Why Do You Strive for Heaven?
What Are You Really Longing For?
Many Christians profess that their ultimate goal is to reach Heaven. This is a noble and worthy pursuit, but we must ask ourselves: Why do we strive for Heaven? Is it merely for the rewards—everlasting life, no pain, no sorrow, and eternal joy? While those promises are certainly beautiful, the true purpose of striving for Heaven is not the place itself but the One who makes it what it is—Jesus Christ.
The Central Focus: Jesus
In John 14:1-6 (NKJV), Jesus reassures His disciples of this truth:
"Let not your heart be troubled; you 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. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Jesus is the way to Heaven, but more than that, He is the reason we should long to be there. Heaven is not simply a paradise of joy—it is a place of communion with our Savior. Jesus did not say, “I will bring you to a perfect place,” but rather, “I will receive you to Myself.” The ultimate reward of Heaven is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of Christ.
Without Jesus, There Is No Hope
If we seek Heaven only for its benefits and not for Jesus Himself, we miss the heart of the gospel. Without Christ, we have nothing on earth and certainly no hope of eternal life.
Colossians 3:1-4 (NKJV) reminds us:
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
Our focus should always be on Christ—where He is, that is where our heart should be.
1 Peter 1:3-4 (NKJV) emphasizes that our hope is through Jesus:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."
Our inheritance is incorruptible because it is in Christ. It is not Heaven that makes Jesus good; it is Jesus that makes Heaven glorious.
What Is Our True Desire?
When we reflect on our goal, we must ask ourselves: Do I long for Heaven simply because it is a place of peace, or do I long for it because it is where I will see my Savior face to face?
Psalm 73:25-26 (NKJV) expresses this beautifully:
"Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
This should be the heart of every Christian. Heaven is not about golden streets, perfect health, or unending joy—it is about being with Jesus.
Striving for the Right Reason
As we run the race of faith, we must fix our eyes on the true prize: Jesus Himself.
Philippians 3:8-9 (NKJV) states:
"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him."
Paul’s goal was not a place but a Person. Likewise, our goal should not simply be eternal life—it should be Christ, the giver of eternal life.
Shifting Our Focus
Heaven is glorious because Jesus is there. Without Him, there is no promise, no hope, and no life. We must shift our focus from merely wanting to escape pain and suffering to longing for the presence of our Savior.
As Jesus said in John 17:3 (NKJV):
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
Eternal life is not just about living forever—it is about knowing and being with Jesus forever. Let us strive for that above all else.