The answer to the question in the title is ‘yes!’ Our Holy God will not tolerate sin, will not let Heaven be tainted with the anything short of His perfection. I do not know anybody that is perfect, do you? We both have known a few who thought they were perfect or that worked hard to create the impression of being 'perfect' but once we really get to know them, there are no illusions, are there? Each of us is sadly aware of our sins and failures. We readily identify with David who mourned his sinfulness saying, "I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down. … I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born." (Psalm 51:2,5 The Message) Our own life story has more than a few blots on the pages, doesn't it? Depravity is the universal condition of humanity. Scriptures inescapable indictment is brief and clear: "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard." (Romans 3:23)
So, is Heaven a place we dream of, but where only God and the angels dwell?
Can we, should we, hope for a home with the Lord, or is that just a dream, beyond our reach?
Only those who are perfect live with God, but reaching that blessed state is not the result of our effort! "God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ." (Romans 3:24, The Message) In the opening of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes of the amazingly stupendous love of God for you and me. Then in chapter 2, he seems to abruptly change tone. "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins… All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3, NIV)
Then, he writes, "But, God..." There is the Divine Exception, the Immanuel Intervention, that makes our hope of a home in Heaven (and a life in His Presence right here, right now) possible! "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. ... God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." --Ephesians 2:3-10 NLT
The Perfect God did not take the “Grandpa” route in dealing with our sins. When my grandsons disobey I’m a marshmallow – “Ah, come on. Let it go,” I tell their dad. I’m not charged with forming their character, with helping them become better. I just get to love on them! God is our Father, not our Grandpa. He cannot look at our sinfulness and brush it off, overlook it, or excuse it. But, He can offer a sacrifice that forgives us, an atonement for our guilt debt, and the power of the Spirit that changes us from sinner to saint. That is exactly what He’s done for us.
Disciple, do not abuse His grace. Do not mistake His mercy for approval of sin. Rather, let Him lead you through the tests and trials that perfect your faith, that bring you to maturity in the Way. Invite the Spirit to work deeply in you to produce the ‘beauty of holiness in you’ which will honor your Savior. This ‘perfection’ thing is a process – a work of our Deliverer and the disciplines of the Spirit.
Take this thought as your statement of purpose-- "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." -- Phil. 3:12-14
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Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed,
He'll prepare for us a place.
When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory.
While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we'll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open,
We shall tread the streets of gold.
When We All Get To Heaven
Hewitt, Eliza E. / Wilson, Emily D.© Public Domain
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