Heaven Bound?

Heaven Bound?

Do all good people go to heaven? When polling teens, the Barna Research Group recently found that most teens thought they were good people and that they would go to heaven; yet, most of the young people polled admitted to regularly breaking at least one of the ten commandments, were not regular in church attendance, and had never specifically asked God for forgiveness for their, admittedly wrong, behavior.

Isaiah gives this strong word to Israel, “ Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. ‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’ For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Jeremiah says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? ‘I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.’” [I don't think I want to be rewarded for what I deserve...I am thankful for His grace. D.]

In John 3:16-17 Jesus says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” Romans 10:9-10 states, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” In Romans 8:12-14 we read, “Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

It is not enough to believe that there is a God. One can not make it in to heaven based upon their own goodness. God’s perfection and holiness requires righteous judgment for our lack of holiness. Jesus took on Himself God’s righteous judgment. God credits us with His holiness through Christ if we ask for His forgiveness. We must then change our behavior and do what pleases Him. We need to read the Bible to discover who He is and what He likes, and talk (pray) to Him every day. God would that none would miss heaven, but He has set certain parameters that must be met before entrance to heaven is assured. One must bow his heart and his knees before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and in humility recognize that God is good, gracious, and forgiving. It is our reasonable service to live as He would have us to live, then we can know we are heaven bound.

Pastor Gary

---This can be one of the difficulties of the exclusiveness of Christianity. It is not an easy thing when a loved one dies, anyway. But, it can be difficult to come to terms with the idea they are not in heaven, no matter how nice/generous/loving they may have been. We like to use phrases like "they are looking down on us", or "they are here with us today", or "they're in a better place". The hard part is that they may not be. According to the Bible, if they have broken any of God's law and have not received His atonement for their sin, they are not in a better place.

Are you a good person? Have you broken any of God's laws? Then you must repent and accept the goodness of God's grace before you receive the wrath of God's righteous justice.

Happy Monday. :-) D...