Andy Anderson on the "Overcomers"

[aron]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

Great, if you could give me the verse reference on that [going to heaven when we die] it would be very much appreciated.

There is a verse in Matthew 5 where Jesus says that if you will be despised in this age because of Him, then great is your reward in heaven (v.5). So I am wondering: if your reward is in heaven and you don't go to heaven when you die, how then will you get your reward? Will it come down from heaven with the New Jerusalem?

Not being facetious here. If Jesus tells you to orient your heart toward the things of heaven, wouldn't you be so inclined? And even if those things eventually "come down from heaven" to be with you on the "new earth", still shouldn't your heart be "heavenly oriented" in this age? So "where do you go when you die?" instead becomes, "Where is your heart oriented today?" The second question will be resolved from the first, I believe.

For example, Matthew 6 says, “19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Again, "store up treasures in heaven" seems antiquated compared to Lee's high-peak "dispensing" theory. But Jesus clearly told us to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. Heaven is for real, as Todd Burpo has recently told us. Well, we can dismiss Todd's testimony and say that we are going to the New Jerusalem instead. But if Jesus tells us to put our heart in heaven, then we want to say, "amen", even if we don't understand what He means.

I strongly feel that this is not about terminology but about orientation. I would argue that orientation produces three effects.

1. Attention
2. Interest
3. Activity, effort.

In the interests of brevity I will pursue this on another post. (ha-ha-ha)