Heaven IS for Real and Jesus is Alive!!!

I just re-watched the movie Heaven is for Real. While it is good to finally have good, clean, and wholesome entertainment, I am troubled by the general premise of the movie, especially right before Easter. The idea that heaven is real because we believe it in our minds and hearts is very troubling. The fact is, Heaven is real, and not only because we believe it in our minds and hearts. Heaven is a real place, a prepared place. The reason this is especially troubling around Easter time is because there are many people who do not believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus. They say that He rises again every time someone believes in Him. See the connection? It only happens in our hearts and minds. But I submit that just as Heaven is a real place, Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead. The entire foundation on which the Church is built is the fact of the resurrection. This foundation is under attack more today than has ever been. And it is under attack from both without and within the church. I want to address some of the attacks from within the church. There are those, like already mentioned, that only believe in a Spiritual resurrection of Jesus and that this happens every time someone believes. The idea ignores the whole of the NT. Thomas was invited to place his fingers in the nail-holes and his hand in the spear-hole of Jesus. This let's us know that Jesus had a physical body after the resurrection. Then there are those that would have us believe that Jesus did not actually die on the cross. Obviously these people are not at all familiar with Roman crucifixion. Death from crucifixion came as a result of asphyxiation and was the guaranteed outcome. Jesus died. His dead body lay for 3 days in a borrowed tomb. The tomb was sealed and guarded by the Romans. He absolutely rose from the dead, because He absolutely died. So, just as we know Heaven is real by faith in the Word of God, we know that Jesus died and rose again on the third day because of the written Word of God. So, when you watch Heaven is for Real, enjoy it; but understand that Heaven is real not only in our hearts and minds but in reality and remember, Jesus died, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and rose, physically from the dead on the third day.

Judge not

So often in the church we hear the phrase 'judge not'. Of course we know this taken from the Sermon on the Mount, specifically Matthew 7. However, as is so often done in scripture, we leave most of the scripture out. Jesus actually says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1-2, NIV) What Jesus is condemning here is the habit of criticizing others while ignoring our own faults. Immediately after saying don't judge, He says in the same way you judge, you will be judged. The implication there is that we are going to judged. Elsewhere in scripture we are specifically commanded to know them that labor among you. The only way you can do that is to judge. In fact, one of the gifts of the Spirit is the gift of discernment. So, where does this leave us? What are we to do? The answer is simple. God has made it clear to us that we are not to judge people; He is the righteous judge that will judge all of us. However, we are commanded to judge their fruit. So, simply put, we can and must judge people, especially those that claim to be Christians. It is our duty to have standards and know those that are called alongside of us in our walk with Christ. How do we do that without actually judging people? Again, the answer is simple. Do it with love. That's how the Scriptures can tell us to confront those that are involved in sin. We can stand against their actions, without ever judging the person. We are to look for the fruit of the Spirit in their lives and ministry and that is how we determine good fruit. So, in a world we continually hear 'judge not', I encourage you to judge. Just remember to do it with love and to judge fruit, people.