Eye Opener
Who will go to heaven
Evangelists, pastors, bishops, priests and church leaders have been commanded to go around the world and preach the gospel.
Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and I am with you always even to the end of the age. Amen!”
Despite the intensive campaign of the disciples of God including missionaries who trod jungles and dangerous island trails, only few people seem to have realized that they need God and when they die, they are sure to go to heaven.” But who will go to heaven? asked the Vice President of the Pensacola Christian College, Pensacola, Florida, during his recent sermon.
A person may be good, does not have vices, honest, peaceful and loving, friendly and living a righteous life, but if he has not accepted Jesus Christ as his saviour and Hod, he will not go to heaven. On the other hand, people who have received Jesus Christ as God, be born again, and live a Christ-like life while still on earth, are candidates for the Kingdom of God. Even sinners whose filthiness is an abomination to God but if he confesses his sins and all unrighteousness, God is just and willing to forgive. But sinners have to accept Jesus Christ as their saviour and God, do away with all sins, be born again, go to a Bible believing church may still go to heaven.
A thief and criminal who hanged on the cross where Jesus was, who rebuked the other criminal also hanging on the cross, said, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong?” This was his answer to the other criminal who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” Matthew 23:39. And the other criminal then said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into your Kingdom. And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:41-43.
Jesus Christ is a loving and forgiving God. Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Those names that are written in the Book of Life will surely be in heaven. Revelation 21:27, “But there shall by no means enter if anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.”
Who is in heaven? “No one has ascended to heaven but He who comes down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven,”John 3:13.
Saints and true followers of Jesus Christ will surely go to heaven. Who are these followers of Jesus Christ? People who have received Jesus Christ as their God, Saviour, Redeemer and Coming King, are candidates for Heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren concerning those who have fallen asleep, least you sorrow so others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even do God will bring Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will be no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meed the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
But the Bible has passages for those who are not going to heaven. Revelation 21:7-8, “He who overcomed shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Bishop Dr. Johnny Yasa, Pastor of Bethel Temple Church and Speaker at the Good Friday Service on April 10 at the La Paz Baptist Church starting at 9 a.m. was kind enough to give this columnist scripture passages. Happy Easter to all!