One of my favorite gospel songs is gospel duo Mary Mary's hit "Heaven". I remember when the song first came out on the radio. My mother would blast it to the highest volume in her car radio and I would sing the lyrics to the top of my lungs. I would sing, "I gotta get myself together 'cause I got some place to go, And I'm praying when I get there I'll see every one I know I wanna go to heaven."
Every person who professes themselves to be a Christian wants to go heaven. I know do and I know you do too. But I can share something with you that God shared with me during one of my personal bible studies? He said that everyone who thinks or calls themselves a Christian is not going to heaven. In fact, many people who go to Church every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and every time the church doors open are going to hell.
Don't believe me? Think I am being harsh? Well, don't take my word! Take Jesus' Word because He says in Matthew, 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"
Okay, let's dissect the first part of the passage. Whew! It is a lot take in! First and foremost, Jesus states the only people going to heaven are the people who do the will of His Father. What is the will of His Father, our Father? The will of Lord is the Word of God. So the people who obey the Word of God are doing His will.
God is very clear that only the names written in His Book of Life are going to heaven (Revelation 21:27). Is your name written in the Book of Life? Are you obeying and doing the will of the Lord.
You are not if you are doing these things according the scriptures.
*1 Corinthians 6:9-10" People who continue to engage in sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, sexual perversion homosexuality, fraud, greed, drunkenness, verbal abuse, or extortion—these will not inherit God’s kingdom realm.
* Galatians 5:19-21, "Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things, (Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, and wild parties), will not inherit the kingdom realm of God!
Now if you are like me, you are reading these scriptures and thinking to yourself, "Is anyone going to heaven?!" Seriously, I have committed several of the sins and transgressions listed and I am sure you have too. You may be even struggling with some of the things listed, BUT I got some good news for you.
If you verbally confess your sins and repent of them, God will forgive you of your sins and cleanse you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Again I say, REPENT, which means to change your mind or simply put: just stop doing the sins and transgression!
Now, I understand some sins and transgressions are harder to stop and break because of demonic strongholds, generational curses, and long-term demonic altars and covenants that been erected in our bloodlines. Those type of sins, transgressions, and iniquities require RENUNCIATION, DELIVERANCE, PRAYER, AND FASTING! Remember Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 17:21, "But this kind is cast out only through prayer and fasting." To get freedom from certain sins and strongholds you have to pray and fast.
To wrap of the first part of this series, I want to ask you again, is your name written in the Book of Life? The bible says, "For we all have sinned and are in need of the glory of God." God understands that we will sin from time because we were born with a sin nature (Romans 5:12). However, Jesus death and sacrifice on the Cross for our sins becomes invalid if we continually to willfully sin (Hebrews 10:26-27). I will elaborate more on willful sins next week in part two!
If you take away anything from reading this post, take away this...professing yourself to be a Christian and going to church does not automatically qualify you a spot in heaven. All dogs may go to heaven, but not all Christians do.
I pray this post blessed you. If it did, please share it on your social media platforms! And let me know what you think. I would love to hear your thoughts!
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