Is Getting To heaven really God’s Main Goal For Christians

My question is offered for thoughtful banter and not for all out warfare.

“Was getting us to heaven really the goal of Jesus coming to earth or was there another reason according to scripture as to why Jesus came and heaven is only a by-product of His coming?”

I call into question the following passages of scripture for thought on this topic…

Gen. 3:22-24

Matt. 22:37-40

John 6:44

2 Cor. 5:12-21

“Have you (we) ever stopped to consider that question?

Our impulse might be to blurt out “HEAVEN! I wanna go to heaven!” But, should that really be our motivation?

2 Cor 5:17-21 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Eph 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Does God want each soul to be saved (2 Pet 3:9) simply so that they can go to heaven? Or, is there something more?

Certainly we all want to go to heaven! But why? Is it because of selfish reasons (i.e. I want to be free from pain, sorrow, hardships, and trials) or is it out of a sincere desire to be with God and sing songs of praise to His name for all eternity?

Rev 7:13-15 – Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15″Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

As the passages from 2 Cor 5 and Eph 2 above bear out, we are, through Christ, meant to be instruments of righteousness for the glory and praise of God.

God wants to have a relationship with us and has made such possible through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Heb 9:13-14 – For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Any relationship will ultimately fail if love is not present. And what do we mean when we say “love?”

A sincere interest in the welfare of others.

God certainly has manifested His love towards us (John 3:16), but are you manifesting your love towards God by selflessly serving Him and seeking to live a life that will bring Him joy (John 14:15)?

And so we come back to our original question…why are you a Christian?

Are you in it for you? Or are you in it for God?

Are you selfish? Or are you truly selfless?

May we all begin this week with the attitude of humble servants whose aim is to, in good and honest hearts, bear fruit with patience.”

These thoughts in the “” are offered from another blog website poster for consideration.

As my friend Edwin wrote to me concerning this thought:

“I think this is a great question. It is actually one I’ve considered for a few weeks now. Certainly, Paul in Philippians 3:11 spoke of doing all things so he could attain the resurrection. However, as far as I know, this is the only passage that actually makes heaven our goal. I think Paul’s letter to Titus gives some interesting insight. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great god and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14). Notice that we are waiting for the return of Jesus and the glory that will be revealed. However, Jesus didn’t give Himself just so we could be part of that glorious appearing. Jesus gave Himself so we could be His possession zealous for good works in this present age. In other words, Jesus didn’t die just to save us. Jesus died in order to save us in order that we might be free to do good works.

Consider also Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Why have we been recreated in Christ Jesus? Not so we can go to heaven, but so we can walk in the good works God prepared beforehand.

Note I Timothy 1:5, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” Some translations say the “goal of our instruction.” Interestingly, the aim or goal is not to get us to heaven. Rather, it is for us to love based on a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Love who? God and others.

Here is where I am. I don’t want to totally discount heaven as a proper goal (I can’t deny the existence of Philippians 3:11). However, the New Testament gives far more air time to the goal of simply wanting to do God’s will because we love Him. I think this is a better goal because when I’m working on trying to attain heaven, I start thinking in checklists and limits. I ask stupid questions like, “Exactly how much do I have to do to go to heaven? Do I really have to do this to go to heaven? Do I really have to avoid this to go to heaven?” I find that for me a better question is, “Am I doing this because I love God?” I’m trying very hard each day to quit thinking in terms of “I’m going to do this so God will bless me” whether the blessing I’m looking for is heaven, victory over some sin, a material blessing, or anything else. I want to act based out of love for God. I’m not fully there yet, but right now I’m more aware of this and working on it.”

Again this is posted for thought and not angry banter.