I you died today, do you know for a fact that you will go to Heaven?

I must tell you that I was raised in a church they taught, once saved, always saved.  This meaning that someone could claim that “on August first of such and such of a year I was saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost.”

          Though they taught that, I never fully believed it.  How could they teach that and then turn around and warn you that you could backslide.  Let’s talk about this for a moment.  From one point of view this is not so farfetched.  Look save up in the dictionary and it says this.  Save… put aside, put away, keep, conserve and things like rescue, salvage, bail out or resuscitate.

          This seems to both support their view and at the same time question it.  When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior I was rescued from my own failures or sins.  If I follow his ways perfectly I am aside from the world.  My being is salvaged.  However, when I fail him in any way I am open to condemnation. 

          Though I am open to condemnation because of my imperfections, his love is perfect.  This means that I have been bailed out or salvaged.  I fell on my face on many occasions and he picked me up, dusted me off and set me back on my feet.  I was resuscitated.  I live for God today through Jesus but only his love can keep me from turning my back on him tomorrow and thereby throwing it all away.  This is why I do not want to take his love too much for granted.

          Now, about this visit from the pastor...  I tried to explain the above beliefs to the minister but he didn’t seem to understand.  After they left I wondered why I did not communicate my feelings better so I read the pamphlet he gave me before he left.

          It started with scripture from Hebrews 9:26… “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”  I was taught this all my life.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all true knowledge, and I believe that.  However, they never quite got around to explaining that this was only the beginning.   As you learn more, you fear him less and love him more because you know him better.  Here is another bible verse.  “There is no fear; but perfect love casteth out fear, 1 John 4:18.  If you want to understand that better, open your bible and read the whole chapter.  Better yet, read the whole bible.  The bible also tells us that we are not saved by works alone but by every word that comes from God.  Better yet, grace.

Romans 3:23… “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”  This is another quote from the booklet.  I have had Christian brothers tell me they cannot sin anymore because they are saved.  God wants us to admit our failures.  Remember the prophecy of the two men on judgment day?  The one man simply threw himself down and cried, “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.”       The second man had a list of wonders he had at least thought he had done to earn his salvation.  How disappointed he must have been when God picked up the first man and said, “Let’s eat together.”  Now I ask you, what you think this parable is telling us?  I’ll let you ponder that.

          The booklet also quotes from Romans 6:23… “For the wages of sin (What  we’ve earned) is death…” That is what put Jesus on that cross, to pay for our sin.

          Here is a quote from Psalm 25:4-7… Show me your ways, oh Lord, teach me your pats; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.  Remember, oh Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.  Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, Oh Lord.”  This is where my faith lies through Jesus Christ, the son of God.

I will leave you with one last bible quote.  The one I try to live by… “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:4-6

I will tell you what the second question of those two young men  was… “What do you think Heaven is?”  I’ll tell you what I told them.  I don’t know what Heaven is yet but I know who is there.  I’ll let you know the answer to that when I get there.

God bless you for reading this.  I pray for guidance from God and I will rely upon his wisdom.