Getting Into Heaven By Richard L. Ward |
We all have our own idea of what the most important thing is in life. In the children’s book by
Kenneth Grahame, Wind in the Willows, the River Rat told the Mole that he thought that
messing around in boats was the most important thing. “Believe me, my young friend, there is
nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in
boats…Nothing seems really to matter, that’s the charm of it. Whether you get away, or
whether you don’t; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere
else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you’re always busy, and you never do anything
in particular.”
I do enjoy messing about in boats, but I know it is not the most important thing in life. Jesus
told a parable about what the most important thing is. In Matt 13:44, Jesus said the kingdom of
heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his
joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” I n Matt 13:45-46 Jesus said “Again, the
kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great
value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” In these two parables we are
told that getting into heaven is the thing of greatest value in life. Indeed, in Matthew 6:33, Jesus
said “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” We all know we should do the most important thing
first in any situation. In Matt 7:7-8, Jesus said "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you
will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who
seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” So if we seek the way into heaven, we
are promised that we will find it.
The way to get into heaven is not difficult to find. Jesus said it very clearly. He said “I am the
way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”{ John 14:6) This
verse not only tells us that Jesus is the way into heaven, but it says there is no other way.
Buddhism won’t get you there. Mohammed won’t get you there. Beatles won’t get you there.
Pretty girls won’t get you there. Drugs won’t get you there. Wine won’t get you there.
Mercedes Benz won’t get you there. Yoga won’t get you there. C. S. Lewis has noted that the
unfortunate thing about taking the wrong path is that it not only doesn’t take you to your
destination, but it takes you farther away from the place you desire.
In Luke 7:28, Jesus said: “Among those born of women, there is no one greater than John, yet
he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Jesus said that John drank no wine
and ate no bread and was more than a prophet (Luke 7: 26-33). Even though he was the most
righteous of men, he was lower than the lowest member of God’s kingdom. We must
conclude that the road of our own righteousness is a very difficult road to follow. It might get us
to the mountain of God, but we would still be far from the summit.
Another righteous man was described in Matt 19: 16-26. The man told Jesus he had kept all of
the commandments since his youth. Jesus told him to give everything to the poor and to follow
Him, but the man would not give up his possessions. Jesus told the disciples that, “it is easier
for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
The disciples were exceedingly amazed that the man’s possessions could keep him out of
heaven. They asked, “ Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied that, “with men this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Some people have proposed an archaeological interpretation of this teaching by saying there
was a door through a gate into the city of Jerusalem called the eye of the needle, and that the
Lord must have meant that gate, and not a sewing needle. This is appealing because most of
us have some amount of money which we would prefer not to give away. Since getting a camel
through the eye of a sewing needle is impossible, the implication is that it is impossible for
most of us to enter the kingdom. We don’t want to believe that it is impossible for us to get into
the kingdom. Getting a camel through a door in a gate through the wall around Jerusalem
seems easier to imagine that the impossible act of putting a camel through the eye of a
sewing needle.
However, since the disciples were exceedingly astonished by what Jesus said, and since the
Lord said it was impossible, I believe that the literal interpretation is correct. I believe that He
meant that it was harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom than it was for a camel to go
through the eye of a sewing needle.
In his commentary on these verses, Charles Spurgeon notes that the rich young ruler first
addressed Jesus as Good Master, and Jesus replied that there is none good except God. The
message is that only God is truly righteous. Then the young ruler persisted and asked which
commandments he must keep. Jesus highlighted the commandment “Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself” by quoting the second tablet of the law first. If the rich man loved the poor
as much as himself, how could he not share his wealth? If he did not keep this
commandment, then he was not truly as righteous as he believed. The implication is that it is
impossible to be rich and to be righteous at the same time.
I believe that the real point of this teaching is that God had to give his only begotten Son as a
sacrifice to enable any of us to enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3:16). When Jesus said,
“with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” he was referring to his own
sacrifice on the cross, which was to redeem those who believed in Him. Without his sacrifice it
was impossible for most men to have any hope of entering heaven. The rich young ruler was
not righteous enough. Even John the Baptist was beneath the least person in heaven.
Through his sacrifice, God would accomplish what was impossible for men to achieve on their
own merit. A man must humble himself and ask for the mercy of God to enter the kingdom.
