Who Will Enter the Gates of Heaven? Will you…?
You can faithfully go to church all your life, you can even sing in the choir or teach Sunday School or hold a church office: elder or deacon. You may even be a pastor. But according to scripture without living a holy life before the Lord you will not enter the Kingdom of God. So what does this mean? The little-known or talked about verse above spells it out without confusion –“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” -Heb 12:13-14 (KJV)
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” -1 Chr 16:9 (KJV)
The Lord God Almighty sees all men and women and He knows our hearts. We can put on a facade to our friends, family and neighbors but at the end of the day He knows where you and I are with Him. Where do you hear about this today … how are we supposed to know this?
In our Christian churches nowadays people hear a lot of preaching that is non-engaging, easy to digest, watered-down, sugar-coated, entertaining and the full message of the Gospel that people need to hear is not preached. In other words, confess and repent of our sin and live a holy life. This is a sad fact. Part of living a holy life is repenting of your sin … daily -1 John 1:9. Living in holiness unto the Lord means, for one thing, we are to have a personal relationship with Him through constant prayer, seeking His face and one-on-one communion. This is a fundamental for all relationships to grow and produce fruit.
Additionally, we must hate evil and shun wickedness from our lives (2 Tim 2:19). Yes, for you TV, computer and social media addicts, it means turning aside from the profane, the evil, and whatever goes against God’s word (2 Cor 7:1) that you allow to enter your life. Through TV, movies, magazines, books and even the social media outlets. And how do you know this? Instead of wasting all that time recording all you do on Facebook, you must read His word and know the truth -Psa 1:1-2; Prov 8:32-35. Reading His word is the key ingredient of living a sanctified holy life. So … how many of you Facebooker’s and Tweeter’s dedicate as much time reading His word as you post on FB or Tweet?
Living a holy life is doing the will of God. And what is His will? Follow His word in ALL things not just the low-hanging fruity things … in everything – James 1:22. As the Lord says in Matt 7:21-23, those who aren’t doing the will of the Lord will be faced with an eternity without Christ when you die. Not my words – Jesus’.
You hear a lot about Christ’s love, mercy and grace at church. You engage in happy songs of deliverance, faith and love but don’t forget God has another side to Him and that is of justice and judgment. He is coming again in flaming fire to take vengeance on them that don’t know Him or obey Him and His gospel -2 Th 1:8. Make no mistake folks, there will be consequences for our [unrepentant] sin and lack of living a holy and righteous life before Him. Teachers of God’s word need to face this reality of truth and start preaching the full council of God to their flocks. How else will they hear?
“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” -1 Th 4:7 (KJV)
Holiness means living a life totally devoted to Him free from the sinful desires and their influences that come against us daily. We must concentrate on Godly things that set us apart from this world. We must focus in on His priorities, commandments and will, as stated in His word. God doesn’t leave us stranded to wade through life’s waters alone. He gives us His Holy Spirit to help us to live and breathe a holy life in Christ Jesus. But we must, must, must trust in Him at all times and not doubt. Our faith must be continually built up based on our ongoing trust that He will protect and keep us.
No doubt this has been a sobering message and one you will rarely hear in Christian churches today. Why? Too many preachers are all about fame, fortune, denial, complacency, indifference, tolerance and intellectual arrogance concerning God’s word. Many would rather keep you in a seat feeding you a soft Gospel free of its tough reality so you can keep bolstering their offering plates rather than feeding your soul with God’s truths. Remember, you must be about doing God’s will if you want to be with Him in heaven – this is an absolute for there is no tolerance or compromise with God! For those that love to sit on the fence with one foot in the world and the other trying to be a carnal Christian your fate is separation from God forever – Luke 13:23-24, 28; Rev 3:16. These truths are Biblical and yes, they are tough, offending, real, engaging and are not to be swept aside or discarded. Your soul’s eternal destination is at stake.
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16- Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” -1 Pet 1:15-16 (KJV)
Conclusion:
Please take the time and read the scriptures referenced herein. God doesn’t want anyone to perish but all to come to repentance – 2 Pet 3:9. Pray about these things and see if what I have told you today is not scriptural. Search the scriptures, be a Berean (Acts 17:11) and know yourself how you should live, think and act before the Almighty God of the Universe. If we live a holy life unto Him He promises blessings here and the wonderful promise of eternal life with Him in His home – heaven – a place of unimaginable awesome things – 1 Cor 2:9. Jesus Christ is coming again soon and will take us home with Him into heaven.
I urge and encourage those of you that have veered off course living a fence-sitting, free-wheeling worldly (sinful) lifestyle thinking that you’re holy and a Christian with heaven to be your home. It won’t happen unless you live a holy live unto the Lord. Being a Christian is not easy; it requires work and striving to stay on that narrow road to Christ – Luke 13:24. So make a u-turn now. How? Amend your ways, repent of you sin and seek His face today. You see eternity can be but a heartbeat away for any of us … at anytime.
Click here for Biblical wisdom on receiving God’s free gift of salvation.
Grace and peace in Christ
-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” – Heb 9:28 (KJV)
