The road to Heaven

Let me ask the reader a question. Is it easy or hard to get into heaven? 

A lot of preachers tell parishioners to walk down the aisle of the church if they want to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Someone in a prayer/counseling room will pray for them using what Is called a “Sinners Prayer”. Is this Biblical? Others just tell someone simply to “believe in Jesus”, and they are saved. Is it that simple? Just believe in Jesus?

There is essentially nothing wrong with any of these methods as long as all the blanks are filled in. That is what I will attempt to do in this article.

The best sermon ever preached on how one enters heaven was by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. To find out what he preached, we need to go what is called the Sermon on the Mount.

In Matthew 5:3-11 Jesus teaches on what are called the Beatitudes. In verse 3 Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. What does this mean? It means someone who knows they are spiritually bankrupt – totally deficient to come to God through their own resources. It is someone who comes to God humbly, with contrition, begging for mercy. Remember the parable of the Pharisee and tax Collector? The tax collector would not even lift up his head to heaven for he was ashamed of his life and said, “God be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13)! That is a description of someone who is poor in spirit and whom the kingdom of heaven belongs to.

By contrast, the Pharisee in the parable is the type of person who will never inherit the kingdom. These are his words, “God I thank You that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess” (Luke 18:12). 

We see the men are polar opposites. The Pharisee who was a religious leader and upper echelon of society figured his own “good” works merited him the kingdom. Jesus said no. Jesus said the tax collector went home justified (declared righteous by God) rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 18:14).

John the Baptist rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees when they came to be baptized by him. He called them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matt 3:7-8). John was letting them know that their pedigree was not good enough for them to be accepted by God. They had to recognize that they were unfit for the kingdom of God lest they repent of their sins, and prepare themselves for the coming of the Messiah. The religious leaders were everything but humble.

                                                      

                                       What Jesus had to say about entering Heaven

Matthew 7:13-14 – “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Although everyone has a choice to make regarding which way they desire to go, Jesus commands all to enter through the narrow gate which He said is the way to life and peace. The broad road does not.

In Luke 13:22-28 we read, and he went through the cities and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many I say to you will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door and you begin to knock at the door saying, Lord, Lord open for us, and He answer and say to you, I do not know you where you are from.” Then you will begin to say, “We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.” But He will say, “I tell you I do not know you where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity”. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

The key word in the verses is strive which in the Greek is the word Agōnizomai. From it we get the English word agonize. The implication Jesus is making is that all that enter through the narrow must agonize to get in. The way is constricted. What do I mean? We must go in totally stripped of ourselves. We must enter in counting the cost of what it is to be a follower of Jesus Christ. We must enter in naked and alone.

Jesus declared that anyone that desired to follow Him also must be willing to forsake all or they cannot be His disciple. Listen to these words: Now great multitudes went with Him, and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own life also cannot be my disciple.[1] And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it – lest after he laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king going to make war against another king whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:25-33).

The aforementioned provides the qualifications for following Jesus. It’s all or nothing at all! These stringent requirements will eliminate most professing Christians, and many of those who are considering the Christian faith.

By doing this, Jesus is getting rid of those who are pretenders, masquerading as if they are disciples, but are not. There is no point in anyone confessing Jesus as Savior if He is not going to be your Lord. That is exactly what Jesus demands. A disciple is a follower, a learner. The disciples called Jesus Rabbi which means Teacher and Master. They knew He was God in the flesh and that He was greater than them. Most people have no problem having Jesus as the Savior of their sins, but they do not want Him as the Lord which requires a crucified life; A life of self-denial, persecution and humiliation. It’s at this point where most end their pseudo-christianity, and depart from the faith proving they were never saved (I John 2:19). Most people love their own lives too much, and committing to someone like that is not worth it. For them the cost to follow Jesus is too high. Not realizing the cost not to follow Him is eternally worse. Some will be wise enough to take careful examination of their lives to see if they are really in the faith (II Cor 13:5), while others will turn their backs on God never to return (John 6:66).

Think about it, since Jesus died for all who would believe, doesn’t it make sense we should be willing to die for Him if need be? That is what we are called to do – be witnesses unto Him! And in case you didn’t know the word witness is actually the word martur where we get the English word Martyr; one who bears witness by his death.  Now, I ask you is this the Christianity you are hearing taught by Pastors and Teachers you are listening to? Probably not, but it’s the word of God.

Lest I be misunderstood, the whole of our Christian lives does not always encompass the negative elements I just described above. It is indeed a joy to be saved; to know that we have inherited eternal life, and will one day dwell in the house of the Lord forever as David said in Psalm 23:6. But, Jesus never painted a pretty picture for those who desired to follow Him. For instance, Jesus promised that in this world we shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world He said (John 16:33b).

