A few years ago, Betty and I were coming home from shopping. I felt okay and in control of the car, but I could not remember the turns to get home. I made two of three wrong turns when Betty asked me, “Where are you going?” I told her I was in control of the car, but did not know how to get home. She gave me the directions I needed. Later, I went to the doctor and a brain scan showed a chemical problem which was corrected with medication.
I think of the many people today wanting to go to Heaven, but who are not following the right directions. They are following the doctrine of men instead of following the words of God which Jesus taught. In John 17:8, Jesus prays “For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out of Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me.” Here, Jesus was speaking of His apostles. And, in vs.20, speaking of the apostles’ converts, He said “Neither pray I for these along, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.”
WE ARE ALL ON A JOURNEY TO EITHER HEAVEN OR HELL!
Heaven is where God is. Mark 1:11 says, “And there came a voice from Heaven, saying, Thou art My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
And, Hell is no place to go. Matthew 10:28 says, “And fear not them which can kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but, rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.”
The journey begins at birth. In Ephesians 6:4 (NASV), the apostle Paul writes, “And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” In the early years, we get direction from parents and learn of God, Jesus, and Heaven. During these years, it is important for parents to follow the teachings of God and always “put God first” when making family decisions. In Matthew 10:37, Jesus told His disciples, “He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
Do you want to go to Heaven? Top of your list of priorities? In Joshua 24:15, we read “And if it seems evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and for my house, we will serve the Lord.” Are you as determined as Joshua?
Do not be deceived, the journey will not be easy. Paul the apostle knew that. In First Corinthians 9:27, he writes. “But, I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” He told young Timothy to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the straight gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth unto destruction, and many there be which go in therat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Paul wrote, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2).
~Eugene McNabb
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