HOW CERTAIN ARE WE OF ENTERING HEAVEN?

Bob Marley, if I am not mistaken, sang a song with the lyrics - everybody wants to go to Heaven but nobody wants to die. Most people and especially Christians are interested in making Heaven but the question is - is Heaven guaranteed for everyone? Some say - Once saved always saved - Is that what the Bible teaches? Mark 10:23-31 reads as follows:

"23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” 28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. 29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then" (NLT)

Let me start by saying that one who does not belong to the Kingdom of God cannot enter Heaven. I believe many of us are familiar with the parable of the young rich man. In those days, it was generally accepted that material wealth was a sign of true spirituality and God's blessings. So when Jesus commented on the difficulty that rich people have in entering the Kingdom of God, the disciples were amazed. Jesus emphasized His point by saying that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. This second remark astounded the disciples to the point that they asked  - Then who in the world can be saved? -That is a question we should be considering in this day and age. Who shall be saved? If we believe in the Lord Jesus we shall be saved (Acts 16:31). Is this an active or passive belief? The Amplified Bible puts it this way

"...Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ [give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved, [and this applies both to] you and your household as well."

Thus believing in Jesus means giving up ourselves to Him and allowing Him to run our lives through the Holy Spirit. That is the key but is this true for our lives? Let me give us some food for thought - Where is Ananias and Sapphira? Where is Judas Iscariot? Where is Uzzah who stretched forth His hand to steady the cart that was carrying the ark? When Jesus sent a message to the church in Laodicea, He said "..., because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!"(AMP)

Spew means "To send or force out in or as if in a stream; eject forcefully or in large amounts" OR "To vomit or otherwise cast out through the mouth". This conveys the idea that when something is spewed it no longer remains a part of what it belonged to previously. It is expelled once and for all.

What is the point of all this? My brethren the time is short, the Day of the Lord is near. Nobody knows when He will come and we cannot be complacent about our relationship with Jesus. We cannot afford to take Him for granted. He is God and He calls the shots. He loves us, cares for us, died for us and is prepared to guide and help us day after day. He is even interceding for us day and night. But rest assured that He will not compromise His standards - No one who lives contrary to the Word of God will enter Heaven. 

Finally, let me draw your attention to a some passages in the Bible:

"Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21, AMP)

"Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit." (John 15:2, AMP)

"11Later the other virgins also came and said, Lord, Lord, open [the door] to us! 12But He replied, I solemnly declare to you, I do not know you [I am not acquainted with you]. 13Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come."

(Matthew 25:11-13, AMP)

The five foolish virgins were called, chosen and yet missed the grand wedding ceremony because of their complacency. Jesus said that as in the days of Noah, so shall it be. People were eating and drinking, pursuing worldly ambitions, congratulating each other on their business exploits and not giving heed to the Word of God. Today what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah is happening right before our eyes. Let us take heed. Let us challenge, support and pray for each other. Let us leave childish games and focus on Jesus the Author anmd Finisher of our faith.

God bless you all. Have a great week in Jesus' Name. Amen.

The above write-up was posted on Facebook on August 15, 2010