So far, we’ve traveled from a bird’s eye view of the evolution of the Christian religion, through a summary examination of core beliefs and practices, including the ideas of salvation and whether we are in a period generally termed the End Times.

I know that many of you reading this will be familiar with most of these things while others perhaps less so. Regardless, I believe it’s worth thinking about them as we try to come to grips with understanding one another and how and why each of us believes the things we do.

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I suspect many non-Christians and even a decent proportion of avowed Christians believe that the central motivation for being a Christian is the desire to go to heaven.

I spent some time two posts ago talking about the idea of salvation … of being “saved.” For the people I just described above, the main benefit of this is that they get to go to heaven. And, of course, heaven is supposed to be a really good place so it’s not a bad thought to want to spend eternity there.

However, I think this is at least somewhat misguided.

Before explaining such a statement, I’m certainly not saying that the desire to spend eternity in heaven (as promised and discussed previously) is not a strong motivator. Without a doubt, it is. Speaking bluntly, I’m looking forward to it!

But, I’ll argue that it shouldn’t be the central motivator and I believe the evidence will support me.

When you look at the life and message of Jesus and take in all that his great apostle Paul shares in his extensive teachings contained in the New Testament, one does not find the pursuit of heaven to be the key piece.

Instead, it is the transformation of the human mind and heart. I’ll say that again: It’s the transformation of the human mind and heart.

Everything about Jesus’ life and teaching and, also, that of Paul in the following decades, points in this direction.

Simply put, Jesus’ central message was that a thing he called “The Kingdom of God,” had broken through and was now fully present, here on earth. Jesus said that his arrival as the Son of God had changed everything. God was not somewhere “out or up there,” but right here. Right now.

Early on in these reflections, I mentioned how John the Baptist, Jesus’ first cousin and a member of a strict and monkish Jewish sect called the Essenes, most notably started his teachings with the admonishment to “Repent!” He was viewed as a prophet and had his own significant following after he descended from the stark mountainous wasteland above the Dead Sea. “Repent,” taken out of context to imply something like “I’m really sorry,” was not his point. Instead, the direct translation means to “re-think.” Recalibrate. Set an old way of thinking aside to view reality anew.

This is the basis of Jesus’ teaching and ministry.

Cutting to the chase, it was like saying, “You think the purpose of your life is this. No, it’s not that. It’s something else entirely. You’ve understood it all wrong … well, at least a lot of it. And, the parts you’ve misunderstood can make all of the difference.”

“You see,” Jesus would have said, “Your job is not really to ‘please’ God. It is to know him and to love him. And, you don’t know and love someone by merely following rules. Furthermore, “knowing” is not just a head thing, like learning a bunch of facts. It’s a “heart” thing. In fact, it’s more a heart thing than a head thing.”

Of course, this would have been incredibly confusing to his Jewish audience, with their long and often uneasy history, from the early days of Abraham through the famines and ultimate enslavement in Egypt, to the Exodus and Moses. Of course, Moses, they were told, was given laws (the most famous of which were the Ten Commandments but there were hundreds of others) in order to set them apart … to keep them on the path so that they would be God’s people from generation to generation. What’s this stuff that Jesus was now saying?

It’s that Jesus could show them an entirely new way of living … of thinking … of relating to one another. And this new way would be what this thing he called “The Kingdom of God,” was supposed to look like. This new way (they actually called themselves The Way soon after his crucifixion and resurrection) would transform them.

This transformation was not something they had to wait for until the next life. It was available right now and would change everything.

Now, his followers (despite listening to and following Jesus for upwards of three years, seeing his miracles and observing how he modeled a unique way of life) … being flawed like all of us … didn’t completely understand it all. They struggled and bickered with one another, trying to make sense of everything, too often misinterpreting the message Jesus was trying to impart.

Fortunately for them and for those who came after, Jesus promised to “send” a counselor of sorts. We know this person as the third member of the Trinitarian God … the Holy Spirit.

We can think about it this way: God the Father is the Creator God. God the Son is the Implementer and Mediator. God the Spirit is the Guide. (Ok. That’s being exceedingly simplistic but I’m trying to make a point, not produce perfect theology here. Of course, there is only one God. Sorry for any head-spinning. Welcome to the club.)

Anyway, to continue, the Holy Spirit’s job is to change us. Really, that’s about it. By following Jesus … not as a “kind of” but as an “all in,” we are invited to accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And the Spirit doesn’t mess around. I should know.

Yes, this can sound absurd to the modern sensibility. Loony Tunes. You mean?: We “follow” some religious guy who probably said some good stuff two thousand years ago, not unlike some other major religious figures in history and then this invisible Spirit (called the Holy Ghost, of all things, by some people) comes into us and we get changed. Full makeover? What then? We run off to be missionaries in Africa? Start speaking weird languages? Abandon our friends and families? Hey, look at what Jesus said early on, “Drop your nets and follow me.” (Translation: Give up your way of life and take on a new one.)

Or, as Jesus told the learned priest, “You must be born again.”

Well, as crazy as this sounds, it’s actually true. Not only have I experienced it in my own life (and I remain a highly rational person), but I have seen it happen countless times in others.

This process of transformation, through the work of God deeply imbedded into our being, has the theological name of Sanctification. It’s a concept that runs alongside that of Justification (making right with God) mentioned earlier. But, it’s often overlooked.

For obvious reasons.

Many people don’t want to be transformed.

If the concept of Justification is a one-off, Sanctification is a long process. It means to be made whole. To become the person God wants us to be. Not a rule-follower but a lover. A person “saved by grace” and “saved for grace.” A person who understands their true purpose in life and who learns how to live into that purpose. A person who knows he or she belongs fully to God and, through God, is able to bless others and partner with God for the good of the world.

So, what is this actually supposed to look like? Well, some will say the objective is to grow to become more “Christ-like.” While I agree with this, it’s enormously easy to misconstrue what this actually means. And, the proof of that can be found in how professing Christians have chosen to interpret it. It certainly does not mean to become “more religious.” It does not mean to become more “moral” or to learn how to follow prescribed rules more rigidly. (In fact, these are some of the things Jesus most objected to.)

Instead, I believe the “sanctifying” or transformative process leads to a more developed sense of what living in truth and love really looks like. For, if God is anything, he is the God of both Truth and Love.

I know a man who says he cannot change. Pity. A hardened heart … a heart and mind leaning towards judgmentalism and self-righteousness is not the heart and mind of God.

There are actually two main “rules.” Love God and love others with everything you have. The rest only has meaning in light of this simple directive. Of course, we rebel against this, don’t understand it, and fail at it.

Sanctification means taking baby steps (sometimes two steps forward and one step backwards) along a continuum. It is the Pilgrim’s Progress. The Grand Journey. Thankfully, God is patient and forgiving.

This is available to all.

Easy to say. Tougher to actually do. But the rewards are incredible and available here and now.

As I conclude this piece, I feel we’re left with one more thing to consider and that is: How do we know what to do?

Next: Revelation