I love chaos. Well, maybe I don’t love it, but I find myself in it enough to know that God, at this point, speaks to me there. There are days when I don’t let Him reach me anywhere else.
That’s problem #1: I don’t let God reach me.
Problem #2 is that I, in my fallen state, doubt my worthiness and my ability to be loved.
Sound familiar?
Both these problems go hand in hand. It took me a lifetime to realize this, but when we don’t let God reach us, we don’t realize that He longs for us to be one with Him; we don’t realize that He considers us worthy (not because of who we are, but because of who He is) and He calls us His beloved.
So what does this have to do with being built for Heaven?
Lots. Lots and lots. And then some.
Let’s break it down.
We are built – designed – in the Lord’s perfect image. We are not God, neither are we perfect, but we were modeled after perfection. Which means that we can get pretty close, but never quite there. And that’s probably a good thing. I’m not God, and I don’t want to be. Anyway, since we are made in His image and likeness, and since He is good, it means that we, too, are good. We are purposefully, intentionally, and lovingly made like the Father so that we might be close to Him. Wow. His glory is within us.
Speaking of glory, let’s move on to the most glorious place to exist: Heaven. Heaven is, well… the magical place in the sky where Jesus lives. Okay, sure. But really, Heaven is the perfect union with God. It isn’t merely a place where the angels and saints and Jesus all sing and jump on clouds (gosh, I hope they do). This perfect union with God is achievable only in Heaven, where the deepest longings and desires of our heart are truly and eternally and fully satisfied.
We can only hope for this union on earth, but we recognize that it can never be fulfilled in its entirety until we get to Heaven. But really, hoping for this will get us no where if we don’t let our hearts lead us there. I can’t hope for the car to start without turning on the engine. I can’t hope for the candy bar to open itself. I can’t truly, deeply hope to get to Heaven if I don’t care enough about Jesus on earth. We can’t hope to be united with God if we are being selfish. Well, we can, but then hope is misunderstood.
So if we can’t ever achieve this union in its perfect entirety until we get to Heaven, what does being built for Heaven mean?
It means that there is something more to this life than we’re living. It means that we are made for more.
In this lifetime, we are called to live in union with Jesus as best as possible. Because of the Fall, we are unable to be in perfect union now, but we can do our best. We were separated from God, but because of Christ and His sacrifice, we have the opportunity to get closer to the Lord in a new way. We have a new promise: Jesus taking on the cross is my metaphorical highway to Heaven. The “work” we put in now will gain us our entry into having an eternal life with the Father when He calls us home. We long for Heaven – where our deepest desires to be with the Lord will manifest themselves in full. We are made for this: to be one with Him, so much so where, again, we were made in His image and likeness. We are designed to dwell in this perfect union: Heaven, the place, the existence with no more suffering, tears, sadness, brokenness, pain, longing, you name it. Death has no victory there. Christ is Heaven’s victory. Heaven is perfect. Are we were made for it. Scripture says we’re citizens of Heaven, and from there comes our perfect Lord. And then He left Heaven, and still in perfection, took on the form of man to live a life here on earth: He was born, preached, and died for me. All for me, so that I may get to Heaven. He opened the gates for me.
I can’t wait to be there.
But the question stands: do we live our lives knowing this truth enough to want to live it? Or maybe the better question is, do we believe it? Or better yet: do we care?
The simple fact-of-the-matter is that if we’re not living our lives to get to the place we are meant to be, we won’t get there. It’s like knowing how to drive, and knowing how to get to your destination, but never getting behind the wheel and actually going. Or maybe you’re just sitting there, but never starting the engine. Or maybe you’re taking a few (okay, many) detours, the longer route, turning back around, driving in circles, getting lost… you get the picture. This is a drive you’ll be taking for the rest of your life, and some days, this drive will be better than others.
Are you up for it?
After all: you are built for it.
We are built for a place so beautiful because we have a God who loves us beautifully. We want to end up in the place made for us.
Do I let God reach me so that I am reminded that I am worthy and loved of this gift?
Sometimes.
And that’s why I am writing this blog.
We get the ultimate joy of this lifetime, and eventually the next, when we glorify God. This is the truth we should cling to, not the ways of the world which draw us further away from Jesus’ heart. What we do now will determine where we go later. And I don’t know about you, but I want to go for a place made for me.
I want to go to Heaven.
This blog is something the Lord has been calling me to for years. In so many ways, He has directed me here. So here I am, and here you are. Thanks for being here with me.
Built for Heaven, the blog. I heard this phrase in passing in a video months before I started this. It stuck with me, every single day. The idea wouldn’t die. I hadn’t heard it anywhere else, and I realized that I hadn’t ever seen anyone else talk about it in this context. It has to do with purpose – something I am still trying to figure out, and I’ll get there one day. In discerning my “next step” in life, I realized that it was finally time I started to do what God was calling me towards. He kept telling me, and I kept pushing it off. I prayed, and prayed, and prayed even more, and this little phrase took on a whole new meaning, and now, it’s taking the shape of a virtual adventure.
Thanks for joining me.
It’s ultimately going to be a place to talk about the “things” and the “stuffs” (love that word) of this world I experience which have reminded me of this message, either through my successes or failures, indifference or zeal, love or apathy… you name it. I’ve lived it. You have, too. This is a place for me to share my faith journey, the beauties and pains of this world which interest me, and the wisdom I’ve gained through it all. This blog, like me, will finds its way.
I, more than anyone, need to work to get to the Heaven built for me. God only knows how many times I’ve sat still and let Him down; how many times I have gotten out of the car and kicked the tires, or the times I’ve slashed them and run away. Far. I realize in my own life, I need to turn on my engine and just go. I’ll make mistakes. I’ll crash. But I know there are others traveling with me (hi, friends!). I know I can always turn back around again, with Jesus right beside me. Nothing on Him is wasted.
I know what – or rather, Who – lies before me. And for Him? I’ll take that drive any day. After all, He loves me, and I’m worthy.
I’m made for more.
I’m built for Heaven.
And you, friend, are, too.
Let’s drive.
We’re Heaven-bound.
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