There has long been a facet, or at least a stream, in Christianity that has been focused on “going to heaven” when we die. What some call pie in the sky when we die.
I, for one, rarely, when sharing the gospel, speak of “going to heaven” because I don’t think most people can relate to that. It conjures up all kinds of visions from sitting on clouds playing harps to majestic mansions lining streets of gold. That may all be there, but I can’t say for sure. (I have some other more theologically based reasons as well). I can say for sure that, at the present it is where God dwells (Our Father who is in Heaven -Matthew 6:9- and other scriptures bear this out). Instead I speak about eternal life, because I think people understand what eternity is, in as much as they can embrace it, and they understand living/life. So I find that term, eternal life, more relatable and understandable to most.
I open this writing with that only to make the point that, again, I, for one, believe in reference to the eternal purpose of God, we are far too focused on “going to heaven” and should be more focused on our part in seeing God come to dwell on earth with us, and in us. I think this misalignment in understanding of His purpose has created all kinds of strange, and less than straightforward, teaching, doctrine, and thinking in the ekklesia about the kingdom and His purpose for us in the earth.
I have said before that if we break down, in albeit a simple form, the end of both covenants we find righteousness and obedience. It all comes down to God has always desired to dwell with a people with whom He can be comfortable. Those created in His image that are righteous, holy as He is holy. And, He has desired a people that would be obedient to what He asks/speaks out of a submission gained by love rather than coercion.
That existed in the Garden before the fall. He was comfortable with Adam and Eve and they with Him, so much so, that the were well acquainted with the sound of Him waking the grounds in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8-10). And, as far as we can comprehend, they were living in obedience to the one command not to eat of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, until they did.
After the fall in the Old Covenant/The Law we worked at righteousness through obedience. It was impossible. In the New Covenant established in Jesus we have been given righteousness as a gift in Jesus that we might then learn obedience living in Him and under His Lordship. A righteousness that comes by faith, not by works of the flesh. But, that righteousness inspires a submission, gained by love, to Jesus’ Headship in obedience as we comprehend we were created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
This reference to things prepared beforehand alludes to the fact that we are in Christ for a purpose that has existed in God in eternity past and still does.
Consider:
[Ephesians 2:4-7 NASB95] 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
It could be said there is a sense that we need not be quite so focused on “going to heaven”, because we have already been seated there in Jesus. And, perhaps we indeed may need to give a bit more attention to His purpose for us, in Him, in this present age. We are to display the fullness of His grace and kindness in Christ Jesus as those that are in Him.
[Ephesians 1:3-12 NASB95] 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, [that is,] the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
So it might be said, again, perhaps we should be a bit less focused on “going to heaven”, since we are blessed in the heavenly [places} in Christ already. We have been made that aforementioned righteous and holy people in Him, and are here to display the kind intention of His will in Jesus. So perhaps a bit more focus on obedience to manifesting the mystery of His will and kind intent and purpose, that He has revealed to us in Jesus, and bringing praise to His glory might be in order.
[Ephesians 1:18-23 NASB95] 18 [I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. [These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly [places,] 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
The apostles prayer here is for our enlightened understanding of the Father’s inheritance in us (the saints/holy ones) made possible by the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus to His right hand in heavenly [places} establishing and displaying His dominion and power for all time(s). And, specifically establishing us, as the ekklesia (church) to manifest His headship/Lordship and His fullness on the planet out of a submission/obedience gained by love.
Don’t misunderstand me. I can get excited by what I can imagine of heavenly places, particularly when I read Revelation 4&5. And, I do believe I will see the bodily return of the Lord Jesus. (I have thought so from being saved at 18…and I’m now 73…so it must be imminent.) But, I think we waste our time, and are made less effective in His purpose, if we are not focused on His eternal purpose of summing all things up in Christ, things in the heavens and On The Earth and giving ourselves to being His body, the church, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
May we be as much concerned and looking toward, and preparing for, God coming to dwell on earth and Jesus with His bride. You see He is coming here to establish new things. So it probably isn’t so much about us “going to heaven” to dwell. That seems to be the end of the book and the eternal purpose in Christ.
Consider:
[Revelation 21:1-5, 9-11 NASB95] 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer [any] sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be [any] death; there will no longer be [any] mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” … 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. (read all of Revelation 21 for the complete descriptions)