Who Will Be In Heaven?

Who Will Go To Heaven?

It hurts us to think that Uncle Fred, who was our favorite uncle, always laughing, always kind and helpful, would not be in Heaven.  He did not go to church, nor pray, nor ever profess that he had a relationship with Jesus Christ.  He did use His name though, quite often, but we overlooked it.  So if Uncle Fred was such a good guy, why wouldn’t God let him into heaven?

Matt. 7:13-14 says, “Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” There are many people who feel that it doesn’t matter what you believe only that you are sincere.  You can be a Buddhist or a Hindu, or a Spiritualist, and, if you are sincere and try your best, God will let you into heaven.

The problem with this thought is that it puts Satanism and other religious groups that are opposed to God, on the same level as Christianity.  It says that it doesn’t matter what you believe, you will enter Heaven.  Another problem is that God gave us the freedom to choose Him or not.  If everyone goes to heaven, then God overrides our freedom to not choose Him.  There will be a lot of people in Heaven that didn’t want to go.

HEAVEN IS AN UNDESERVED GIFT THAT IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” Because of our sin, we are incapable of getting into Heaven.  Yet, God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).  Jesus paid the price that we who believe in Him can stand before God holy and acceptable to God.

 Salvation comes through Christ alone.  Acts 4:12 says, “For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we may be saved.” John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except by me.”

Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  The word ˜believe’ is not a thinking word, but a doing word.  If you believe in Jesus, you will place your whole life in His hands,  

Next week, I am preaching on the reality of Hell.  A few years ago, a survey showed that 83% of Americans believed that Hell was real yet only 1% believed they would go there.  Are you one of those people?