When we accept the literal interpretation of what Jesus said, then we realize how hopeless we
are without Him.
Jesus said “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:3).
Obviously, being poor in spirit is a very good thing. Charles Allen, the author of God’s
Psychiatry, said that we become poor in spirit when we empty ourselves of the pride in our own
accomplishments and of our own selfish desires. It is having a humble spirit. This type of
spirit was illustrated in a parable Jesus told. “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a
Pharisee, and the other a tax gatherer. The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, ’
God I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this
tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week. I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax-gatherer, standing
some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his
breast, saying ‘God be merciful to me the sinner.’ I tell you, this man went down to his house
justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who
humbles himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18: 10-13).
So, a poor, humble spirit is the first key to get into heaven. But how is that obtained? Jesus
promised that when He went to the Father He would send the Helper to us, “And He, when He
comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8).
So, we are humbled and made poor in spirit when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. We must
receive Him into our hearts so He can convict us of sin and lead us to truth and righteousness.
Jesus told Nicodemus, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God--- unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom
of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit” (John 3:
3-6).
We cannot enter the kingdom with a prideful spirit. We must receive the Holy Spirit to convict us
of sin. Otherwise, we are like the rich young ruler who believed he was righteous, when he
was not. When we are convicted by the Holy Spirit then we know we are sinners and that we
need a savior, and we can be saved by the blood Jesus shed as a sacrifice for our sins. If you
have never asked the Holy Spirit to enter your heart and to convict you of sin and lead you to
Jesus, I pray that you will do it now. Simply say, “Holy Spirit, I invite you into my heart to
convict me of sin and to lead me to Jesus Christ who will save me.”
I want to share with you what I believe to be the most beautiful words ever spoken by any man.
Hear the words of John the Baptist. “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the
world!” (John 1: 29) Can you imagine how it must have sounded! The word “Behold!” was
surely a triumphant shout. It was a thundering proclamation of an astonishing vision. The
word must be spoken like a trumpet sound. John the Baptist would not have said it quietly.
Recall that John leapt in his mother’s womb from the excitement of the presence of the Lord
when they were not yet born! When he was a man, John was a rugged man clothed in camel’s
hair who ate locusts and honey. When he said “Behold!” the sound was surely like the crack
of thunder. The next words are so sweet, they are like the sweetness of rain that pours after
the thunder and washes the earth and waters the flowers. We are told to gaze upon the
sweetness of “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
John commanded us to look upon the most glorious thing in all of creation. Think of what the
Lamb has done. The Lamb has taken away my sin, and your sin, and the sin of your dearest
family members, and the sins of all who believe in Him. Behold the Lamb of God!
I believe that John the Baptist spoke the most beautiful words ever spoken by a man, yet even
more beautiful words were spoken by Jesus, the Son of Man. Consider the beauty of these
words: “Behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
(Rev 1: 18, 19) Again we are commanded to “Behold” an amazing vision, the sight of the
Risen Savior, triumphantly holding the keys to Hell and to Death itself. Once again, the word
“Behold” must be shouted. “Behold” is a thundering command.
Then our Lord commands our attention again with these words, “Behold, I am coming quickly!
Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” (Rev 3: 11, 12) Behold! You must
open your eyes to see it. You must gaze upon and apprehend this truth. He is coming quickly.
If you are saved, hold fast to what you have. If you are not, then hear what Jesus and John both
preached. Both of them issued this command. They said “Repent, for the kingdom of God is
near.” (Mat 3: 1, 2; Mat 4: 17)
Notice that the Lord said repentance is an urgent matter. He said He is coming quickly. None
of us really know how quickly He will come for us. He told a parable about a wealthy man
whose prosperity was so great he planned to tear down his barns and build larger ones to
hold his harvest. He said the man was a fool because his life would end that very night. (Luke
12: 20) On April 25, 2008, people were waiting at Chicago Station for a subway train. Delisa
Brown was an 18 year old high-school senior. She was a straight A student and planned to go
to college. Another woman sitting on a bench waiting for the train was Elosia Guerrero. She
was engaged to be married in December. Without warning, an 18 wheeler smashed into the
station at full speed and “climbed the stairs” of the station’s north stairwell. Both Delisa and
Elosia were killed. 21 others were injured. The driver died later. We must remind ourselves of
the Lord’s words: “Behold, I am coming quickly. Repent, for the kingdom of God is near.”
