Following to our final destination
Every believers goal should be to make it to heaven. Sure, everyone wants to live the best life as possible, and make sure that the family is taken cared of; but at the end of the it is all about you. No one can assure paradise to those they love (ps49:7), everyone has to pay their own ticket. The bible tells us that we need to work out our own salvation (ph2:12). The path towards heaven has already been laid out so that no one is with excuse for not making it. But, throughout time people have come up with their own ways to making it to heaven or being with God, which is what ever religion aims to teach. Most if not all religions come from either near Eastern or Eastern area, they are all classified by their geographical location. And some of the believes about how someone makes it to heaven go from one fighting with evil and winning (Zoroastrianism), to pertaining to a group (Judaism), the practice of the five pillars (Islam), having a great force with you; the force be with you (Hinduism), and Buddhism where one pushes its body to not need anything to survive. Heaven to most religion is based on when one can do and not on what Christ did.
John 13:36-37
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” 37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
Jesus tells his disciples as he had told the Jews that he was going, but they could not go just yet. He needed to go first to make preparation for the saved (Jhn14:1-4). Jesus plainly reveals where he was going to his disciples who were like Abraham, who followed God’s direction without knowing where he was going. Peter did not have any problems following Jesus blindly as long as he knew that he was going to be with him, but the other disciples the way (Jh14:5-6); Philip even requested to see the Father. Leaving the disciples was going to be difficult, because they had created a powerful bond, so Jesus was going to leave them and be with them at the same time; and this was by leaving his Spirit.
The way to heaven started to become a reality once Jesus left. Many of the Old testament saints along with the thief at the cross rose from the dead after Christ (Mt27:51-53). The mansions were made and are still being made for those who remain faithful (Jh14:23). Heaven waits for us to be the faithful and this is reflected in the parable of the talents where the faithful and the unfaithful are separated (Mt25:21). Jesus said that whoever persevere till the end shall be saved (Mt24:13). Paul tells us that in a twinkling of the eye we shall be changed, we will be caught in heaven with the Lord (1Cor15:51-52).
No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in Goda]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection anda] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.