Huntington Church of Christ

The night before His death, Jesus told His disciples:

"Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3).

After His ascension, Jesus returned to the heavenly Father (Acts 1:9; 2:33). Jesus had promised to prepare an abode for His disciples in the place where He was going. Heaven is that place. It is the eternal destiny of those who are spirtually prepared.

To prepare heaven, Jesus didn't need to build a house or sweep floors. The Savior's preparation involved suffering and death. He offered Himself as sacrifice for our sins. The way to heaven was made ready by Jesus.

Not everyone will go to heaven with Christ. The popular doctrine of "universal salvation" (the concept that everyone is going to heaven) is not promised in the Bible. One must first become a Christian through obedient faith in Jesus. That faith leads man to repent (turn away) of his sinful conduct and confess Jesus as the Christ (Acts 2:38; 8:36-39). Forgiven of his sins at the climatic point of baptism, one "walk(s) in newness of life" (Romans 6:1-4). Peter wrote:

"...give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble; for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1;10,11).

Please observe the conditional nature of this promise. Peter relates the importance of adding to our faith the characteristics of virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (vs 5-7). It is your personal responsibility to be prepared. Eternal salvation in heaven is often referred to as "a prepared place for a prepared people" -- and rightfully so. Only those who faithfully and obediently serve Christ and follow His New Testament teachings will receive the ternal reward.

Daniel S. Dow
Huntington Church of Christ