We must understand that we do not gain eternal life in order to enter Heaven nor do we enter Heaven in order to attain eternal life. We strive to enter eternal life so we may live in the Presence of God; so our growing and learning and serving and participating in all the areas of the Kingdom as a son and servant of God may continue unabated throughout the endless ages that stretch before us. He who lives and believes in Jesus will never die.

Some may explain that such continuity of growth and service is what people mean by "Heaven." If so, then all is well.

But the danger is that the believer will conceive of "Heaven" as a place where he will go one day, a land in which he is free from dread, pain, and all responsibility. It is an escape from difficulties based on "being saved by grace."

The current concept is that it does not matter whether we are sanctified and in God's image just as long as we arrive in Heaven. This is to say, it does not matter whether or not we are redeemed just as long as we go where people are happy.

The Christian redemption is not an escape from the battle but victory in the battle. It is the conquering of sin and rebellion so righteousness, peace, and joy can be brought into our own lives and finally into the entire creation of God.

There is a practical difference between the concept of the goal of the Divine redemption as eternal existence in a land of delights, and the concept of the goal of the Divine redemption as growth and development in eternal life, as the restful union of God in Christ in the victorious saints.

Whether one views the goal of redemption as going to Heaven when he dies, or holds to the scriptural goal of eternal life in the Kingdom of God, can make a difference in the degree of fervency and diligence of one's discipleship.

We enter into life, into victory, now—today!

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (Matthew 19:16,17)

"If thou wilt enter into life."

First of all, let us establish the fact that eternal life, in the Kingdom sense, is not eternal consciousness. The rich man of Luke 16:19 was conscious in Hell but he did not possess eternal life.

Second, eternal life is not, as we have stated previously, the same as going to Heaven. Heaven is a place in the spirit realm. Eternal life is a state of being that we reap, a state that must be attained (Galatians 6:8). Christ Himself is the Resurrection and the Life. As long as we confuse Heaven and eternal life we will not be able to grasp the concept of eternal life; neither will we be able to understand the reason for the total demands the Lord Jesus makes on us.

To be continued.