We're All Gonna Die!
That's bad news. Because of sin and our alienation from God, the Bible says everyone is going to die. And even worse, then God will judge us for our rebellion against Him (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27). Every person will have to stand in God's court and give an account (Romans 14:12). Who will be able to answer when God asks, "Why should I let you into My Heaven?"
How Will You Answer?
Maybe you have been a good person, a good parent, a good spouse. Maybe you have been kind to people, and you have given to charity. Maybe you have never robbed a bank, nor killed anyone. These are all admirable qualities. Your friends and family may respect you for the good life you are living.
But does that really answer God's question, "Why should I let you into My Heaven?" God is holy and perfect. Sin has corrupted the human race.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).The bull's-eye is holiness (like God's holiness). Not only have we missed the bull's-eye, we have fallen completely short of the target! As a result, we are separated from God."Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you..." (Isaiah 59:2).The human race is as bad off as it can be. Because of the sin disease, we are separated from the very God who created us. Just because you haven't robbed a bank (yet), doesn't mean God will accept that as a reason to allow you into His Heaven. However, He has a plan.
How Will It End?
The Bible says that great judgment will come upon the Earth. We have heard of Armageddon, the end of the world as we know it. After this terrible judgment upon the Earth, God will hold court in His throne room:
"And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds" (Revelation 20:11-12)."And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).
Is There Hope?
We have found a clue: The Book of Life! We want to have our names written in The Book of Life. People whose names are written in that book will live with God in Heaven (Revelation 21:27). Right now we are living in between. We are between the beginning and the end. And the most important question has become, "How can I get my name written into The Book of Life?"
God Has a Plan!
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Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, ©The Lockman Foundation; 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977.