Would you want to go to heaven if Jesus wasn't there?

This challenging question was mentioned in our hub group the other night. How we answer is very important. Am I interested in Jesus for who He is? Or, am I interested in Jesus just because of what He can do for me?

Am I building a relationship with Jesus so I can become more like Him? And, the more I become like Him the deeper the relationship with Him grows. The more I love Him and the more I want to spend time with Him ....Or, am I just wanting the mansion in heaven He's promised. The perfect pain free utopian paradise of heaven where there'll be no more death, no more sorrow, no more tears, just peaceful, fulfulling, beautiful, unimaginable, blissful eternal existence...

It's a question that needs an answer. If I'm just looking for the benefits of Jesus and not a relationship, then my motives are purely selfish. It's these selfish motives, I believe, that would enable me to rest in my "fire insurance" faith. : I prayed a prayer, I got baptized, halellujah one day I'm going to heaven ... bring on the beer, lets party!

 If this is the case, then I don't have the Son (Jesus). All I have is selfish motives. I admit, this was the way I thought about it for many years. I thought I was safe. It wasn't until a few years ago that the personal relationship started making sense, and became real to me.

The Bible says in 1 John 5:12 " He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."

If I want to go to heaven, I must have a saving faith. A saving faith is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We don't get to heaven because we're good people. We don't get there because we said a prayer and don't want to go to hell. We get there because we know Jesus and He knows us, and that only comes through a personal relationship with Him. Relationship only comes through spending time with someone. It doesn't just happen because we say a prayer and get baptized.

However, this can be the starting point. We are saved by the grace of God if our prayer is genuine, not because of anything we can do on our own. But, if we can go on living the same way as always, with no evident change in our lives for the better and continually have no time for God, then it's not genuine repentance. It's selfish motivation. The Bible says, you will know them by their fruits.

Jesus said in Matthew 7: 21-23,  "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven. 22) Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23)Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

I heard John Piper speak on this awhile back. I'll be paraphrasing but he said something to the effect of, you don't get saved by saying a prayer, then telling Jesus thank-you very much for my salvation, I'll see you in heaven some day, but I don't want to spend any time with you now. That's not saving faith...

" Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those that keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; and do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me, harms himself; all who hate me love death.".... Proverbs 8 : 32-36

If we're keeping His ways, watching at His door, waiting in His doorway. If we're listening and obeying on a daily basis, then we're building relationship, and that relationship will change our hearts to be more like His. Then He will be able to live through us to bring about His purpose for us and those He brings into our lives.

The fact is Jesus is in heaven. That's where His throne is. That's where He sits at God the Father's right hand interceding for us.  There's no need of the sun there, because Jesus's glory fills heaven with light... It's a glorious place for those who love the LORD.

" However, as it is written : No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."..... 1 Corinthians 2 : 9

I can imagine some pretty amazing things. The Bible says heaven will be beyond anything we can imagine. But, it's for those who love Him. Not for those who just want what He can do for them.

".... for those who love Him"

I would have to answer the question by saying no... It wouldn't be heaven without Jesus.
How will you answer the question?