Jesus Prepares us for the Moment Great moments of victory are achieved through great preparation and faithful effort (Matt. 25:21). God’s Word contains much more information on the process of striving to attain the goal than it does on descriptions of heaven (Luke 13:23-24). Strive: “Literally, ‘agonize.’ The word is taken from the Grecian games. In their races, and wrestling, and various athletic exercises, they “strove or agonized,” or put forth all their powers to gain the victory. Thousands witnessed them. They were long trained for the conflict, and the honor of victory was one of the highest honors among the people. So Jesus says that we should strive to enter in; we should be diligent, be active, be earnest…and to endeavor to enter into heaven.” (cf. 1 Cor. 9:24-26; Phil. 2:16; Heb. 12:1) – Barnes

Jesus Prepares us for the Moment Get your Head in the Game We must prepare our minds to work (1 Peter 1:13-15; Romans 12:1-2) Commitment and mental tenacity are needed! (Philippians 3:12-15)

Jesus Prepares us for the Moment Highway to Heaven John’s mission was to prepare the way for Jesus, who is Himself the way to heaven (Luke 3:4-6) His message was, “REPENT!” (Matt. 3:2; 5-7)

Jesus Prepares us for the Moment Repent: The First Word of the Gospel First words are crucial. In Matthew and Mark, the first word of Jesus’ public ministry is “repent.” (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15) Repentance is a constant theme in Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 11:20-21; Mark 2:17; Luke 13:1-5) It is what the lost must do to be found (Luke 15) It is what Jesus sent His apostles to preach (Mark 6:12; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38; 3:19)

Jesus Prepares us for the Moment “The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto…” We are receiving an everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:11; Hebrews 12:28; Luke 1:33) People of many nations who have surrendered their lives to the King will be in it eternally (Daniel 2:44; Isaiah 9:7) It is worth everything we may give up to attain it! (Matthew 13:44-45; Luke 14:26, 33) We must not forfeit the kingdom of heaven for anyone or any thing (Matt. 10:37; Mark 9:47-48)

Jesus Prepares us for the Moment “Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” The Kingdom of Heaven is for a certain kind of person (Matthew 5:3, 10; 7:13-14) Are you that kind of person? Without holiness on earth, we shall never be prepared to enjoy heaven. Let us “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14) “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’” (The Great Divorce)