Who's Going to Heaven?

This is a bit of an open-ended question. It requires some deeper thought. The answer will be challenging, but before we get there....know that Jesus made Heaven, for anyone that will choose Him and accept His plan of salvation.

It is the culture of our society to express the letters: 'RIP' or 'RIH', whenever someone passes away.....without really knowing on a private and personal level, ones heart matters and spiritual state at the point of their death. It is said or typed, knowing that the human it is intended for, will never hear nor see it, but knowing their people will. I believe it is also said, as a way to self-soothe. At the core of us being human beings, we want to hold on to hope, and that life does not just end, when our flesh ceases to exist. No one wants to imagine that God will actually eternally punish a soul that was once living and breathing on earth; that had a personality, had relationships, had dreams, had love and care for loved ones, had a whole life. The truth is.....He does....and He will. However, not so simply. This is the last resort, of what He does not want to do, after giving us time, chance after chance after chance, and free will, to accept Him or resist Him. Even many of those whom do not believe in Jesus or Heaven, will find themselves believing, upon the onset of grief, that their loved one is in the arms of the Holy one.

To show us what love is, Jesus left the choice of following Him, to each and every one of us. Love, is not forceful. To hold someone against their will, is control and abusive. Jesus is love. Giving us the liberty to choose Him or not, is one of the greatest displays of love, because we have to be willing to yield to Him when He knocks on the doors of our hearts. He freely gives us the offer of salvation and eternal life, we just have to choose if we would deny ourselves, and pick up our crosses and follow Him. He does not leave us without the knowledge that, where there is good, evil also exists to try to combat the goodness of the Lord. He also makes it very clear that there are no short cuts to Heaven. Either we choose Him , or we choose this world. If we love this world, and all of the sin that deceives us, then the love of the Father is not in us. (1 John 2:15)

Jesus is not a friend to this world, nor does this world love Him. He came to this world in the form of man, sinless and on a mission.....to spread His gospel of salvation, warn people of the eternal dangers of hell and the lake of fire, if we do not repent of our sins and get saved, and to give us hope that, through His death, burial and resurrection, we would find forgiveness of our sins and salvation, and the promise of a Kingdom with many mansions to dwell in for eternity, with Him. The Kingdom of Heaven is home for Christians. However, like any home, if you are a stranger to the owner, they will not just let you in. No trespassing. There are standards to enter into someone's home, and the first one would be that, the owner knows you and gives you permission to enter in.

Ask yourself these questions, and do your best to answer them honestly.

1. A person leaving a party, high and drunk, gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, crashes head on, and does not survive. Do you think they are going to Heaven?

2. A person, who stays out of trouble in life, and runs their own business, posting pictures every month of their world travels, but, they did not believe in "religion", because all religion to them was oppressive.....they have a massive heart attack and die. Do you think they are going to Heaven?

3. A charitable person who is always helping people, giving back to the community, feeding the hungry, giving to the needy, but separates the church from their charitable works, ends up passing away. Do you think they are going to Heaven?

4. Someone that felt like they could no longer handle life, takes their own life. Do you think they are going to Heaven?

There is an answer to all of these scenarios and question of their eternal destinations. Jesus says....

(Matthew 7:21)

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.

When you re-read those scenarios, Jesus gives us an answer. Even if it is one that you do not like. Not one of those above examples, would make Heaven....including the charitable cheerful giver, because their sinful nature wanted the glory, and eliminated Jesus Christ. Suicide is not God's will. If a person dies in their sins, like the party goer, that is not the Father's will. The person "living their best life", gaining all of the worldly success, then dies in the peak of their success....that is not God's will. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36). Jesus wants us to excel in life, but with Him as the center of our lives. He never gives special permission for anyone to take their own lives, but rather, says.....

(Matthew 24:13) "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

If we are outside of the will of our Heavenly Father, then we are not on the path to Heaven. It does not matter how many people think you are so nice and such a good person. None of us are good, only God alone. Death, does not equate to an every day person that passes away, having access to Heaven through eternal life. In fact, death is the ending to being able to choose Heaven or hell. Once a person dies, they are waiting for the judgment.

THE GOOD NEWS IS.......(JOHN 10:10)

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and they might have it more abundantly."

Raven