The fact of the matter is, God defines "good" and "bad", however, those are not the prerequisites when getting into eternity. Unfortunately, the world sugar coats our eternal destination. Every funeral that I have ever attended made indication that the person was 'in a better place' even if the person was a proclaimed nonbeliever. The truth of the matter is...if you do not believe in God and have him in your heart, you will not go to heaven when you die. This is not meant as a judgmental statement, it is made by the truth that is found in the Bible. God does not count up our 'good' deeds and our 'bad' deeds to determine if we will enter through those pearly gates. That's just not how it works.
Ephesians 2:8 (NIV) states, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast."
To the world we can be the greatest and most giving person ever, but still not get to heaven if Jesus is not Lord of our life. And, on the contrary, we can be looked at as horrible in the world's eyes and yet make it to heaven if we ask for forgiveness, repent (turn away from) our sins, and ask Jesus into our heart. There is a reason why Jesus went to the cross. It wasn't because He wanted to, it's because He knew He HAD to endure the cross so that we may live. FOREVER. He loves us THAT much.
Let's unwrap just a few of the myths out there:
1. Myth: I believe that there is a God so I will go to heaven. Truth: In James 2:19 it says, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder." In other words, the demons believe and KNOW that there is a God but yet they are not in heaven with Jesus.
2. Myth: Everyone goes to heaven when they die. Truth: It is clearly written in scripture that this is not the case. In John 14:6 it says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." And, in Matthew 7:13 it says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only few find it." In this passage the 'destruction' is hell and the 'life' is heaven.
3. Myth: I just need to be good, do good and live a good life. Truth: In Matthew 10:32-33, 38-39 it says, "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." We are all born with sin, therefore none of us are perfect. So, we can attempt to be 'good' all we want, but unless we understand what He did for us on the cross and acknowledge that God is God and we are not, then living a 'good' life is not going to cut it. We must accept Jesus into our heart otherwise we will truly lose our life when we die. But, the glory of the story is that death does NOT have to be OUR end.
At age 3 1/2 (and let's face it, at any age) mortality is certainly not a fun subject. So, I don't want to come off as morbid here, but I will be honest and say that we have already started talking about these myths and truths with Nate. He has already heard, through us and church, that Christ died for our sins. He has already heard that there is a heaven and a hell and not everyone goes to heaven. And, he has already heard that you need to have Jesus in your heart if you want to GO to heaven. However, even in speaking these truths, unfotunately I cannot save my son. And, as much as I want to, I cannot force my beliefs or the gift of salvation onto anyone. We all have to grasp it and we have to WANT a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God DID give us free will. All of us. It is OUR choice as to what our eternal destiny is going to be. And, I don't know about you, but I certainly don't want to just live a 'good life', die, and THEN find out.