Jesus also said that no one putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).

I heard someone recently say, “We cannot just add Jesus to our list of activities”. I whole heartedly agree. That is what a lot of us do. We wedge Jesus in the maze, and crazy jigsaw puzzle of our lives. Not realizing we need to remove some or perhaps all of things we do in our lives that have no eternal value.

                             

                                                    

                                                       What does the broad gate look like?

The broad gate is the way that most of the world is entering. Why? Because it is easy to go through. You can bring all your baggage (i.e. sins), and it is the popular way to go. This is the fun, non-committal entrance. For most it is all good because like the narrow gate it is also marked heaven. This broad road accepts any and all false religions: Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, Scientology, Universalism, Prosperity Gospel, Islam, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, The Emergent Church, The New Age Movement, etc.

To most, all these religions lead to God or a high power of consciousness. It doesn’t matter which one you choose, as long as you are sincere in the worldview you are committed to and you are happy and it makes you feel good and comfortable. This is the road Jesus commanded all not to enter because it leads to destruction. A loving and sober warning by our Lord. Most of these religions are aberrant, and do not resemble the truth at all, but the most dangerous and subtle of all falsehood is the false Christian prophet and teacher.

What makes him so dangerous?

Because he preaches in the pulpit week after week, month after month, year after year, decade upon decade. He is sometimes well trained in Biblical theology and perhaps has a degree from a prestigious Bible College. His messages are dynamic, uplifting, positive, and charged with hope.  He is charismatic, charming, a singer with a wonderful voice. A worship leader. Giving, visits the sick, and imprisoned, clothes the naked, feeds the hungry. A faith healer, one who claims to heal the sick and cast out demons. A modern day apostle. After that impressive resume’ someone would ask, “So what is his problem? Certainly he is a man of God with all those credentials?”

All of his deeds does come from an unconverted heart. He is a modern day Pharisee who only desires the praise of men. Instead of being a humble servant of the Lord, he is a servant of himself. His works are a monument and shrine to feed his massive ego. He is on the destructive broad road and is duped, and tragically, those that listen, and follow his falsehood are duped with him. He appears to be a minister of righteousness when he a child of the devil (II Cor 11:15). He is self-righteous, and does not desire the righteousness that comes from God. He can do it own his on. When he faces the Lord in judgment, He will tell him, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you that practice lawlessness or iniquity” (Matt 7:23).

Here is the sad part, some of these false teachers are sincere yet self-deceived. Others are just wolves in Shepherd’s clothing not sparing the flock (Acts 20:29). They are deceivers on purpose ripping the body of Christ apart through false teaching.

Why is someone who appears to be righteous on his or her way to hell? Because they did not do the will of the Father (Matt 7:21). It is not those who say and agree to God’s word that are heaven bound, it is only those that do the will of God. As James says, “Only the doer is blessed” (James 1:25). Going through a bunch of religious activities does not mean a person is saved and on his way to heaven.  A person that once again is broken in spirit, aware of their wretchedness, and hates their sin is the one who will receive mercy from God. Now of course this transformation can only occur if someone is teaching the true word of God. False teachers will never do that. They teach for selfish gain, not for God’s glory.

The road to heaven is not easy because it is a narrow path, hemmed in on both sides. Yes salvation is a free gift of God’s grace, something we can never earn. But, that does not mean that our walk with God will not cost us anything in this life. We should be prepared and expect difficulty in this temporary life of sin. Why? We have enemies in this life: the devil, this world’s system, and our own unredeemed mortal flesh fighting against us.  When we said yes to Jesus, we declared war on hell! We cannot just glibly say, “I believe in Jesus”, sit on our hands, and say we are saved. That is cheap grace and easy-believism. True Christians are fervent, and active in their service to God bearing fruit with joy (John 15:16; Gal 5:22-23).

The Christian life is not for cowards. It is a life of faith and obedience to God and his commands. Like the apostles we should be joyful when we suffer shame for the sake of Jesus Christ (Acts 5:41). Are you willing to do this? If not, then you are on the broad road that leads to destruction. Repent now and go through the narrow gate that leads to life and peace for that is true salvation.

                                                                     

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[1] Jesus was not advocating actually hating one’s family. He was using exaggerated language to drive home His point. We should be so totally devoted to the cause of Christ that all other relationships in one’s life must be secondary, and in a sense hated by comparison to that of our Lord. Jesus HAS to be first in our lives or we cannot follow Him at all.