Contrary to popular opinion, heaven isn’t reserved for the
morally upright, the good citizens, or those who are genuinely sincere.Heaven isn’t guaranteed for “good” people any
more than it is barricaded to “bad” people.
In fact, getting into heaven takes a lot more than most
of expect.Here are a few items on the
after-death entrance exam:
Most of us are familiar with the story of “original
sin.”Adam and Eve in the perfect Garden
of Eden…the serpent-tempter shows up…Eve caves to the temptation and eats a
piece of fruit…then, bammo!Condemnation
to eternal death!
Sounds a little harsh, doesn’t it?
What would make Adam and Eve’s rule-breaking so egregious
that it warranted capital punishment, not only for them, but for all their
descendents?
Many religious people seem content to live in a state of “Churchianity” rather than Christianity.
While Christianity calls people into a living, dynamic relationship with
their Creator, Churchianity marries its adherents to a set of religious customs
and traditions. Christianity is a relationship built on the highest imaginable form of
love — Churchianity is an empty life consisting of Sunday religion and
spiritual showmanship.
Safety consumes a lot of our attention; from airbags to bug repellent,
alarm systems to insurance policies. And, while there is nothing wrong
with using common sense to protect health and life, a focus on safety
can create a hazard of its own — a spiritual hazard!
Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, stated that, “A safe life is a wasted life!”
You've probably heard your grandma mention the need for some wandering soul to get back on the "straight and narrow" - what's that all about?
It's actually a reference to something Jesus taught, about a "narrow" way to life. He said...“You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14, NLT)
After seeing Mel Gibson's “The Passion” movie, I was overwhelmed by the many sufferings our Lord endured on our behalf. But my emotional response to the film reminded me of a curious statement Jesus made in the midst of his horrifying journey through the streets of Jerusalem.
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