A massive assumption has been made in Western Christianity that the purpose of being a Christian is simply, or at least mainly, to “go to heaven when you die”…
— N.T. Wright, “Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church”
I remember singing “heaven” songs when I was a kid in church. “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be.” “I’ve got a mansion, just over the hilltop…”
We sang them loudly. This might be a world full of problems to endure, but we could rejoice. This world was not our home. It was a temporary thing to tolerant until we got to heaven and everything would be alright because we would be with God.
Then, somewhere in my life journey, I discovered I already was with God. Every day, every moment, I was with him. I walked with him. I talked to him. I found that I was already a part of his Kingdom. And I had a Kingdom purpose in my being here.
My goal wasn’t to “get to heaven” anymore. My calling was to live like Christ so the Kingdom of God would come now, that his will would be done here, just like it is in heaven. And those things that I thought I had to tolerate were things that I learned help me to grow to be Christ-like.
I still like “heaven” songs. But I like living in the Kingdom of God more.
