By Rod Johnson

A Sunday School teacher asked her class of eight-year-olds, “How many of you want to go to heaven?” Of course, hands shot up throughout the classroom, but as she was about to proceed with the lesson she noticed that little Johnny hadn’t raised his hand. Thinking that he had certainly not understood the question, she asked again, looking directly at Johnny and smiling, “Again, children, how many of you want to go to heaven?”

A second time the young boy was the only one who didn’t raise his hand. Troubled, the teacher nonetheless continued with the lesson but she approached Johnny immediately after the conclusion. In her most sincere voice, she said, “Johnny, don’t you want to go to heaven someday?” To which he replied, “Oh, ‘someday.’ I though you meant right now and we’re going to the circus this afternoon.”

Here are two statements: 1. Christians aren’t conflicted enough, and 2. Christians are far too caring.

Now I know what you’re thinking. You’re saying to yourself, “Don’t you have that backwards?” Christians are far too conflicted and not caring enough, you say. But hear me out.

In the past Christians were often accused of being so focused on the “pie in the sky by and by” – the hope of eternal life after we die – that we didn’t spend enough energy on ministry in the here and now. But I think in the present day sometimes the reverse is true. We don’t value the prospect of going home.

We don’t think enough about what eternal life in the very presence of God really means. We seem to imagine sometimes that heaven is the icing on the cake. But I want you to know that it is the cake. It is where we will be in the presence of our Lord. What could be better? Yet we aren’t conflicted enough about wanting to go to heaven.

In Philippians 1:21-26 Paul says:

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me."

We read that passage thinking it reflects the weariness of the apostle in his earthly life from the persecution and torture, all the hardships he endured, that he just wanted to chuck it all. After all, heaven awaits. But anyone who understands the heart of Paul knows that it was because he got it. Even in the best of times he would have preferred to go home.

Now, we aren’t persecuted – not really. Oh, occasionally someone might laugh when we tell them we go to church and – God forbid – especially if it's a Baptist church. That’s about as tough as it gets for most of us. So I think many of us are like little Johnny. We want to go to heaven, but not right now. We’ve got things to do.

But let’s take death out of the question. What if none of us reading this dies, but is alive when Jesus returns? The Bible says:

"For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." – 1 Thes. 5:2-11.

I often get the impression that we as Christians may identify with the ones who are saying, “Peace and safety.” If we were somehow able to know with certainty that Jesus was coming tonight, would you say, “Even so, so come Lord Jesus.’ Or would it be something similar to: We want Jesus to come but, gosh, we’re going to New Zealand next week. And Bobby is playing in the high school football championship tomorrow night and Sally’s dance recital is next month. I want Jesus to come but not just yet. I’ve got important things coming up. Could you come next month? Sometimes I think we look at death or the Second Coming as interruptions to what’s important. Neither is an interruption. Each is the main event!

So why is it that we aren’t conflicted enough? It’s because of that other statement I made. Christians are too caring. We care too much about our own selfish desires. We care too much about personal agendas. We care too much about our own comfort. We care too much about convenience. We care too much about what others think. We care too much about being god of our own lives! We love the world too much.

1 John 2:15-17 says:

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

After all, the Bible tells us to love one another, to minister to the world, that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love others.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matt. 22:36-40

So we should look forward to death with great anticipation. We should look forward to the possibility that Jesus may come in our lifetime with incredible longing and excitement. And it is that very state of being certain of the glory and joy we will experience in heaven that should make us be conflicted about leaving.

The only reason to not be excited about Jesus’ coming or being with Him after our death – the only thing that comes close to being logical and legitimate is because we care so much about the world – not in the way that John addressed but in the way that Jesus spoke of. There is much work to do; many souls that might yet be saved, should Jesus tarry or should God allow us to linger. We should be able to say with Paul, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;" but I want to stay and work as long as you believe, dear Father, that it is more necessary.