must now be made like Christ Jesus for Jesus. God may do this in a believer in one day or in 70 seventy years. His goal is that we may be righteous as He is righteous. That we may be full and content in him.  Doing what is right regardless of the consequences is also an example of being led in paths of righteousness. Doing the will of God, sharing the Gospel with those that have never heard, living a godly life in Christ, making disciples of the nations, loving your family, ministering to the needy and afflicted, are each examples of walking the path and being led by the Spirit in paths of righteousness. The more we walk with Him, abiding in Him, the more we become like Him realizing that He has been living through us. “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me”-Galatians 2:20

The voice of wisdom speaks in Proverbs 8:20, “I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.” The Lord leads us in paths of righteousness and because He does so we walk in the way of righteousness. This is what is termed “wisdom”. Someone is walking in the Lord his shepherd, being led by the Lord his shepherd, and being made like the Lord his shepherd when the Lord his shepherd makes him to lie down in green pastures, leads him beside still waters, and restores his soul. The glorious reason behind this is for His name’s sake as His love is great toward His people!

(1) Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, Psalm 23:1-6 ©️2004-2020 Bible Hub

Tim Carroll ©️2020 Wisdom Walk

The Holy Spirit (Part 1)

 

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. – John 16:7

How could it be to the disciple’s advantage that Jesus go away? What could be better than their Lord and Savior being with them to protect and teach them? What could be more than Jesus to lead, guide, and direct their steps into holiness? 

For starters it was planned among the members of the Triune Godhead that Christ would die for the sheep. That plan of redemption was foreordained in eternity past (1) .  Secondly, unless Jesus died and rose as planned and as foretold, the gift of the Holy Spirit would not be given. For the Holy Spirit to be given was part of the plan. The Holy Spirit was also part of the reward. The reward of Christ’s obedience on the cross unto death was not only redemption for His people, but also the gift of the Holy Spirit to be given to His people.

Why was it better for the disciples that Jesus go away? Matthew Henry says, “His corporal presence could be but in one place at one time, but His Spirit is wherever two or three are gathered in His name. Christ’s bodily presence draws men’s eyes, His Spirit draws their hearts.” (2)

When believers are in Christ it is no longer they that live but Christ who lives through them by faith (Galatians 2:20) . The Holy Spirit is the One who takes up residency in the heart of the believer.  It is Jesus who must become greater and we who must become less (John 3:30) .  The advantage that the disciples would later have and which you and I now have is that God is becoming greater in us than we ever could become in ourselves. God is also greater in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)  .  God is greater in us than even the world with all of its pomp and glory. 

“Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:17 For he dwells with you and will be in you. For how long? John 14:16 says that the Holy Spirit will be with you forever. He is our advocate, our helper, our defender. He is our paraclete and counselor who helps us in our time of need. The Spirit helps us in our time of weakness. He leads us as children of God (Romans 8:14) . He guides us into all truth (John 16:13) . The Spirit convicts the world in regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment. The world does not view sin, righteousness, or judgment correctly, nor seriously.  But when the Spirit comes He will reveal truth to the hearts of His own who repent of their sin by placing faith in the risen Lord Jesus. He will also empower us for works of service in Jesus’ name and for Jesus’ glory.

God bless the Holy Spirit-the great Comforter of the sheep. 

Tim Carroll ©️2018

 (1) Ephesians 1:11, 3:11, Acts 2:23; John 10:11,15,18; Matthew 1:21

(2) Matthew Henry, Zondervan NIV Matthew Henry Commentary, ©️1992 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

Proverbs 8:15 Who Is Just?

Proverbs 8:15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 

What is it that a king uses to reign over a kingdom of people? Sound knowledge. Wisdom. Understanding. King Josiah was a good example of a king that ruled well. Solomon is another king blessed with incredible knowledge and wisdom and who decided matters with the greatest acts of justice. Jesus is the King of all kings who rules and reigns now with a perfect knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Isaiah 9:7 reads, “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” Notice His government shall increase. His peace shall increase for those whom He gives it to. He reigns over His kingdom currently with justice and righteousness and will continue to do so after His return and His ending of human history as we know it.

Even an evil king will reign through what looks like wisdom although a wisdom steeped in deception, corruption, and pride. That is not true wisdom but folly attempting to appear wise. True wisdom is pure and virtuous.

Rulers decree what is just. The decree is the order of the king that no one can overturn. Decreeing what is just is based upon the integrity of the kingship. Just means righteous. The same Hebrew word tsedeq is used here again as was used in Proverbs 8:8. To be righteous, to declare what is righteous, and or to pronounce someone righteous is a power held by the king. In the New Testament dikaioo is the Greek word for just or righteous. The root word is dike and we find this root word or related forms of the word in Romans chapters 2-6 some 30 or more times. While the Old Testament speaks of tsedeq or righteousness, we are given a more explanatory definition of it by the Apostle Paul in Romans. He basically says that whoever is righteous becomes righteous through the righteousness of another: Jesus. It is Jesus ‘ righteousness that is credited or imputed to the believer’s account once the believer exercises their trust in Jesus Christ (Romans 4) .  No man ever gains heaven by his own righteousness. But every man who does gain heaven gains heaven by the righteousness of another on his behalf. Jesus bestows His righteousness to the believing sinner’s account, because Jesus holds the power to do so. This is the import of Romans 1:17, “the just shall live by faith.” In other words, those that are deemed “righteous” by God shall live by faith according to such righteous standing. When the text says rulers decree what is just, it means that the Ruler alone has the power to decree what is just or right. The way believers become right with God is by God “declaring them right” before him. In answering the all important question of “how does one become right with God?”, then answer is found in this: through the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ alone.

