Most men hope to go to Heaven when they die; but few, it may be feared, take the trouble to consider whether they would enjoy Heaven if they got there. Heaven is essentially a holy place; its inhabitants are all holy; its occupations are all holy. To be really happy Heaven, it is clear and plain that we must be somewhat trained and made ready for Heaven while we are on earth. We must be saints before we die if we are to be saints afterwards in glory. We need the work of the Holy Spirit as well as the work of Christ; we need renewal of the heart as well as the atoning blood; we need to be sanctified as well as to be justified. What could an unsanctified man do in Heaven, if by any chance he got there?
No man can possibly be happy in a place where he is not in his element, and where all around him is not congenial to his tastes, habits and character. When an eagle is happy in an iron cage, when a sheep is happy in the middle of a lake, when a fish is happy on the dry land then, and not until then, will I admit that the unsanctified man could be happy in Heaven!
Now perhaps you think the that saints of God too strict and particular and serious. You rather avoid them. You have no delight in their society. But there will be no other company in Heaven. Now perhaps you think that praying and Scripture reading and hymn singing are dull and melancholy and foolish; a thing to be tolerated now and then but not enjoyed. You reckon the worship a burden and a weariness. But remember, Heaven is never-ending worship. The inhabitants thereof rest not day or night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty," and singing the praise of the Lamb. How could an unholy man find pleasure in occupation such as this?
It seems clear that Heaven would be a miserable place to an unholy man! We must be heavenly-minded and have heavenly tastes in the present life or else we will never find ourselves in Heaven in the life to come!
[J. C. Ryle]
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Hebrews 12:14 … Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Revelation 21:27 … And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 22:11 … He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.❤
