Is There an ‘A-List’ in Heaven?

In a letter to newly planted churches in the Roman provinces of Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia and Asia, the Apostle Paul explained how lost souls might receive the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

“If,” he advised, “you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Many, if not most, of us have received the gift of salvation; have the promise of everlasting life.

We look forward to heaven, which the Book of Revelation describes as having twelve gates of pearl and streets of pure gold.

We can hardly wait to take residence in the mansions that, according to the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus has prepared before us.

But many, if not most, of us will find heaven very much different than we are expecting. We mistakenly believe heaven will be egalitarian; that all who are saved will enjoy the same standing in the hereafter.

But that’s not what the Word of God teaches. It promises us – it warns us – that heaven is a meritocracy.

That, while our salvation guarantees us a place in heaven, our works on this side of eternity determine what exactly that place will be in the hereafter.

Indeed, the Lord declared, “I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”

The Book of Matthew tells us the Son of Man will sit on the throne of His glory. That before Him all the nations will gather. That He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

That He well set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on His left. That those on His right hand will inherit the kingdom prepared for them. And that He will say to those on His left, “Depart from Me, you cursed.”

Those of us who are saved are the Lord’s sheep. An inheritance awaits us, everyone. But everyone does not have the same inheritance awaiting.

For some devote their lives to being good and faithful servants. To standing in the gap for the Lord. To fulfilling the Great Commission. To fighting a good fight, finishing the course set before them, and keeping the faith. To suffering persecution in the name of the Lord, even unto death.

There is laid up for those saints crowns of righteousness. They are on heaven’s A-list.

And it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Those who truly love Him are those who let their light so shine before men, that they might see their good works, and glorify the Father which is in heaven.

As to those of us who do not lead such a purpose-driven life, who do not labor in the Lord’s harvest fields bringing the lost to Christ, who do not feed the hungry, offer drink to the thirsty, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and minister to the prisoner, there is a place prepared for us, too, in eternity.

But let us not delude ourselves that we can do little or nothing in service to the Lord and enjoy the same rewards earned by such great men (and women) of God as Abraham, Moses, David and Esther or John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary, the Apostle Paul and St. Peter.

Papias of Hierapolis, who authored five books on Christian oral tradition, who said he received the sayings of the apostles from those who accompanied them, taught that “there is this distinction between the habitation of those who produce an hundred-fold, and that of those who produce sixty-fold, and that of those who produce thirty-fold.”

The first, wrote Papias, “will be taken up into the heavens.” The second, “will dwell in Paradise.” The last “will inhabit the city.” Everywhere, he explained, “the Savior will be seen, according as they shall be worthy who see Him.”

Salvation earns us a place in the city, with its “splendor” beyond anything we have seen or experienced in this fallen world.

But more is required of those who will spend eternity in paradise, with the “delights” far beyond the splendor of the city. And much more is required to be “deemed worthy of an abode in heaven,” where God, the Father, sits on His throne, and His Son, Christ the Lord, sits on His right hand

That’s why the Lord, Himself, advised us, encouraged us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy,” but “store up treasure in heaven,” where our good works will be eternally rewarded.

Reminds me of the pastor who died and went to heaven. He found a nice house reserved for him — but just down the street was a much larger mansion. He asked Saint Peter, “What did he do to merit a house so much larger than mine?” Saint Peter replied, “He was a New York cab driver. When you preached, people slept, but when they rode in his cab, they PRAYED!”

1 Corinthians does not have a chapter 23. Probably a typo.

Correct Jesus did state so in John 6. He is also the door; The Light; the Word; the list continues.

Not being snarky, it’s just some focus on the similtude of flesh and blood and miss the entire dialogue. Earlier in the discussion it was about faith and belief. As the discussion continues the focus of those who do not believe is on physical food. That is why Jesus completes the dialogue by stating what He was discussing was spiritual.

At the council of Jerusalem I find it interesting that if they believed transubstantiation was doctrine, they would have specified it was permitted to drink Christ’s Blood when instructing the Gentiles not to drink blood.

Well, 1) our sn nature will be gone.

2)it’s speculation on my part, but who says we can’t advance ourselves in heaven? I mean, it is eternity.

Even God would get bored with unending changelessness. After all, He created the universe for a reason, then added angels, men, etc.

This is fact, is an argument, although as I said, speculative, for non-equality in rewards. Accepting for the sake of argument this position, it gives redeemed Man the chance to strive without the misery of envy.

Does this make any sense to you?

I wonder if those in the slums will be able to work their way up to a “better” place? After all, they’ll have all of eternity. Also, doesn’t it say somewhere that there are no tears in heaven? Therefore, ending up in the slums can’t be too bad; at least we won’t be crying about it if we end up there!

I sorta think that. Of course, I have no Biblical support that I know of. But God has left a lot of pages blank for us.

As another instance, lots of people, including Billy Graham, think that animals, particularly pets, will make it. Again, I find no biblical support, but nothing against it either, except maybe for a passage in Ecclesiastes. And you have to remember, while the book is inspired, the Preacher is musing and ‘saying to himself’. He is not necessarily speaking for God.

And would it be heaven without your beloved pets? I have no opinion on this question, either way, though.

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