Terms and Conditions for Heaven and Earth

S - "Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. … For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. … And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." (1 John 2:24-25; 3:11, 23-24 ESV)

O - The Kingdom of God offers eternal life to all who will believe. It calls all people to a simple and direct commandment which simultaneously engages heaven and earth according to love. The problem is that earth wants to redefine the terms of eternal life and believing. Earth makes believing all about "accepting" certain theological conclusions about the identity of Jesus.  Heaven keeps it all about an unqualified personal response to the person of Jesus (John 5:39-40). Earth wants earthlings to think eternal life is a status one obtains by holding on to a prescribed formula. Heaven wants earthlings to know that eternal life is a person who will hold on to them forever (John 10:28-29; 17:2-3). Earth says eternal life begins in heaven but heaven wants earthlings to have and experience this life beginning now.

A - Hearing AND abiding are connected to the promise of eternal life. Both the hearing and abiding involve more than information. I am to abide in him (not just the concept of him) and he will be abiding in me. This is a spirit dynamic which is lived out loud day by day by loving God back and all others as myself. Earth (religion) teaches that eternity is all about what place one will abide in. Heaven says it is all about with whom one will abide. With Jesus the place is not an issue. While the ultimate place maybe future the hearing, abiding, loving and living is now!

P - Lord who is life,

Thank you for wanting to abide in me/us and for calling all to abide in you unto the life that is really life. I accept the dynamics of being loved by you, loving you back and all others. I am very glad to be engaging heaven and earth as you intend. Yes to you and your kingdom on earth, in me, as it is in heaven.

Today while it is called today,

Steve