So, would you consider yourself to be a good person? Anybody good enough to get into heaven? Let's take a short test to see.
• Have you ever told a lie? What does that make you? A liar. This violates the 9th Commandment, and the Bible tells us that all liars will have their place in the lake of fire.
• Have you ever stolen anything, no matter how small? A piece of candy as a kid, a pen from work? Anything? What does that make you? A thief and it means that you've violated the 8th Commandment, and probably the 10th as well, because you would have coveted it before you actually stole it. There will be no thieves in heaven.
• Have you ever used God's Name in vain? Just cried it out as an expletive? That's called blasphemy. It's a transgression of the 3rd Commandment and a very serious offense.
Do you realize what you've done? You've used the Creator of the universe's holy Name as a curse word to express disgust instead of a four letter filth word. Hitler's name is not so despised to be used in such a way!
• The 7th Commandment says you shall not commit adultery.
Now, you might say, "I'm not even married" but did you know this command includes fornication (premarital sex) as well?
In fact, Jesus says that if you merely look with lust, you've already committed adultery in your heart. So, have you ever done that?
• You may say, "I've never murdered anyone." But if you've ever hated anyone, God sees it as murder in your heart and you're guilty of breaking the 6th Commandment. Yes, even your thoughts will be judged on Judgment Day.
• Have you always honored your parents as they should be honored? That's number 5.
• Have you kept the Sabbath? That's number 4. God gave you your very life, have you ever stopped to consider what He might require of you, one day out of seven?
• Have you always put God first in your life? That's the 1st and most important Commandment.
• Or have you created a god for yourself in your mind, fashioned after your own image? One that doesn't see premarital sex or a little white lie as wrong? One that won't hold you accountable and thus breaking the 2nd Commandment as well?
How did you do? Are you "good enough" to make it to heaven? In light of God's standard, judged by these questions, would you be found innocent or guilty?
You'd be guilty! And would you then be destined for heaven or for hell?
Do you think that you would go to heaven because God is so forgiving? Check this out: If a man is found guilty in court for some heinous crime, say murder or rape, or both, and he says to the judge, "I know I'm guilty, but I'm really sorry. Would you just forgive me and let me go? I won't ever do it again." Would that judge be just in letting the man go? No! And God is so just, that every murderer, rapist, and thief will be punished, but He doesn't stop there. Every liar, adulterer and fornicator will also be punished for transgressing His Law.
Does it concern you that you are destined for eternal hell, and according to the Bible, justice is satisfied by sending you there?
Do you know what God did for us so that we don't have to go to the hell that we deserve?
He paid the fine for us. He loves us so much that He doesn't want us to end up in hell. Hell was created for Satan and his demons, but all criminals must be punished, and the wages of sin is death.
God so loved us that He sent His Son, God in the flesh, who lived a perfect life, never sinning, and kept the entire Law. Then He suffered and died on a cross, taking on the punishment that we deserve. But death couldn't hold Him, and He rose again on the third day, defeating death forever.
How do you make this gift apply to you? It isn't some kind of automatic payment so that you can remain in your sins (Hebrews 10:26-27).
You must repent (2 Tim 2:19, Acts 17:30-31), turn away from your sinful ways (Heb 10:29) and trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation (Acts 4:12).
He is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
Submit to Him as Lord, read the Bible every day and obey His commands.
May the Lord bless you and be glorified in your salvation.
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