How to Be Useful to the Lord, Week 2, Chapter 4, Tuesday

HOW TO BE USEFUL TO THE LORD

CHAPTER FOUR

WEEK 2 - TUESDAY

Bible Reading: Mt 12:40; Mk 16:19; Lk 23:42-43; 24:51;
Acts 1:11, 2:24-27;Eph 4:8; Heb 9:24; 1 Pet 3:22  

Read and pray: "Jesus answered him, 'Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." (Lk 23:43)

THE IMMATURE

CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM

The only type of person who can enter the kingdom is the one who is mature. If we carefully read the entire book of Revelation, we will see that all the Christians who will be in the kingdom will be the mature ones. Those who have not matured will not be able to enter the kingdom. It is like the fact that all the produce stored in the barn is mature. The produce that is not yet mature must remain in the field until it ripens through the heat of the sun or the blowing of the wind. It must mature before being harvested. Likewise, although all Christians have been saved, they cannot enter the kingdom unless they are mature.  

Therefore, the idea that a Christian’s soul goes to heaven after they die is superficial and childish. It is not a truth revealed in the Bible but a tradition of Roman Catholicism. The idea of going to heaven is not found in the Bible.

HEAVENLY MANSION

IS A RELIGIOUS TERM  

The term "heavenly mansion" is not found in the Bible; rather, it is an expression used in religion. The Bible only uses the terms "heaven" and "heavens." In the Chinese translation of the Bible, the translators borrowed the term "heavenly mansion" and used it because it had been widely adopted by religion at the time they were translating. In the Chinese Union Version of the Bible, the term "heavenly mansion" appears in two passages: 1 Peter 3:22 and Hebrews 9:24. However, in the original text, the term "heaven" is used in both passages. It was to heaven that the Lord ascended after His death and resurrection (Mk 16:19; Lk 24:51; Acts 1:11).  

In the Bible, there is no idea of "going to a heavenly mansion," and there is no verse that says the souls of Christians go to a heavenly mansion after they die. When a Christian dies, their spirit and soul do not go to heaven but to Paradise in Hades (Lk 23:43). It is correct to say that Christians will one day enter the kingdom, but for that to happen, they must mature. Some may ask, “Many have indeed received forgiveness of sins and the Lord’s life. However, from the moment they were saved, they did not pay the price, did not live a victorious life, nor faithfully followed the Lord. It is obvious that they lack maturity in life. What will their future be?”  

There was a certain brother who was truly saved. However, after salvation, he still loved the world, lived according to the flesh, loved money, and did not love God. One day, he died of a stroke. Then, the brothers gathered to sing some hymns for him and offer words of comfort, saying, “Thank God and praise the Lord because our brother has gone to heaven, to his heavenly home. He has truly been blessed!”  

Where can you find this teaching in the Scriptures? The Bible says that unless the harvest is mature, it will not be gathered and brought into the eternal barn. In the Scriptures, the destiny of Christians is determined according to maturity. Those who mature faster will be gathered into the barn earlier, and those who mature later will be taken later. This is clearly revealed in the Bible.  

So, if he did not go to heaven, where did this brother go after he died? This is not difficult to understand. Do you remember the thief who repented on the cross? He said to the Lord, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." The Lord immediately replied, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Lk 23:42-43). Moreover, Matthew 12 and Acts 2 say that after His death, the Lord remained in Hades for three days and three nights (Mt 12:40; Acts 2:24-27). By carefully examining these verses, we can immediately understand that Paradise is in Hades. Luke 16 also refers to this. The bosom of Abraham, where Lazarus was, across from where the rich man was, was Paradise in Hades (vv. 23-24).

PARADISE WAS NOT MOVED

FROM HADES TO HEAVEN  

Most theologians in Christianity also acknowledge this fact. However, some believe that before the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, this Paradise was indeed in Hades and that after the Lord’s resurrection, He transferred it from Hades to heaven. They say this based on Ephesians 4:8, which states, “When he ascended on high, he took many captives.” They cite this verse as the basis for claiming that Paradise was transferred.  

However, the phrase "took many captives" means that before the Lord’s resurrection, when men died, they were taken captive to Hades by the power of death, the power of Satan. Then, at the moment of His resurrection, the Lord Jesus overcame the devil, who has the power of death, and invaded Hades, taking many captives. Therefore, this verse does not mean that Hades was transferred to heaven.  

After Christians die, their spirit goes to Hades, and their body is buried. For example, after Peter and Paul died, their bodies were buried, but their spirits were separated from their bodies. Spirits separated from their bodies are abnormal because they still bear the mark of death. Although Peter and Paul were saved, death was still in them and had not been removed.  

At the Lord’s return, their spirits will come out of Hades, and their bodies will also come out of the tombs to become glorious bodies. At that moment, body and spirit will be reunited. When their spirits are clothed with their bodies again, they will be able to enter God’s presence. In the Bible, disembodied spirits are unclothed spirits that still carry the mark of death and therefore cannot enter God’s presence. Only at the time of the rapture, when the spirits of the saved leave Hades and are clothed with their transfigured bodies, fully adorned with appropriate garments, will they be able to go to God.

CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE NOT

YET MATURED MUST DEAL

WITH THE MATURITY ISSUE

BEFORE BEING RESURRECTED  

Christians who die without having matured in life will not be able to enter God’s presence even after being clothed in the resurrection. In Matthew 25, it is said that at the time of the resurrection, the saints who are ready and mature will participate in the Lord’s wedding feast, while the immature will still have to pay the price to attain maturity.  

In other words, if, as a Christian, you die without reaching maturity, then at the time of the resurrection, you will still have to complete the process of maturation. Do not think that you will go to the Lord without completing this process.  

Therefore, those who want to participate in the Lord’s wedding feast must be mature. There is only one type of Christian in the heavens: mature Christians. If you have matured during your life, you are already prepared and can praise the Lord for it. Like the five wise virgins, you will be able to enter the Lord’s wedding feast at His coming. However, if you have not prepared and matured during your life, then if you unfortunately die, after the resurrection you will still have to deal with the issue of maturity. After being resurrected, like the five foolish virgins, you will still need to pay the price of buying the oil.  

Therefore, as Christians, we must mature. This is the goal we must all reach. The Lord’s intention for us to mature is an issue we cannot avoid.

Enjoy more: Hymn C-95