WE ARE NOT IN HEAVEN YET

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-13)

Devotion 1 of 37

INTRODUCTION

There are two things that tend to elude professing Christians. (1) The extent of the fall of man, and (2) The extent of God's effort to retrieve him. For purposes of clarification, the expression "the extent of the fall of man" is not intended to suggest there is no remedy for the fall. Also, the phrase "the extent of God's effort to retrieve him" by no means suggests helplessness on God's part, or that he is simply trying to save men.

I do mean that man has fallen too far to come back to God on his own--by means of his own strength, wisdom, or personal discipline.
I also mean that, in salvation, God has launched the most aggressive work made known to the sons of men.

God's salvation is a "so great salvation" (Heb 2:3). It is not so complicated it cannot be realized, yet it is not so simple that it can be fully comprehended. There are dimensions of this salvation that are so profound they must be opened to us. As it is written, "That He [God] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Eph 3:16-19).

If the Holy spirit does not strengthen us in the "inner man" (our essential persons), Christ cannot "dwell" in our hearts by faith. If Christ does not dwell in our hearts by faith, we cannot be "rooted and grounded in love." If we are not "rooted and grounded in love," we will not be "able to comprehend" something of the immensity of this salvation. If we do not comprehend something of this enormousness, we cannot "know the love of Christ" that extends beyond earthly knowledge. If we do not "know the love of Christ," we will not be able to be "filled with all the fulness of God."

While these are rather elementary observations, they are inherent in the text, and not to be denied. There is no form of valid rationality that can negate their affirmation or bring their truth into question. Let it be clear, God has not provided a salvation that allows for the exclusion of Himself and His work. Neither, indeed, is there such a thing as salvation that leaves its recipient aloof from, and uninvolved with, the Savior. Such circumstances simply do not exist. Men may allow for such conditions, but God does not.

The wisdom of this world does not allow men to receive these things. It rather compels men to develop systems of theological thought that allow God to remain at an experiential distance from men, and men to remain in practical alienation from God. With amazing aggressiveness and discipline, these erroneous patterns of thought are regularly perpetrated among men. Official terms and expressions have even been concocted that represent these patterns of thought. At the risk of being misunderstood, I am going to mention some of them. They represent extremities of theological thought (falsely so called).

1. "Eternal security."
2. "Once saved, always saved."
3. "Once in grace, always in grace."
4. "It is not possible to know you are saved."
5. "God loves you, no matter what you do."

These expressions, to many, carry the weight of a word from heaven. Nevertheless, they are not words from heaven. God made none of these statements. None of them are in the Scripture. They represent human conceptions of Scripture, and not Scripture itself. There are elements of truth in all them. However, there are also elements of falsehood in them. They all violate the direction of the Holy Spirit. "If anyone speaks, let him speak AS THE ORACLES OF GOD" (1 Pet 4:11, NKJV). They also are out of harmony with the confession of holy men of God. "Which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, COMBINING SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS WITH SPIRITUAL WORDS" (1 Cor 2:13, NASB).

One of the fundamental reasons for the development of these questionable expressions is the failure to comprehend the extent of the human fall and the extent of God's effort to save mankind. This lack of comprehension has driven men to either oversimplify salvation, or overcomplicate it. There is danger in both of these initiatives. Oversimplification disarms the soul, making one vulnerable to the devices of the devil. Overcomplicating tends to create doubt, and a sense of futility. In both cases, the individual falls prey to the devices of the wicked one, and is put at a decided disadvantage.

This series of devotions will affirm that we are not yet a finished product. It will further affirm that as long as there remains a vulnerable part within, a need for human effort and Divine involvement is required. Human effort is encouraged by Divine commitments which can only be attained by faith and patience. Divine involvement is promised only to those who believe. Neither human effort nor Divine involvement are ever represented as being automatic.

Knowing full well that I will incur the indignation of many of my readers, I intend to confirm that we are not in heaven yet. Until that takes place, we are subjected to genuine danger. Conversely, although we are not in heaven yet, we surely will be if we keep the faith, keep looking to Jesus, and, in that posture, keep running the race set before us.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Your matchless Son, help me to see Your salvation as it really is.

-- Tomorrow: THE NATURE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE, #1 --