Oaks of Righteousness

Oaks of Righteousness

Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified. – Isaiah 60:21

Think of the concept of the tree. In order for the tree to thrive and bear fruit what must be true beforehand? The tree must be alive. This begins with the seed. The seed is planted and by the design and power of God the seed brings forth life. The tree now lives. The roots of the tree are what exist underneath the surface while the beauty of the tree is what is made visible above the surface. We know that without the root there is no fruit.

For a moment let’s look at the design of the tree and see why scripture speaks of the tree so often. In so doing it is my prayer that we may come away with the most basic and profound theology, or if I may, “tree-ology” of scripture. Hopefully, this theology translates into practical fruit bearing and living.

Why the tree?
I believe God chose the tree as the most fundamental example of life. In the Garden of Eden there was a tree of life to begin with. In Revelation and the new heavens and new earth there is also the tree of life. The tree has a beginning: the seed. And because of sin entering into the world, the tree has an ending: death. The Bible describes two kinds of trees: good trees and bad trees. The good trees are alive, while the bad trees are dead. The good trees bear good fruit while the bad trees bear bad fruit. When sin entered the world all men died. All trees died as well. Jesus uses trees to describe men throughout the Gospel. For instance, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” -Matthew 12:33-35 Jesus clearly applies his tree analogy to the Pharisees, and distinguishes them from good trees.
So how is a tree made bad? At the creation was not Adam was good? Sin made the tree bad. How is a tree made good? By regeneration and the power of the Holy Spirit making someone alive in Christ. Jesus said that making the tree good will result in good fruit being produced. So what does our lives look like today? Are we bearing good fruit or bad fruit?
Unless the Lord builds the house the laborers labor in vain. Unless the Lord plants the seed there are no branches and there is no good fruit bearing or any sign of everlasting life.

In Isaiah 60:21 the prophet refers to the branch of my planting. Originally this branch was prophesied of as Jesus. We read, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. – Isaiah 11:1 Jesus was born of the line of Jesse and David. “Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. – Acts 13:23 This branch is indeed the work of God’s hands, and He has been glorified, is being glorified, and will be glorified when this branch returns to judge the world in righteousness. (Isaiah 11:4,5; Revelation 19:11,15; 20:11-15) Jesus is the Seed (or offspring) that is spoken of throughout scripture. “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. – Galatians 3:16 Christ Jesus is the one who would unite His people, Jew and Gentile, into one people (Ephesians 2:12-21) and declare them righteous by His own righteousness. Hence, as Isaiah states it, Your people shall all be righteous.

Jesus came for many reasons. One prominent reason is that He may give life to those that have died in Adam. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”- John 10:10 In a sense, those dead in sins and trespasses have to be replanted. There needs to be a new seed planted where the old seed died. Dead men need to be made alive in order to bear fruit. Jesus did this. “to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. – Isaiah 61:3
Jesus of Nazareth, was planted in the earth by coming in the flesh, being born of the virgin, living a sinless life, dying a sinless death, being buried in the grave, and rising from death on the third day. This life of His is now planted in those He chooses and they, who now turning from their sin by placing faith in Jesus Christ, do go forth to bear fruit.
These oaks of righteousness are spoken of when Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” – John 15:16
Have you thought of yourself as an oak of righteousness? Have you been planted by God in Christ and made alive by His Spirit? Then you are an oak of righteousness, His righteousness.

Lastly, where shall believers dwell for eternity? Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”- John 17:3 So first we aim to understand that to live forever with the promise of eternal life is not so much a physical location, but more importantly, it is a relationship with Jesus.  It is to be one with Jesus.  It is to be continually abiding in Him and with Him forever. It is to be forgiven of sin and declared righteous in Christ. It is to be like Him and to experience the fullness of His presence while being completely glorified as He is glorified. Eternal life begins now in Jesus. Yes, this has taken place, is taking place, and will take place completely and entirely in the future as well. As John says in 5:24, that believers have “passed from death to life”. Wherever Jesus is, that is where we want to be.
When it is said, they shall possess the land forever, we can rest in the promise that all believers shall be with Jesus dwelling with Him in the place that He is, forever. Our concern is not to search out for a piece of small land on the earth, or even the little plot of land in Israel and Palestine called the city of Jerusalem. The promises of God extend not only to Jewish people but to non Jewish people (Gentiles) also. The land that God promises to His people is far greater than a small section of Jerusalem. It is glorious! It is new! It is vast, immense, and wonderful! It is the New Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven prepared for its Bridegroom and King Jesus. “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, – Revelation 21:9b, 21:10
The land we shall possess forever has no rebuilt temple in the earthly location of Jerusalem. How do we know this? “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. – Revelation 21:22 Jesus is the temple.
The land we shall possess forever has a tree of life in it. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. – Revelation 22:14 Jesus is the true tree of life, the branch, the vine. Jesus is the gate and way into the city. Jesus could very well be thought of as the city Himself and will be comprised of one whole organic unity of His people as the dwelling place of God. Matthew 13:31,32 speaks of the mustard seed becoming the largest tree of all garden plants and capable of sheltering the birds of the air. I Corinthians 15:58 speaks of God being all in all after Christ has destroyed death. A sense of mystery accompanies this scene of which we cannot fully grasp or realize at this time.
One thing is for sure: It will be Jesus. He will be with His people. This will be forever. “They shall possess the land forever.”
Be encouraged and be the fruit bearing oak tree that God has created you to be. May God water your roots to grow deep and establish you in His Gospel. May His grace abound in your life and may you be filled with His wisdom, love, and hope. You are planted by God and are the work of His hands. Go glorify Him today.

Tim Carroll ©2017

Las Vegas, Nevada