Living on Purpose: Straight is the gate and narrow is the way
I hope you have enjoyed the recent messages about heaven lately, and I appreciate the emails expressing your speculations.
My statements are my own opinions and calculations and originate from my fascination about what our future home will be like. There are so many more questions like will we eat, what will we do, will we live in mansions, will babies be born, can our loved ones communicate with us, will our pets be there, will all of nature including our bodies remain the same throughout eternity, will there be technology, will we sleep, and so on.
We realize that no one really knows the specifics of all these things we are curious about, but there are hints here and there if we take the time to study and research the scriptures. There is no need to argue about heaven, but rather let us be filled with excitement and joy to know that being with God forever (wherever we are) is the greatest miracle blessing we could ever experience.
As we have been discussing heaven, it's been on my mind that we should be taking our spiritual relationship with the Lord very seriously and not take His grace for granted.
We love to discuss how Jesus is our only hope and heaven is waiting for us, but there is also a responsibility to constantly examine and evaluate our minds and hearts to make sure we are walking on the narrow path of purity and obedience.
Are we spending time each day in prayer because we love Him and those around us who need Him? Are we drawing near to Him each moment so that we can live in the awareness of His presence? Are we repenting of our sins when we disobey Him so that we can approach Him with a clean heart and a right spirit? The word I am sensing is complacent in the context of relaxing in the fact that we have been rescued and are now just waiting for our eternal reward.
As we mentioned about who will be in heaven, the Bible discloses distinct sins that He does not tolerate and are found in Proverbs 6:16-19, I Corinthians 6:9-20, Romans Chapter 1, and I Timothy 1:4-11.
As Philippians Chapter 2 declares trembling and living in a reverential fear of God's holiness, we are reminded that He does not compromise or forget anything we think or do.
Peter I 1:15-17 says, 'But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.'
The word foreigners is used to explain this world is not our permanent residence as God's children are citizens of the new heaven and earth which are coming. Temptations surround us and try to lure our carnal nature to love and embrace sin. We are being warned not to be so consumed with distractions and pleasures that we lose focus of Christ.
Another word that is similar is deception. We bristle at the possibility of us being wrong, but there are many who are not genuinely redeemed.
They have head knowledge, but do not abide in a covenant relationship with the living Jesus. We have also talked about how it matters which god we love and serve, that all religions do not lead to Jesus Christ. He will not accept just any type of philosophy or ideas that humans can dream of.
The God of the Bible is particular and precise when it comes to people placing their faith the blood sacrifice of Jesus, and embracing that He rose again from the dead to save them from being eternally lost. God's grace and love transforms them into a new spiritual identity as being righteous 'in Christ.'
I've listened to many people over the years who confessed how at one time they were convinced they were born again, but later in life realized they were living an illusion.
Matthew Chapter 7 is disturbing as it talks about people who call on the Lord and believe they are working for Him, but He tells them on judgement day they were deceived. Again, this is why we must not assume the average decent person will automatically deserve heaven.
If it was that easy, most everyone would be there. Actually, we read in Luke Chapter 13 that only a remnant will enter.
Dr. Billy Holland is a minister, chaplain and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com. Holland can be contacted at psalmz103@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Living on Purpose: Straight is the gate and narrow is the way
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