Many people
have fears and concerns that do or don’t materialize. I am one of those people,
and one of my concerns is that someday, some of the people who claim to be
Christians will have this conversation with God:
‘Lord, Lord!
Open the door for us!’ But he called back,
‘Believe me,
I don’t know you!’” (Matthew 25:11-12). Or this one:
“Away with
you, you cursed ones, into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.
For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me
a drink. … Then they will reply,
‘Lord, when
did we ever see you hungry or thirsty … and not help you?’ …
God: ‘When
you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were
refusing to help me’” (Matthew 25:41-45).
What a
surprise and a shock! By the time this conversation takes place, it will be too
late to make amends.
I don’t know
about you, but this conversation frightens me, and makes my stomach hurt, on
behalf of those who might experience it! Fortunately, this type of conversation
doesn’t have to take place; thank God that for now, there is still hope! This
conversation doesn’t have to happen.
What can make such a scenario possible? This
kind of conversation can only be had when people who aren’t Christians, but for
whatever reason, assume they are. Anybody who claims to be a Christian based on
something other than God’s terms will face this shock and disappointment.
Some people
have come up with their own criteria, and have convinced themselves that based
on those criteria, they are good enough to go to heaven. What are some of the
criteria or the reasons they give?
●
Some people were raised in the Church, sang in the choir, and
still attend church.
●
Others claim they are good people, and therefore are Christians.
●
There’s another group that thinks their good deeds outweigh their
bad.
●
Some play the comparison game: “I’m not as bad as …”
Now let’s
look at the one and only criteria that
makes a person a Christian. Here is Jesus’ definition of eternal life; in
His prayer for His followers, He prayed: “This is the way to have eternal
life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to
earth” (John 17:3). God sent Jesus to earth for a reason—to give eternal life
to all who will believe in Him (Jesus): “To all who believed him and accepted
him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
If one
doesn’t become a child of God, one will not go to heaven. The emphasis is on
believing on Jesus and accepting Him; it doesn’t say anything about good deeds
or going to church. Why accept Jesus? We need to accept Him because we have all
sinned against God, and deserve His judgment (see Romans 3:23). The only way to
escape God’s judgment is to have someone (a Savior) to take on the punishment
we deserve. Jesus is the Savior God sent. Accepting Him means you accept His
death as your own. That is eternal life as He prayed.
Those who
don’t come to God through Jesus will be left out of heaven, and the only other
available option is the destination God pronounced in Matthew 25:41:.: “Away
with you, you cursed ones, into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
demons.”
You wouldn’t want to go there, would you? I didn’t think so! Then stop
putting emphasis on your good deeds, which will never be good enough. In fact
God says our good deeds are like filthy rags (see Isaiah 64:6). Instead, repent
and put your trust in Jesus and you will be saved (see Acts 16:31).
When you
make this decision, the Holy Spirit will come and live in your heart and teach
you, through the Bible, how to live for God. As you study and meditate on the
Word, your mind will be renewed in a way that draws you into a closer and
closer relationship with God. Do this now, so you don’t ever have to have that
disappointing conversation with God. Instead, you will hear Him say: “Come, you
who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the
creation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Amen!
All quotes are from the New Living
Translation (NLT).
Copy Pearl
Nsiah-Kumi, 4-21-2020
Pearlkumi.com
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