Why are we tested, prodded, pushed, pulled, pressed, in every conceivable manner? Why is spiritual maturity emphasized to such a great extent in the New Testament writings if we will have no need of it in Paradise?

The reason is, Heaven is not the end of our journey. The end of our journey is the resurrection from the dead and life once again on the earth.

Let us consider three aspects of the fruit of the Spirit: self-control, patience, and faithfulness.

Of what use are self-control, patience, and faithfulness in Paradise? Will we have need of these virtues in Heaven? Will there be pressures on us in Paradise to cause us to lose our self-control or our patience, or to provoke us to unfaithfulness?

It is not likely, although we must remember that sin and rebellion began in the spiritual realm.

Perhaps the primary lesson we learn in the world is faith in God. He who would come to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of everyone who seeks Him.

But of what use will faith in God be when we can behold Christ and hear His Words from His mouth (although it may be true that if we do not believe Him now we will not believe Him then, even though we are looking directly at Him)?

Are all these virtues, which have been developed in us so slowly and painfully, of use only while we are on the earth? Will they be discarded as unnecessary when we enter Paradise?

However, if Heaven is not our eternal home, if we are being prepared to be kings and priests of God and of Christ and to serve Them on the earth, then all the virtues of the fruit of the Spirit are necessary and must be developed in us. We will not be able to participate in the work of the Kingdom if we do not possess them.

In addition, passing into the spiritual realm may be quite different from what we are expecting. The Scriptures have practically nothing to say about what happens to us (sinner or saint) when we die physically. It appears that most of our Christian assumptions in this regard are based on our traditions.

It may be true that the moment we die we will find we are intensely conscious and in much the same spiritual condition that was the case before we died. If we were holy, we will be holy. If we were filthy, we will be filthy. If we were free from sin, we will be free from sin. If we were bound by sin, we will be bound by sin.

We may discover we already are living and walking among those whom we will see when our eyes are opened after physical death. We already are having fellowship, so to speak, with the deceased, whether they are unclean or holy. After we die, the surprise will be that there are few surprises. What we are, we are.

To be continued.