Easter special: heaven is not our home

By Bishop Dave Chikosi

Many Christians get startled to learn that going to heaven is not the primary goal of Christianity. It can be quite upsetting to be told that the primary reason Jesus came to earth was not so we could go to heaven. What in the world did He come here for then? 

The notion of heaven as the destination for Christian believers is one of the most deeply ingrained teachings in traditional Christianity. Salvation in many churches is presented as nothing more than one’s personal fire insurance for escaping hell. It has very little to do with our life here on earth.

Traditional Christianity has over-emphasized the “I’ll fly away” message at the expense of the real Gospel i.e. the Kingdom here and now.

The church has kept us pre-occupied with the after-life, looking forward to an eternal retirement in a paradise of lush-green lawns, fruit-laden trees, beautiful lakes and fountains, little smiling children, lovely birds and flowers. One day we will leave this vale of tears to go stroll around with our loved ones in Beulah Land.

The Bible does indeed allude to the existence in heaven of such a glorified park of beauty and bliss. The Book of Revelation gives us glimpses of such bliss, beauty and majesty over yonder.

But what the Bible does not do is espouse a doctrine that reduces salvation to a one-way ticket to heaven, with earth being the airport where we await to board our flight and depart to Glory Land.

It’s a narrow and defective theology of redemption to hold that Jesus came all the way to earth just to save us from sin, and, as theologian Richard Pratt says, “sprinkle us with peace and joy so we can sprout wings when we die, grab a harp and join the eternal choir.”

The Bible teaches the opposite point of view. It teaches that heaven is, in fact, the airport or bus stop, and earth is our final destination. When Christians die, they go to heaven where they wait for the event called the “Second Coming of Christ”.

In the Second Coming Jesus will return to set up His eschatological kingdom on earth. Those Christians who are already in heaven, will form part of the entourage that the King of kings will bring with Him.

“For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him” (1 Thess 4:14). 

Our eschatological destination is, in fact, the “new earth” after the old has been renovated by fire, as St Peter tells us:

“That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:12-13). 

We must renew our minds about this important topic. Christ did not come to earth simply so that we can go to heaven. That was not His primary purpose. Nor did He come just to save us from our sin. It’s unbiblical to try to one-dimensionalize the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Nazarene this way.

As Easter approaches let us remember that salvation is an all-inclusive term. The Greek term for salvation is “sozo.” It is used over 100 times in the New Testament. Only 38 times is “sozo” translated in reference to forgiveness of sins.

Sozo or salvation is broader than just forgiveness of sin. It includes physical healing and well-being. It means “to be made in a sound condition.” It carries the idea of wholeness – spirit, soul (i.e. mind and emotions) and body.

 This is why Jesus could say to the woman with the issue of blood: “Thy faith hath made thee whole (sozo). And the woman was made whole (sozo) from that hour” (Matthew 9:22).

(Bishop Chikosi has a new 2014 book project entitled: “Supersize Me Lord!” Excerpts can be viewed at this pre-publication website: http://www.supersizemelord.com. He can be reached by email at [email protected])