oh no, its one of those parties!

Have you ever been to one of those parties? The kind where you just don't fit. You don't know anyone. You're dressed conspicuously differently than everyone. They all speak a different culture saying things like "bilateral defraculator" or "isn't Vlad so veerrry skaze tonite?"

Why am I going on and on about this topic? Am I just trying to be ultra skaze? This really does tie into my overall theme "So, I only have a short time to live"

It struck me a while back that someone could be whisked off to heaven only to discover that he doesn't really like the place. He arrived at the wrong party and doesn't fit in. Does this idea surprise you?

Life is full of activities or tastes that require intentionality on my part to enjoy. Skiing, for example, is not a built-in skill but once learned and practiced it becomes delightful. Appreciating coffee is like that too.

Consider the blending of multiple activities and acquired tastes into what we will call a lifestyle. Individual activities like schussing down a mountain slope while guzzling a cup of Costa Rica's best coffee are only two of the bundle that makes the "Joe skier" lifestyle. There are many lifestyles, some more beneficial to personal health than others. Some seem to leave no impact at all on society.

There are Kingdom lifestyles in practice today which will be gloriously rampant in Heaven. There are lifestyles from this life which won't exist in the Kingdom of God.

1Corinthians 5 gives a partial list

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God."

Our hypothetical man never cultivated an appreciation for the attitudes and activities intrinsic to Heaven. He never got the point of being patient, for example, or why it wasn't cool to have hidden agendas with the people around him.

"But", you might counter, "won't we have a really long time to make corrections?" An excellent reply; yes we presumably will. And there are bunches of verses that tell us we will be changed and will be like Christ.

I think the part of the dynamic at work is that in this part of life we have a physical body which has pre-installed genetic responses to many situations we encounter in life. Newborn babies have a whole set of behaviors and responses that automatically start running at birth. The ability or inability of ones body to react properly to alcohol can cause a inebriate lifestyle in one family and teetotalers in another. They are inherited from our parents and grandparents. This, I think, is how the sins of the father can be passed on to successive generations.

Notice an important difference. Some, like the newborn, cannot be changed. I could not, for example, wake up some morning and decide to be blond. Wanting to be a blond for the day won't change my hair. Some cannot be changed but can be accomodated. If I spend too much time in the sun, I turn very red. However, I don't have to soak up all that sunshine. I can choose to avoid it, the essence of Old Testament teaching. If you have this scenario avoid these familiar old responses, you can do it, and try these instead.

Exciting scientific study suggests that much of our genetic wiring can be restructured. Its designed that way. Much of our brains can be rebuilt. We learn, we imagine we literally change our minds.

God says "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" But, all the time in the universe may not be enough to change certain habits. And here is where it gets interesting...

In this part of life my body works against me so-to-speak when I am faced with a scenario and response. My built-in response might be one warped choice; my soul might be cheering for the Kingdom reply. The Holy Spirit might be urging a Kingdom choice. My will makes the choice. But I will, in the next life, have an "adapted for the Spirit and the Kingdom" new body. My bodies natural responses will now be the Kingdom way. It will work in harmony with my souls Kingdom choices. It will be easy to be patient. It will be difficult to lie. It will on the other hand be really hard to be a drunk. Responding as a whole person at that time will fill me with joy. Trying to revive an old lifestyle will find no support and leave me cold and empty.

If I spend this part of my life tuning my soul to my old bodies patterns, I'll be missing that support in Heaven. It will always be confusing and miserable.

One more thought... There are times in a persons life when certain achievements are optimal. Being a first class international soccer goalie happens between ages 30-40. Learning to speak language comes easiest as an infant. Growing a head only seems to work as a fetus.

Are there lifestyles best learned and cultivated in this portion of life? I suspect so. Is now a good time to align with the Kingdom? I am certain it is.