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Heaven's ranking system

What can we expect after this life? Is there a heaven? Is heaven a physical place, or essentially a greater sense of awareness in the metaphysical? Is it possible we return to the source, but with consciousness of our existence on earth? Could this be the true gift of life? The greatest gift anyone can receive is the ability to discover who they truly are. Realizing the greatness that lies within is a most powerful moment for us on earth, I cannot begin to imagine the possibilities beyond life.

Again no one knows with certainty what lies beyond life, but we do know Jesus made several references to a ranking order in the kingdom of heaven – whatever it may be. His close friend, and disciple, john the Baptist, once recorded him saying, “in my father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you (14:2).” Also Matthew reported when one of the disciples asked who is the greatest in heaven Jesus called a little child and place the child in the middle of the men, and said: “verily i say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven (18:1).”

Jesus was also reported to have said: “whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (5:19).”

Matthew also wrote Jesus saying: “verily i say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than john the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (11:11).” The simple fact Jesus chose the word ‘least’ indicates there is some form of ranking system. Plus the mention of many mansions indicates assortment, the same with a child (humility) being the greatest in heaven. These points are important to understand so no one can deceive us into thinking we are not fit for the kingdom heaven. We chose the direction of our lives every second of our existence. And just a spark of god’s light in our life is enough to illuminate the path leading to heaven. There are many doors to our father’s house, and many levels - but only one key. Jesus taught us that this key is awarded with two simple provisions: love god first and foremost, and love your neighbors the same as you love yourself. And in doing this we are not far from the kingdom of god. If love is not the key to heaven, it’s no doubt one of its wards.

In no ambiguous terms, Jesus does reprimand the chief priests for their negligence in teaching humanity (you and me) what is necessary for reaching the kingdom of heaven saying: "but woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." this is according to Matthew’s report (23:13). Jesus is calling the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites because they have kept the lessons for entering the kingdom of heaven from humanity by refusing to help those seeking knowledge in connecting to the source.

It was always intended that when we pray and/or meditate on god's love it was meant to be done quietly and to ourselves. In fact, it's reported that Jesus advised we seek solitude at the time of prayer. According to Matthew he said," "when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy father which is in secret; and thy father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."(6:6)

The way in which Jesus lived his life in prayer and meditation demonstrates the source energy is in everything, and accessible to everyone, everywhere and at anytime. This is contrary to what the chief priests and church leaders were teaching in the first century, and even today that Sunday (or the Sabbath) is the special day and time to connect to god. Recognize that both these markers (time) were created by humanity and have since been used in attempts to define the source, who we fail to remember is outside of human measurement (time).

One Sabbath Jesus and his disciples were picking and eating corn when a chief priest reprimanded them because it was (is) considered unholy to work on this day - even to pick corn. The Sabbath is recognized in all major religions including Judaism, Muslim, and Christianity as a day of rest, recognizing the lord god resting on the seventh day, after creating the world in six days. Not surprisingly some argue the Sabbath is one Saturday, and others say it’s on sunday, but no one asks why god the creator of the heavens, earth and seas, and all that is seen and unseen needs to take rest. Again resting is another human attribute we have identified with god in our attempt to define the source in a way, which we can understand. We need to stop doing this in order to truly know god, and our relationship with god.

This is yet another misinterpretation by church leaders that's been allowed to continue for millennia because the Sabbath, at the time, guaranteed revenue for churches at least one day a week - and still does today. Community members were expected to visit their temple on the Sabbath, pay tithes, and support the 'market activities' ran by the chief priests and Pharisees. As reported by Matthew, Mark, and Luke this is what Jesus was referring to as the 'den of thieves' the only time in his life where he was visibly upset and shouting at the chief priests. "is it not written, my house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves." (Mk: 11:17)

And on the day Jesus was reprimanded by the chief priest for picking corn, he had this to say: "have ye not read what David (king David, father of Solomon) did, when he was an hungred (hungry), and they that were with him; how he entered into the house of god, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath (disrespect with commerce), and are blameless? But i say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple.” (Matthew 12:1) in other words, God's desires are greater than any temple and all of its rules.