“Truly I tell you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. » Matthew 18:3 KJV
As we live in a time where end-time prophecies seem to be fulfilled in rapid succession, the question comes to mind: Will we make it to heaven on Judgment Day?
“Not everyone who says… ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom…”
Some of us may feel wary or a little skeptical, wondering if we will be received into heaven at the appointed time.
Especially when I come across this verse:
“Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, except he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them: “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice iniquity! Matthew 7:21-23 KJV
If these people who prophesied, cast out demons, and did many wonders in Jesus’ name failed to enter heaven, how does that compare to an ordinary Christian like me?
And if faith is the prerequisite for salvation, then why were those people who believed in God severely reprimanded instead of being praised?
The key to such a question lies in the last word of the verse: “anarchy.”
These people God rebuked, even though they boasted their allegiance to God and blatantly defied His commandments. Their faith was not authentic because true faith should serve as a catalyst for a profound transformation of our inner lives, transforming us into people who reflect the character of Christ.
This is why God has called us to imitate the praiseworthy qualities that innocent children possess. It is a requirement for entering heaven.
The innocence, gentleness, humility of children and the ease with which they forgive others without hard feelings speaks volumes about their gentle and forgiving hearts. And above all, they completely lack confidence in their own abilities, a quality of which the world ardently disapproves, but which nevertheless finds favor in the eyes of God.
Make no mistake, self-confidence is not bad if our choices and actions are based on wisdom. But God delights in a man who depends solely on the good will of the Lord for his livelihood, fearing to trust in his own wisdom to manage his life.
Just like a child who relies on his parents for survival, the Lord also wants us to depend on Him and consult Him in every decision we make, whether in times of abundance or adversity. For what? Because entrusting our lives to God is a reflection of humility as well as deep trust and deference to our Creator.
As it is written: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.” » Hebrews 11:6 KJV
Faith and good works
Faith must also go hand in hand with good works. As it is written:
“What good is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and deprived of daily food, and one of you says to him, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and satisfied,’ but you do not give them the things that are necessary for the body, what good does that profit? So also faith itself, if it has not works, is dead. James 2:14-17 KJV
So, if we profess our faith in God while continuing to be trapped in sin without shame or fear of repercussions, then our faith lacks sincerity at its core.
Matthew 7:21 (NKJV) said, “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father in heaven. »
And John 14:15 (NKJV)) said: “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. »
The Spirit of God can only work powerfully in our lives if our faith in God is genuine and comes from the heart, free from any trace of deception or pretense. Then, resisting sins will not be as difficult since the Spirit of God prompts us to do what is good and right in His eyes.
Given this, should we need to be morally perfect to enter heaven?
No, not at all, because no one is perfect except God alone. God understands that we are powerless and predisposed to succumb to our fallen nature. This is why He sent us the Messiah because we cannot go to heaven on our own.
However, once we have been redeemed by Christ, we can no longer use our fallen nature as an excuse to fall into the mire of sin, for once we receive Jesus as Savior, the Spirit of God empowers us, directing our steps along the path of righteous living.
We may still stumble from time to time, but the Spirit enables us to rise above our iniquities and not continue to commit sins that are blatantly inconsistent with God’s teachings.
But although we are humans, prone to sin, the Lord requires that we strive toward holiness by putting on the full armor of God so that we can resist the devious plans of the enemy.
“For I am the LORD your God; therefore consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am holy. » Leviticus 11:44 KJV
As with any relationship, our affinity with Spirit requires a collaborative effort to ensure a desirable outcome.
As Jesus once said, “The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). This statement means that we must also do our part, allowing the Holy Spirit to saturate our being, yielding our desires and longings to what God envisions for our lives.
Walk and live in the Spirit
As moral depravity becomes a norm in many liberal societies, Christians must be a beacon. And to be a light in this increasingly dark world, we must strive to walk and live in the Spirit.
“Then I say, walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with one another, so that you cannot do as you will. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18 NIV
We must serve as a light both to unbelievers and to other believers. Because by doing so, we will inspire each other to live a life of obedience. So we must denounce sin when a fellow believer hesitates, but we must do so in a spirit of gentleness. This isn’t about being self-righteous, it’s about calling out sin for what it is. God rebukes us when we judge others, but we are encouraged to correct one another so that we do not stray from God’s path, thereby preventing sin from wreaking havoc in our lives.
And as our time on earth draws to a close as prophecies of world upheaval unfold in a steady stream, let us remember what Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV): “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have desired its appearing.”
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