God gave us the commandments to keep us on the path to Heaven and to lead us to true happiness. Society creates laws that often reflect these commandments. Laws preserve peace and prevent chaos. But simply following laws and commandments is only the starting point, not the ultimate goal.
We like to think of ourselves as “good people.” Yet we are not good simply because we avoid breaking laws or commandments. Many law-abiding citizens still harbor sin in their hearts. Jesus calls us beyond basic obedience. He invites us to something greater. He says He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. While certain Old Testament regulations about what was clean or unclean no longer bind us, God did not remove the commandments.
Jesus deepens the commandment against adultery by warning us not to look at another person with lust. He expands the commandment against murder by condemning unjust anger toward our neighbor. He teaches us not only to avoid false oaths, but to avoid swearing altogether. A man once asked Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life and claimed he had kept all the commandments. Jesus looked at him with love, yet saw that his heart clung to his possessions more than to God.
Do we want to live in a way that barely gets us into Heaven? A friendship cannot thrive if we simply avoid offending the other person. Strong relationships require effort, sacrifice, and love that goes beyond the minimum. Our relationship with God deserves even more. Let us not aim merely to reach Heaven, but to become great in Heaven.
Seeking greatness in Heaven is not prideful ambition, but a loving one. We do not become great by lifting ourselves up, but by lifting others up. We grow in greatness by strengthening our relationship with God each day. When we go beyond the minimum and truly let our light shine, we reflect His love more clearly to the world. Jesus is the light of the world and the brighter we shine our light, the closer we grow to Him and the greater we become in Heaven.
