Recently I read “Safely Home” by Randy Alcorn.  The Chinese who are persecuted in the story had the determination that Jesus did!  Their focus was not on their imprisonments, nor their beatings, nor their sufferings…their focus was on heaven.

  Jesus had a different view of His approaching suffering, crucifixion and death, even His resurrection from what I have thought in the past.  My thinking has taken a decidedly different turn…a paradigm shift.  “Listen” as you read the following Scripture:

(NASB)Luke 9:51 “When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem.”

Christ’s focus was not on His coming suffering, not on His coming death by crucifixion, or not even on His coming resurrection, but on His ascension!

And for His ascension to happen – He determined to go to Jerusalem– where it would all take place.
There – in Jerusalem, He would fulfill His Father’s will.
There – He would fulfill the prophecies in Scripture.
There – He would accomplish His goal: to make the way for all who believe in Him to be given access into heaven…heaven was His home, heaven was where He would be returning; heaven is waiting for all of the followers of Christ…is heaven your future home?

To return to His Father, Jesus determined to go to Jerusalem.
Do you need a paradigm shift in your thinking?  Do you need to change your focus, your goals in life?

Many persecuted Christians are waiting to ascend into the Father’s presence and to be with their Lord.  Their true home is heaven, not where they are surviving today.

What do you need to determine to do this day?  You alone can change your focus; you alone can change your determination to the day your home will be in heaven.
Perhaps you will have a paradigm shift in your thinking: to be with God and in His presence will necessitate a change in your goals.

Determination: is heaven your home?