Q&A OF THE MONTH:

Question: If heaven is so great, why do we take precautions to prolong our real lives (i.e., seatbelts, helmets, parachutes, etc.)?

Answered by: Stacy, who was a volunteer with us for several years, took a brief hiatus, and returned to us in September 2014.

Answer: Paul himself said, “Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.”(1 Corinthians 5:8). However, he also understood the reason he was left on this earth “Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others.” (1 Corinthians 5:11). “And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (1 Corinthians 5:18-20).

The reason we seek to prolong our lives is because all human life is valuable to God. Besides sharing the love of God with unbelievers, in hope they will repent and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ; God is doing a special work in the lives of His children on earth. He is forming us – through faith and sharing in both Christ’s power and His suffering – into the sweet image of His Son. God is preparing us to rule with Him. This life is a training ground. The lessons we learn here – the experiences we have here and now – will benefit us greatly through eternity. But most of all – this life is what we have to please Him from our free will and love for Him. How we live our lives now is of great consequence to how we will live our lives in Heaven. The time is soon coming for all of us when God will complete His Redemption and take us to be with Him where we will rule and reign forever and ever and ever.

So true, this is not our home, but we are “foreigners” on a mission until we reach our final resting place (1 Peter 2:11); in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose Holy Spirit indwells believers (1 Corinthians 6:19), making it a joy-filled responsibility to stay and witness on this earth. Our reward for living a righteous life awaits our arrival home, where Jesus is now preparing a place for every believer. (John 14:2-3)