GOING
TO HEAVEN
Do
you think much about heaven? We all know, in spite
of medical miracles, life passes quickly. Job said
of man " Like
a flower he comes forth and withers, he also flees
like a shadow and does not remain (14:2). "For
we are only of yesterday and know nothing, because
our days on earth are as a shadow (8:9).
It
is an indisputable fact that all of us will die.
The
scriptures are explicit about life after death.
All will continue to exist, but in a spiritual body.
Please read I
Corinthians 15:35- 58. We are told this spiritual
body will either exist in a state of punishment
or joy. Paul Says "to them that by patience
in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption,
eternal life: but unto them that are factious, and
obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall
be wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish,
upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the
Jew first, and also of the Greek; but glory and
honor and peace to every man that worketh good,
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek:" (Rom.
2:7-10).
Whether
we live in punishment or joy will depend on how
we live our life while on the earth, before our
death. "And as it is appointed unto men once
to die, but after this the judgment:(Heb. 9:27).
Back
to the question, do you think much about heaven?
It would seem since our life in this body is short,
that we would be concerned about the next one. All
of us will live eternally in heaven or hell. The
rules that determine which are found in the scriptures.
" He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my
sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that
I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day
(John 12:48). Jesus made it very plain that how
we follow his teaching, not how we follow laws man
has made, will determine out fate in the future
life.
Another
consideration that might shed light on our future
in heaven or hell is answering the question, Will
I make it to heaven? Luke records an event during
the teaching of Jesus when one asked him, “Lord,
are there few who are saved?” He
answered “Strive
to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say
to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Jesus made the same point when he spoke to those
on the mount. "Enter ye in by the narrow gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter
in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened
the way, that leadeth unto life, and few
are they that find it"
(Mt. 7:13,14). It is obvious that not everyone who
thinks they are going to heaven will. In our time
of loose religion, where everyone does their own
thing, there will be many disappointments after
death. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy
name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty
works? And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity"
(Mt. 7:22,23).
God
wants all to be saved (II Pet. 3:9). However he
will not alter his truth to please any man to make
their salvation possible. Salvation is promised
only to those who follow his commandments. (John
14:15; 15:14)
Do
you want to live eternally in heaven or hell? It's
a question you will (must) answer eventually. If
you are among the many who think salvation isn't
difficult, and all sins are covered by Gods grace,
pleased be warned that doctrine is false."
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who
does the will of My Father in heaven"
(Mt. 7:21).
You
need to think about heaven, and follow his commandments
if you want to get there. The way is narrow (difficult).
Jack
Questions
or Comments
