When a person becomes a Christian they have received eternal life. Eternal life is given to a person when they believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins and they accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Jesus said:
“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”
Jesus also said:
“Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.”
So if you are a Christian you have already received eternal life; you are going to heaven – when you die you will see what it is that Jesus has prepared for you. Most of us haven’t seen heaven; but all of us who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour will.
We believe because we heard the word
The Bible says:
“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?”
Those of us who are Christians believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour because somewhere along they way we heard and understood that He is Lord and Saviour and we chose to put our faith in Him because we wanted to have our sins forgiven and we wanted to receive eternal life.
So as Christians it gives us great joy to share the word of Jesus Christ and the Gospel with others. Sharing the word of God with others gives them the opportunity to put their faith in Jesus Christ and be saved. But sometimes Christians are killed because they are testifying about Jesus Christ.
In the Book of Revelation we read:
“When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony.”
Imagine the day of your death
Imagine with me for a moment the day of your death. Solomon tells us:
“A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time” – Ecclesiastes 7:4.
Many people think only about this life and what they can get that will make them feel better: a new dress, a new car, a bigger house, a renovation to the house, a trip, eating out. But if you think about the day you are going to die those things don’t mean that much.
Some people have made their stomaches their god. The Bible says:
“Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”
Yes it’s true. Some people just think about this earth and what more they can get on this earth, but they call themselves Christians because they know that the Bible says that without Christ you cannot go to heaven. So they figure they have their insurance policy, they got it covered, the blood of Jesus has made the premium payment on their eternal life insurance and when they die up they go.
But it’s not so easy.
The Bible gives an interesting story, in fact Jesus teaches us that just calling yourself a Christian and then living for this world and for the things of this earth – food, money, and material things – may not get you into heaven.
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
So not everyone who says: “I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Saviour” is going to heaven. It’s not enough just to say it – you have to live it.
Many false prophets
In this sense there are many false prophets, people who say they are going to heaven – but in fact are not. Don’t be one of those Christians who thinks just by saying they are Christians, and going to church, and volunteering on some committee or working in the nursery you will automatically get a spot in heaven. It may not.
You will get a spot in heaven if you have given your heart and sold out your life to Jesus Christ – whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you do for a living, or whatever. In your heart you need to be sold out for Jesus and then the things you do in life on this earth have to show that you are sold out for Jesus. You can’t say you are a Christian and live for this world like your pagan neighbour and expect to go to heaven – even if you do go to church.
If you say with you mouth “I am a Christian” but then you look at your life and all you have to show that you are a Christian is that you go to church, pray once in a while, volunteer at the church, but then the rest of your life no one could tell if you were a Christian, or an atheist or whatever – you got a serious problem. Your life and things you do don’t match up with what you say with your mouth. You may have a big mouth but that won’t get you into heaven – what you do will show that you are a Christian. Like James said:
“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
Make sure your heart is right with God
So please make sure your heart is right with God and then no matter how difficult or how high the price you have to pay to do what is right – I encourage you – Pay it! Pay it all! Go all in! Spare no change! Pay extra! Give it all you got so that you can be completely sold out for Jesus Christ – body, soul, and mind.
Amen!