When We "All" Get To Heaven

Friends,

This past Sunday, if you were keen of eye, when the song "When We All Get To Heaven" flashed by (which I had to cut out because I was out of time and did not want to prolong an already "wonderfully expanded" song service), the title in the lower left hand corner -- not placed by me -- said "When Most of Us (Christian folk) Get To Heaven." Now, while credit must be given to the clever individual who produced this, it must also be noted that this is probably a more theologically accurate description of humanity (and even those claiming to be Christian) in relationship to the song than the original. Universalists believe that "all believers" -- or practically everyone -- will get to heaven. Jesus indicated in "the Sermon on the Mount," "the story of the sheep and the goats" and in "the parable of the sower" that universalism, or, "all who believe" will make it to heaven...is not accurate. Those who are planted in the good soil, the sheep and those who enter through the narrow gate will make it. Those not in the good soil, the goats, and those who try to enter through the broad way...will not. This is not easy to accept, but the Lord will ultimately separate those who claim to be Christian and are so in name only from those whose lives are dedicated to Him as Lord, Ruler, Master. While watching Rick Atchley's video concerning heaven last evening, he pointed out that one of the giant killers for some "believers" is pride. Everyone believes that they are going to go to heaven -- many good people -- but most of these folks are not committed to Christ. Even amongst the most hateful, evil people in the world, somehow, they believe that their final resting place is going to be with God or Jesus (or both) in heaven. Pride! We have to ring out the truth concerning our Lord and Savior and quench the self-deception (lovingly, of course) -- we cannot accept the false gospel of universalism...as tempting as it may be to want to believe it or accept it. We can only know Jesus and discern His will for lives (and for humanity in general) through humility. If we claim Christ and yet are "universally" living for self, it simply will not work. While no one is perfect, Jesus expects for us to be submissive to His will and the will of His Father first and foremost in our lives -- He has to be Lord. When we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, then heaven will be ours.

Don