Getting Into Heaven

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Psalm 15:2 Correct Living

He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; Psalm 15:2

Standards on how to do things are set everywhere one goes. Companies, organizations, towns and even nations have some standards on what a person can and cannot do in order to be a member of that group. Some have very detailed and strict lists of standards, while others have very loose and vague lists of standards to live by. Having these sets of standards people are given the choice to follow them and be a part of the group or reject the standards and not be a part of the group.

David had asked God who may abide in His tabernacle, then proceeds to answer that through the rest of the psalm by what one must or must not do. He begins with saying the person must walk uprightly, work righteousness and speak truth.

The world believes that any person can get into heaven through any belief system the person has.

God has a set standard that is very simple, clear and complete. It begins with a repentance of sin and belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. God does not have any gray areas of standards, nor has His standards ever changed, as the world’s standards do.

Once a person believes in Jesus, the pattern of how to live is changed. God immediately expects that the believer will begin to walk uprightly, that is to live as God wants one to live in every area of one’s life.

Along with walking uprightly, the believer will also do what is right by God’s standards, no matter what the world says. And finally, the believer will speak truth in the heart. This truth is speaking what God would say and how God would say it. God does not have any gray areas of standards, nor has His standards ever changed, as the world’s standards do.

You are most likely a part of some company or organization that has some set standards you must agree to. As a member of that group, you are willing to abide by their standards. If you consider yourself a believer in Jesus Christ, you have a higher set of standards that God expects you live by.

Looking at your own life, how do you walk through this life? How do you work righteousness? And what do you speak in your heart? Are they the standards of the world? Or of God?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know how God wants you to walk your life out; that God will show you how to work righteousness; and that God will give you strength to always speak the truth.

Picture by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

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Acts 2:38 What Should You Do?

Repent

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

After the disciples had waited in Jerusalem, God had sent His Holy Spirit just as Jesus had promised. When they had received the Holy Spirit, the people started talking in tongues and the people around them were amazed. Peter told them that this is what was promised by Jesus who they had crucified. Then the people asked Peter what they should do and Peter answered for them to repent and be baptized.

All around the world there are many different views on how to get to heaven. Every religion, except Christianity, requires work to be done and then a person might get into heaven.

Jesus is the only one who does not require any works to get into heaven. Works, while very good, are not enough to get into heaven and Jesus knew that. God had it in mind to provide a way for every person to get into heaven. No person is good enough to get in by his own personal merits or works. 

When He died upon the cross, He paid the price for all the sins of every person. Jesus is able to remove all sins through forgiveness of them. He made a way for every person to be able to get into heaven.

Being saved and getting into heaven is not a difficult process. All a person needs to do is repent of his sins. That is he must be sorrowful of and turn from all his sins. He must than accept what Jesus has done for him, paid the price for the sins and removed them for all eternity.

Jesus made the way into heaven so simple that even a child can do it. He wants everyone to be saved and get into heaven. God does not want anyone to have to be sent to hell.

Take a look at your own life. Ask yourself why God should allow you into heaven. There is only one correct answer, and that is Jesus paid the price and has forgiven you of your sins.

If you cannot answer the question with that answer, seek Jesus and repent of your sins. Turn away from your sins and believe in Jesus and you shall be saved.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will repent of your sins and turn to Jesus; that you will know the forgiveness Jesus gives you; and that you will be filled with His Holy Spirit.

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Matthew 22:11-13 Wearing The Right Clothes

Matthew 22_13

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ” Matthew 22:11-13

Jesus told a parable of what the kingdom of heaven is like. The story was of a king putting on a great wedding. Many people refused to come, so he invited those on the streets to come. One man was there who did not have wedding clothes on, so the king had him thrown out.

Wearing the right clothing in very important for many jobs. Many jobs have a uniform for their employees to wear. Others just require certain types of clothing. Working in construction requires a hard hat and steel toed boots. Working in an office or school will require casual business clothing. While working in doing lawn mowing, may not require anything specific.

This type of thing is expected and accepted by most people. Very few people would argue against the required clothing.

Yet, many people argue against the clothing required to get into heaven. In order for a person to get into heaven, he must be clothed with the correct clothing. One must be clothed with the righteousness and holiness of Jesus.

It is commonly thought that anyone who claims to believe in God will get into heaven or that there are many ways to get into heaven. With these types of thoughts it means that there is no standard to get into heaven. A person can live anyway he wants and still get in. One does not have to give up sin, in order to get into heaven.

Jesus never taught that type of teaching. Jesus came to get rid of all your sin. You must put on His righteousness and live for Him. If you live with the clothing of  this world wrapped around you, God will not see Jesus in you and you will be rejected for getting into heaven.

When God or this world sees you, they should see Jesus in you. You should be clothed with Him, not with the things of this world and yourself. Put on the right clothing so that you may get into heaven.

I pray today that you will know the salvation of Jesus; that you will cloth yourself with His righteousness; that you will live differently than the world; and that the world will see Jesus in you.