As believers, what’s
the point of having great miraculous power, riches, wisdom and unbridled pleasure at our
disposal if we miss out on heaven?
What’s the point of having spectacular miraculous power here on earth but finally get shut out from heaven?
What’s the point of having spectacular miraculous power here on earth but finally get shut out from heaven?
“Not
everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but
the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,
did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many
mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you;
depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
(Matthew
7: 21-23)
What’s the point of having great riches here on earth but fail to arrive at the pearly gates of heaven?
What’s the point of having great riches here on earth but fail to arrive at the pearly gates of heaven?
For
what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his
soul?
(Mark
8: 36-37)
What’s the point of having great wisdom and ample access to sensual pleasure when the prospect of eternal judgment awaits us?
What’s the point of having great wisdom and ample access to sensual pleasure when the prospect of eternal judgment awaits us?
A
case in point is King Solomon, arguably the wisest man on earth in his time,
who had 700 princesses as wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11: 3). That’s
indeed a jaw-dropping number. Let us
suppose someone today manages to attain a fraction of what Solomon had. What
good is his wisdom if it is mere head knowledge—not reflected in obedience? And, finally, he fails to make it to heaven. What’s
the point of unbridled sensual pleasure if it draws him away from God, denying him entry to heaven?
When our time on earth is over, our physical body undergoes decomposition and decay. But our soul lives on. The question is whether we will spend the rest of eternity in heaven or hell.
Our fate in eternity is based on our spiritual state just before we expire or when Christ comes again (whichever comes first).
When our time on earth is over, our physical body undergoes decomposition and decay. But our soul lives on. The question is whether we will spend the rest of eternity in heaven or hell.
Our fate in eternity is based on our spiritual state just before we expire or when Christ comes again (whichever comes first).
A
man of God who performs great signs and wonders but commits adultery and
apostasy at the last lap of life’s journey stands condemned whereas a dying
thief who has faith and commits himself to Christ during life’s final moments
passes into heaven with rejoicing. Our fate is NOT decided merely at the point
of entry (conversion).
It's
our current spiritual state which matters: “When a righteous person turns away
from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the
injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, when a wicked person turns away
from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall
save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the
transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of
Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?” (Ezekiel
18:26-29).
The philosopher and scientist, Blaise Pascal, wrote: “The immortality of the soul is a matter which is of so great consequence to us and which touches us so profoundly that we must have lost all feeling to be indifferent about it.”
In
our busy lives, filled with countless tasks and pleasures, how many of us would
care to spare a thought about our final destination? http://bit.ly/1q0cFBs
On
that day of reckoning when we face the Judge, some who think they are ‘in’ may actually
be ‘out’. Some may think God sees them
as sheep but they are, in fact, goats. http://bit.ly/1iJcC9w
Some
of those who had it so good while on earth may be in for a big surprise. Some who
are rich, famous and perform great miracles—who believe God’s favour is upon
them—may be in for a rude shock. There
will be major upsets. The first may be last, and the last may be first. There will
be much weeping and gnashing of teeth. http://bit.ly/1o3ayNo
So
what is the conclusion?
“The
end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep
his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into
judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
(Ecclesiastes
12:13-14)
“Let
not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his
might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of
this, that he
understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises
lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these
things,” declares the LORD.
(Jeremiah
9:23-24)
Can
we confidently say like apostle Paul, “I
know whom I have
believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day
what has been entrusted to me (2 Timothy 1:12b)?”
As
believers, let’s aspire to live our lives before God in all good conscience (Acts 23: 1).
Instead of missing the mark, let’s press on towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).
RELATED POSTS
BACK FROM HEAVEN AND
HELL
Two
men share about their supernatural experiences in heaven and hell.
THE FINAL DESTINATION
After
everything is done and our short sojourn on earth is over, one crucial question
remains: “Where we will spend eternity?”
http://bit.ly/1q0cFBsSETTING OUR HOUSE IN ORDER
“No
one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get
there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped
it.” Do we know how to ‘set our house in order’ if we receive news that we have
only a few months to live?
WHAT TRULY MATTERS IN
THE END
What
do you think is the true measure of a believer? Does it rest solely on how much
anointing or power he or she has? Or how many spectacular feats he or she can
perform?
FINISHING WELL
What
does it take to be a winner in the most important race of all?
THE GREAT FALLING AWAY
Spiritual
decline is characteristic of the end times we are now living in. Wind direction
changes. Seasons come and go. The only constant in life is change. Likewise, it
may not be easy for believers to remain steadfast till the end in their
spiritual journey.
http://bit.ly/1j1YYA1HOW TO QUICKLY ACCESS PORRIDGE
For a quick overview: http://bit.ly/1ijiXHp
To access similar articles in Christiantymalaysia.com:
To access similar articles in Asian Beacon magazine:
A blog reader sent in this comment which resonates well with the above blog post:
ReplyDeleteSURPRISES WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN
John Newton, the converted slave-trader who wrote the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ said that there will be 3 surprises when we get to heaven:
(1) Meeting some people you had not thought to see there
(2) Missing some you had thought to meet there (Matt 7:21-23) and
(3) Finding yourself there.
In Matt 25:31-46 Jesus makes it clear that when He comes back, the sheep will express surprise when He rewards them for their ‘good works’ whereas the goats can’t understand why Jesus rejects them.
Most Christians have been told the big lie that the saved will never lose their salvation but is that really what the word of God says? At the final reckoning those who claim to know Jesus will hear either of these replies from Him: ‘I don’t know you’ (Matt 25:12), ‘I never knew you’ (Matt 7:23) or ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ (Matt 7:25). The other day someone said the ‘lazy’ or ‘wicked’ servant (Matt 25:23,30) would be an unbeliever but I don’t think Jesus would call an unbeliever His servant.
It’s important to understand that it's not those who claim to know Jesus who will spend eternity with Him but those to whom He says He knows.
Errata: It’s important to understand that it's not those who claim to know Jesus who will spend eternity with Him but those to whom He says He knows.
ReplyDeleteAfter editing: It’s important to understand that it's not those who claim to know Jesus who will spend eternity with Him but those whom He says He knows.