HEAVEN- Are you good enough?

Will you go to heaven or hell? The Bible says that you can KNOW if you are going to heaven (1 John 5:13, Romans 8:16). You can also be sure if you are going to hell. What could be more important than your eternal salvation? What does it profit you to attain money, happiness, and all the pleasures of life? This life is passing away like a shadow. In a few short years you will die. The Bible says that everyone will stand before the judgement seat of Christ. How will you fare on Judgement Day?

Standing before our holy and almighty God is a scary thought. In times past I broke the law of the land and went to court. I can remember being afraid when I heard, "All rise!" and the judge entered the room. I can remember being nervous as the names of lawbreakers were called one by one. Finally it was my turn to stand before the judge. I can remember how fearful it was to stand before an earthly judge. How much more we should fear the Judge who created all of us. Will God open the gates of heaven for you? Or will He sentence you to suffer for all eternity in hell?


A man once went to Jesus and asked Him what good thing he must do in order to go to heaven. Jesus quoted to the man from the Ten Commandments. Jesus was saying that if anyone keeps the Ten Commandments, he would be good enough to enter heaven. (Matthew 19:16-30) Do you keep the commandments? Are you good enough to enter heaven? Let's go through them one by one and find out. Keep track of each commandment that you have broken.


Commandment #10. THOU SHALT NOT COVET.

Have you ever been jealous of something that someone else owns? You don't have to actually steal something in order to break this commandment. You only need to want something that belongs to your neighbor. You don't have to actually commit adultery. You only need to want your neighbor's wife. Have you broken this commandment? The Bible says that the covetous will not go to heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9&10).


Commandment #9. THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS.

Have you ever lied about someone else? Exaggerated? Said something that wasn't exactly true? If so, God will find you guilty of breaking this commandment. The Bible says that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).


Commandment #8. THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.

Have you ever stolen anything? Even the smallest thing? How many times does a person have to steal in order to become a thief? The answer is that stealing even once makes a person a thief. The Bible says that thieves will not go to heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9&10).


Commandment #7. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said that if a man looks at a woman to lust after her, he has already committed adultery in his heart (Matthew 6:27&28). Have you ever looked at someone with lust? That is all it takes in order to be found in transgression of God's holy and perfect Law. According to the Bible, no adulterer will ever be allowed to enter the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9&10).


Commandment #6. THOU SHALT NOT KILL.

Again on His sermon on the mount, Jesus equated hate with murder (Matthew 6:21-26). Have you ever hated anyone? If so, God sees you as a lawbreaker. The Bible says that murderers will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).


Commandment #5. HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER.

This is perhaps the first commandment we break as we start to grow up. Have you always honored your father and your mother? I doubt that anyone has (other that Jesus Himself). Commandment number five is the first commandment with a promise. If we keep this commandment God promises that our days will be long upon the earth. It follows that if we break this commandment, God will allow us to eternally perish.


Commandment #4. REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY.

Have you always kept the sabbath day? Have you taken time each day to reflect upon what God requires for you? Or have you become caught up in the rat race at times and forgotten about God? If so, you have broken this commandment and stand guilty before God.


Commandment #3. THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN.

Have you ever used God's name in a disrespectful way? Have you ever used God's name in the place of a filthy swear word? Many people around us misuse God's name THOUSANDS of times. But one occasion will make you a lawbreaker. God will not leave unpunished anyone who uses His name in vain (Exodus 20:7).


Commandment #2. THOU SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE.

We can fashion idols either with our hands or our minds. Have you ever made a god to suit yourself? For example, have you ever said, "My god would never let anyone go to hell"? That god doesn't exist- it's an idol. We need to prayerfully read God's Word, the Bible, in order to know that we are worshipping the true and almighty God. The Bible solemnly warns that idolaters will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8, 1 Corinthians 6:9&10).


Commandment #1. THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.

Have you always served the LORD God alone? Have you always loved God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? (Mark 12:30). According to the Bible, we have all broken this commandment. Psalm 14:1-3 reads-


"The fool hath said in his heart, 'There is no God.'

They are corrupt, they have done abominable works,

there is none that doeth good.

The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men,

to see if there were any that did understand and seek God.

They are all gone aside,

they are all together become filthy:

There is none that doeth good, no, not one."

Like many people, I have broken all ten of the Ten Commandments. But the Bible says that we only need to break one commandment in order to be judged as an evil person who deserves hell rather than heaven (James 2:10&11). Think about it for a minute. To be found guilty and go to jail do you need to break every law of the land? No, if you break one law, the court will find you to be a criminal.

The apostle Paul taught that God gave us His Law in order to show us that none of us are good enough to go to heaven (Galatians 3:21-26). There is only one reason why everyone is not condemned to an eternity in hell. There is only one way for you to avoid being thrown into the lake of fire. Please read the rest of this very carefully.

You have already been condemned by the Word of God (John 3:17-22). You have already been found a transgressor of God's holy Law. The sentence for your crimes is to spend all of eternity in hell. Your only hope is to receive a pardon. We know that in earthly justice the Governor or the President can give anyone a pardon. The person does not need to be falsely accused in order to receive a pardon. A person could have been found guilty of any number of crimes, but a pardon could still set him free.

The Good News is that Jesus wants to give you a pardon for breaking God's Law. Only the Lord Jesus Christ is worthy to give you the pardon because He is the One Who paid the price for your crimes when He suffered and died on the cross. Do not insult God by saying that you will think about it later. Right now God commands that you repent (Acts 17:30).

To receive a pardon you must repent of your sins. That means that you must tell God you are sorry for your crimes and turn away from them. You must make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life and serve Him for the rest of your days. Pray to God right now. You don't need any special words. Just tell Him that you are sorry. Name all of your sins that you can remember. And promise to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. The prayer won't save you. No mere ritual will save you. But Jesus will save you if you do make Him the Lord of your life.

Jesus will give you a new life. You will be born again. You will be born of God. You should be baptized to show the world your new life in Christ. Talk to God throughout each day in prayer. Read the Bible every day and obey what you read. Worship and fellowship with other Christians at a church where the Bible is preached as the perfect Word of God.


Please contact us if you have just dedicated your life to the Lord Jesus Christ.


Doug "Shoe" Carlson, Pastor
(603) 430 - 8060
Email: preachershoe@yahoo.com


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