Living in a hog-wallow?

Are you going to heaven?

Are you really sure?

Most, who consider themselves to be Christian, would respond like this... "I go to church when I can, I try to behave myself, and I think I look pretty good, well... compared to most people, anyway. I'm convinced I'm good enough to get into heaven."

This belief is fairly commonplace, and totally wrong!

"And now apart from law hath the righteousness of God been manifested, testified to by the law and the prophets, and the righteousness of God [is] through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing, -- for there is no difference, for all did sin, and are come short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:21-23) ylt

Not one of us is anywhere good enough to get to heaven on our own; we're not even close.

Think of it like this...

Living in our world is a lot like hanging out in a hog-wallow. If you roll around in the filth you WILL get covered in it! The problem is that even tiptoeing through the sludge will NOT keep you clean! No amount of being careful will keep you clean. It cannot be done!

Worst of all, any amount of this world's foulness will keep you away from God, and out of heaven! Sin is NOT allowed in God's presence! Even the slightest trace of sin, no matter how small, will forever prevent you from entering heaven.

So, how can any of us get there?

God loves us enough that He made a way for us to get clean again! A way to get into heaven despite our sin... but how could this be possible? He sent His Son, His only Son, to pay the price on our heads, to redeem us, just so we could join him in heaven!

Look at it from your own perspective. How many people do you know, who've done terrible things to you... for how many of them would you be willing to sacrifice your own child's life?

Yeah, I know! I feel the same way! Yet, God thinks we are worth it! So, what do you need to do?

First of all, you must admit you are a sinner. Shouldn't be too hard, not if you are honest with yourself (and think about the hog-wallow).

Second, you must believe in your heart that Jesus' death on the cross was for your benefit. Even if you were the only one that He'd died for, He'd still have sacrificed Himself, just for you.

Lastly, you must tell others about it. God's gift of His Son's life for all of us is the most important news anyone could ever hear. Spread the word. Confess your faith!

These three steps are often called the "A-B-Cs of salvation."

Sometimes people wonder why it is that God placed us in a situation wherein we'd need salvation. The truth is, we did it to ourselves...

Imagine a beautiful place where heaven and earth came together, a wondrous place where the joy of being in the presence of God co-existed with the happiness of life among the incredible beauty of His creation. Such a place would be a garden of infinite delight, right? We call it the "Garden of Eden." Heaven on earth might also be a good description, don't you think?

Humans fouled it up, and brought sin into the garden. Remember that sin cannot be in the presence of God, so humanity had to be banished. We've never been back.

We brought it upon ourselves. We've all sinned, and we know it. God has offered us a way back into His grace, and yet He loves us so much that He will not even force us to take the necessary steps. He leaves that up to us.

Nobody has ever loved you so much!

Nobody!

Take the steps! Remember...

A - B - C

See you soon, in paradise!