Repent literally means to re-think your thoughts, feelings and actions. When you re-examine
yourself and see your sins, you ask the Lord for forgiveness and for Him to help you to have a
new heart so you will not sin again. The process of repentance and forgiveness and
transformation is described in Ezek 36:25-28: “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you
shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a
new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give
you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you
will keep My judgments and do them.” These are amazing words. It is an amazing process.
The Lord will work a miracle within you if you repent and ask His forgiveness in Jesus’ name.
Is there anything which might keep us from repentance? I am often reluctant to confront my
own shortcomings. I find it hard to admit I was wrong. I can always find reasons and
circumstances to justify my sinful thoughts, feelings and actions. My pride keeps me from
humbling myself. In the book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis calls pride “The Great Sin.” He
says that “Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in
comparison; it was through Pride that the devil became the devil; Pride leads to every other
vice; it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” Lewis goes on to say that it is impossible to
have a relationship with the true God if you have pride. “In God you come up against
something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God
as that- and, therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison – you do not know God at all.
As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on
things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something
that is above you.”
Remember that Satan tempted Eve by telling her that eating the forbidden fruit would open her
eyes and she would be like God. (Gen 3: 5) In Isaiah, Satan’s pride is described. “For you
have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I
will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” (Isa 14: 13, 14) The pride of king
Nebuchadnezzar caused God to remove his throne and reduce him to feeding on grass like the
oxen, until he repented. (Dan 5: 20, 21)
In looking for how to find humility, I found these verses in Jeremiah 9: 23. “ Let not the mighty
man glory in his might, nor the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this,
that he knows and understands Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving-kindness, judgment,
and righteousness on the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord.” If pride has kept you from
repentance, then I pray that you will join me in renouncing pride and giving glory to the Lord.
If you have not yet repented, or need to repent again, then take this moment to behold the Lamb
who hung upon the cross to take away the sins of the world. Jesus foretold His crucifixion. He
said “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3: 14, 15) He
suffered for each one of our sins. He bore the pain for each of our transgressions. Would you
do anything now which would add to his pain and suffering? Then repent and sin no more.
Sincerely ask for His forgiveness and He will say to you what he said to the thief who was
crucified with him. “you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23: 43) If we overcome sin, then He
promises that “I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of
God.” (Rev 2: 7)
But what is the Tree of Life of which we are to eat? Perhaps it is the Cross of Christ. Now
consider what Jesus told the Jews "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the
Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks
My blood has eternal life , and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed,
and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and
I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on
Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven — not as your
fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever." (John 6: 53 – 59)
But what is eating His flesh? You have just eaten His flesh by reading these Bible verses. He
is the Word and His words are His flesh and His flesh is the bread of life. We must feed upon
His words so that they can transform us into a new creation, just as a worm is transformed into
a butterfly. In Gal 2: 20, Paul tells us that “ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
But what is drinking His blood? In Matthew 26: 27-29, we are told “Then He took the cup, and
gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the
new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’” We are shown to do two
things, we must give thanks for Christ’s blood, which was shed for our sins, and we must
apply it to our sins by drinking it. All sin must be paid for with blood. He gives us his blood.
None are without sin. We must accept His blood, or pay with our own. He offers His blood to
pay for our sins, and it is a precious gift. Will you join me in loving Him and thanking Him and
asking for His forgiveness and following Him into the Kingdom of Heaven?
If we love Him, then He will know it. In John 14: 23 He says “If anyone loves Me, he will keep
My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him.
He who does not love me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but
the Father’s who sent Me.”
“Behold! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will
come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Rev 3: 20) I hear Him knocking at my
door, do you hear Him knocking at the door of your life? If you hear Him knocking and you hear
His voice, it means you are one of His sheep. If you are one of His you will follow Him, and if
you follow Him, He will give you eternal life and you will never perish. If you take His hand, no
one will ever be able to take you away from Him, because He and His Father are greater than
all others. (John 10: 27-30) If you hear Him, then invite Him into your life. Ask Him, “Lord
Jesus, please enter my heart and lead me into the Kingdom of Heaven.” Amen.
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