If you were to die today, are you sure, very sure, that you will go to Heaven? Why do you think so? Let's consider this:
"Not everyone who calls me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do what my Father in Heaven wants them to do." Matthew 7:21.
What does God want us to do?
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40
And how about this?
"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." Matthew 6:12
You see, those two conditions alone, that of love and of forgiveness, will be a yardstick by which we will be judged for entry to Heaven. And there's yet another:
"Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me." Matthew 25:31 onwards.
It is not enough for people to say they'll get to Heaven because they believe in God and Jesus. Satan believes in God and tried to tempt Jesus; so that's hardly a measure for us to compare with.
It is also not correct to say you'll get to Heaven because Jesus died for us. He redeemed us, and once saved always saved. True, He did this for us; but He also expects a response from us. His sacrifice is not just a passive entry to Paradise for us.
There's a story I heard about a news reporter in the First World War. The reporter was in a field hospital watching the wounded and how they were cared for. He saw a nun tending a badly injured soldier. She was carefully cleaning a gangrenous wound. The reporter said, "I would not do that for a million pounds!" The nun replied, "Neither would I."
Have we as much love as that nun showed the soldier?
Do we truly forgive with all our heart those who wronged us?
Do we care for those worse off than us in deeds and not just words?
Are you and I sure that we will go to Heaven? Why?
Hi Victor, I like the way the nun replied that she would not take money for helping the badly injured soldier, neither would I want to be paid for helping someone. I loved it when my friend and I were prison visitors on a lifer's wing. There was a man who cried every day because he could not forgive himself for killing his best friend with a claw hammer under the influence of drugs. I told him that because he was so repentant over what he did that God would forgive him. He changed and wanted to know more about Jesus. God bless.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see you visiting here again, Brenda. Thank you. Hope you're keeping well. God bless.
DeleteThank you for your excellent and often reminders. I start out every day with good intentions, but then life gets in the way and I end it reviewing all the times my actions didn't match my goals.
ReplyDeleteReviewing often helps us recognise where we have failed and when to seek forgiveness. I believe God will judge us according to His Scripture as I quoted above.
DeleteGod bless, Kathy.
The story about the nun sums it all up in a nutshell, Victor. Have a blessed Sunday!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, Martha.
DeleteI know I'm going to heaven and it is NOTHING that I have done or can do. Jesus paid it all when he died on the cross for my sins and rose again and LIVES. I've admitted I'm a sinner and need God's forgiveness. He in turn gives me salvation for always. I have put my trust in God alone for salvation. We are NOT saved or kept saved by good works but saved TO DO good works.
ReplyDeleteSo basically, Jesus died for us and we can now do as we want. The words of Jesus I quoted above are all nonsense. Is that it?
DeleteGod bless, K.
No we cannot do as we like. What I'm saying is that it doesn't get us to heaven. Yes, we need to do all those things Jesus said and if we don't God chastises us. But we still go to heaven.
DeleteThank you K. I genuinely do not understand what you mean. I accept that good deeds will not get us into Heaven. We cannot buy our way into Heaven. However, if we do not do good deeds, if we do not care for our fellow man, if we ignore totally the quotation in Matthew 25:31 above; I fail to see how we will enter Heaven. How will God chastise us and still allow us in Heaven even though we've ignored His Commandments to love others and help them?
DeleteGod bless.
You've said everything that matters most here, Victor. You nailed it: Keep Jesus's commandments to love, forgive, and serve him by serving the least of these. Amen.
ReplyDeleteIf he knows us, we're in. If not, well, depart.
In 1Corinthians Paul says,
"For we see through a mirror dimly, but then face to face." It's when we see his reflection in us that we become like him, for we will see him as he is. "Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."
Love and blessings.
Well said, Debra. Thank you. It's great to see you here. Please call again and often; and invite your friends.
DeleteGod bless.
In my hand no price I bring,
ReplyDeletesimply to thy cross I cling.
He bought me, so I don’t belong to me, so I don’t do whatever I want, I want to do what He wants.
Amen. God bless, Mimi.
DeleteSending good wishes to you this Sunday Victor.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Best wishes and God bless, Jan.
Deletethecontemplativecat here/. He loved me ere I knew Him, and all
ReplyDeletemy love is due Him ....
Thanx Susan. God bless.
DeleteThis may be the best Sunday sermon ever. There's no getting around the truth.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mevely. I wonder how well received it has been by some.
DeleteGod bless you and yours my friend.
That says it all.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Sandie. God bless you.
DeleteThis is so good Victor. This is a question that we all need to ask ourselves EVERY SINGLE DAY....We need to make ourselves fully aware of our love and our actions every day. Blessings to you and your family
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Shug. You are right; we show our love by our actions not by just words. God bless you and your family always.
Delete