I Am More Concerned About Missing Heaven
Than I Am About Staying Here
By Gary L. Fiscus, 2026
I was born a few months after the end of WWII. In the 1950’s, we were concerned about the conflict in Korea, bomb shelters, radiation fallout, etc. Then came Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and cliches like weapons of mass destruction and nuclear armament capabilities. The same jargon and tension exist today with Iran, China, Russia, Mexico, Cuba, and others. Am I surprised at this? No. Jesus said, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet,” Matthew 24:6. This was a specific prophecy regarding the soon-to-come, i.e., A.D. 70, destruction of Jerusalem. The principle of the Lord’s teaching, however, is still applicable today. It serves as a reminder of one’s need for faith, watchfulness, and preparedness in the face of global turmoil.
Like most, I have a family, friends, and loved ones whom I enjoy being with. From that perspective, I wish to stay here as long as possible. On the other hand, I pray to have the attitude of the apostle Paul in Philippians 1:23-26, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.” I am not an apostle with divine credentials, but I am a Christian and a human being with emotions, feelings, attachments, and living in a world of materialism and physical pleasures. I am a realist, hence, the above title: I am more concerned about missing heaven than I am about staying here! I am trying to “work out my own salvation with fear and trembling,” Philippians 2:12.
Nearly all world NEWS is negative. Countries, political officials,
territories, economies, and the threat of a nuclear holocaust are all frightening. I do not want to be blown up by a bomb, gunned down by a shooter, or burned to death by radical terrorists mishandling chemicals. Whatever happens, however, if I have no control over it, I am to be prepared for separation from this life – but not separation from God! That disaster is what John spoke of in Revelation 2:11; 20:6, “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death…Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection, over such the second death has no power…” I do not want to be so scared of what this life does to me that I lose my primary focus, i.e., to go to heaven. Jesus again taught in Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” It is interesting to note that Robertson’s Word Pictures gives this observation, “…soul here of the eternal spirit, not just life in the body. Destroy here is not annihilation, but eternal punishment in Gehenna (the real hell).” The doctrine of annihilation or obliteration is contrary to the Bible’s teaching on never-ending retribution. Annihilationism teaches that the wicked will be eliminated rather than subjected to eternal torment.
To the contrary of that erroneous doctrine, Christians have hope that is beyond the grave. It is beyond a theory of ceasing to exist. In fact, that hope is so strong that the apostle penned in 1 Corinthians 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Our hope is steeped in the reality of the resurrection of the dead. However long one lives in this life, no matter by what method or happening he dies, regardless of human emotions and frailties, hope beyond the bounds of life sustains us!
I ask you readers the same personal question I asked myself: “Am I more concerned about missing heaven than I am about staying here?” How would you answer this question?
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Gary’s article is both timely and thought-provoking, and we thank him for allowing its inclusion in this publication.
