Are you good person?
If so, are you good enough to go to Heaven?
Perhaps you haven't thought about it but, if you die today you'll face eternity either in heaven or hell. Are you sure about where you will go?
Perhaps you have thought about it and it scares you! It should!
Well, I have good news for you! You can know for sure and you just have to answer a few questions to find out.
Let's see if you are good enough according to God's standards:
1. Have you ever told a lie?
The Ninth Commandment says - "you shall not lie" Telling just one lie, according to God's standards, makes you a liar.
Revelation 21:8 God says, ".......all liars, shall have their part in the lake of fire........"
2. Have you ever stolen anything, no matter how small?
The Eighth of the Ten Commandments is "You shall not steal." Stealing just one thing (regardless of it's size or monetary value), according to God's standards, makes you a "thief."
In 1 Corinthians 6:10, God says, "No thieves... ...shall inherit the kingdom of God."
3. Have you ever looked at someone and had lustful thoughts?
The Seventh Commandment saysm "You shall not commit adultery. According to God's standards just looking at another person with lust makes you an adulterer.
Matthew 5:28 "Jesus said,"You have heard it said, You shall not commit adultery: But I say to you, that whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart."
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, God says, no adulterers "...shall inherit the kingdom of God."
4. Have you ever used "God", "Jesus" or "Christ" as a curse word? ("oh my ....")
The Third Commandement says, "You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain." If you've ever used the name of God as a curse word, you've taken the name of the One who gave you life and used it as a 4-letter word to express disgust. That offense is called blasphemy.
Leviticus 24:16 'Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death."
Well, the truth is, everyone would fail this test because everyone is born a sinner so, you are not alone!!
What this test showed you is how you would score when judged by just four of God's Ten Commandments. So, if God judges you by that standard would you be innocent or guilty of breaking His Commandments?
If you say guilty you would be right!
Do you think He would send you to Heaven or Hell based on how you did on the test?
If you said hell, you are right again because God is holy and just and cannot allow sinners into heaven.
Does the fact that you're headed for Hell concern you? It should concern you and here's why.
Would you sell one of your eyes for a million dollars? How about both eyes for ten million? No one in their right mind would! Your eyes are precious to you... but they are only a "window" for your soul. Your soul (your inner being, your life, your personality) looks out through those eyes. Consider how precious your eyes are... then realize that Jesus said that Hell is so horrible that you would be better off tearing out your own eyes than ending up there for all eternity
Mark 9:43-48 "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. "If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. "If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.
Do you know what God did so that you wouldn't have to spend eternity in Hell?
Because we are all guilty and none of us could ever get to heaven on our own, He did the kindest thing anyone could ever do. He sent His only Son, Jesus, to pay YOUR sin debt by His death on the cross - suffering the punishment that justice demands - so that you wouldn't have to go to Hell. Then He rose from the grave, forever defeating death! The Bible tells us, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
So what does this mean for you? It means God made a way for you and calls you to repentance and faith in Jesus alone for your salvation.
If you will repent of your sins (that means to confess and forsake or turn away from your sins) and put your trust in Jesus Christ alone, God says he will forgive all your sins and grant you the gift of everlasting life. If you do, you will not have to suffer God's justice in Hell because the payment for your crimes was made by Jesus on the cross.
If you're not sure what to pray, read Psalm 51 (pasted at the bottom for you), and make it a model for your prayer. The words are not "magical," what God cares about is the attitude of your heart, of sincere repentance for your sins. When you pray, it should sound something like this, "Dear God, I repent of all my sins, such as (name them). I put my trust in Jesus Christ alone as Lord (to say Jesus is your Lord means you are now making Jesus the master over your life) and Savior. Forgive me and grant me your gift of everlasting life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
If you have TRULY repented of your sins and placed your faith in Christ, start reading your Bible EVERY DAY, and obey what you read. God will begin immediately to change your heart and give you new desires. Ones that will please and bring glory to Him! Isn't that good news?
What should you read? We suggest that you start in the book named "John," and then read the one named "Romans." Whatever you decide to read, make sure you read every day.
Psalm 51:1-17
King David's Prayer of Repentance
1. Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3. For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4. Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight--
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
5. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8. Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9. Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
10. Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11. Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
14. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15. O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart--
These, O God, You will not despise.
I would love to hear from you! If you placed your faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, I would love to send you some resources to help you grow in your faith.
Have questions? I can help!
I look forward to hearing from you!
Spreading the Good News for the glory of God,
Bronni
