The Plan

 When a loved-one passes on to the next life, it often causes me to think about the important questions of life: 

• Where did I come from?
• Why am I here? 
• Where am I going after this life? 

Where did I come from? 

Before being born on the earth we all lived in Heaven with God, our Father. We are all children of God, and He loves every one of us -- every person who has ever lived, or who will live on the earth. He does not love one more than another. 

Why am I here? 

When there is a policeman behind me I may drive differently than when there is not one in sight. 

In like manner, I need to be outside of the immediate presence of our Father, so I can make choices and become myself. 

Every minute of every day I am making choices in the world. 

My choices of what to think, and do, and say, show me who I am.

Where am I going? 

All my choices lead me to a place. I am my own judge because I put myself where I belong -- I have been doing it all my life. 

Judgment is in resurrection. Because Jesus Christ was resurrected, everyone ever born will receive a perfect body. At this point I will stand before God with everything I have ever done or thought, or said. I am what I have become through millions of choices.

One of the most amazing parts of God’s plan is that He has provided a place for each of His children

The only people who continue to suffer are those who will stand in front of Him and refuse His offer. They want no part of heaven, and must go outside -- that’s their choice. The heavens weep over each of them. 

On the other hand, every kingdom of heaven requires submission to Jesus Christ. 

The lowest kingdom is for those who did not keep the commandments of God. They live selfishly. They do not repent so they must pay for their sins until the final resurrection, but then they bow the knee to Jesus, and end up in a kingdom where they have a measure of glory from the Holy Spirit. 

The middle kingdom is for those who lived honorable lives. These are the “good” people of the world who help others and are moral and ethical, but don't make a covenant with Jesus. They continue to seek the things of the world. After they die, they accept Jesus Christ, and have a much greater measure of glory. 

The highest kingdom of heaven is for those who seek out the Lord, Jesus Christ and make covenants with Him. My daily decisions are going to be different -- I will be keeping the commandments of God. I will go through the process of repentance every day. I will seek Him in the scriptures, in prayer, and in my daily activities. These choices naturally lead me into eternal life. 

God wants all His children to choose Him, and return to Him in the highest kingdom. Jesus is so happy when just one of child turns to Him and follows Him for many reasons: He doesn’t want anyone to suffer, His own suffering and death was not in vain, and each person who does finds happiness. He wants everyone to be happy. Everybody in the world is invited to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him. His grace is sufficient for every person, no matter who you are, or what you have done in the past. He paid the price for you. He loves you and has paid the price of everyone’s happiness. 

God loves each of His children enough to give them a real choice. So, you can choose something else, but why?