Am I Going to Heaven?

Another great family vacation is in the books.  We traveled to Florida for a week of rest and recreation - one of our favorite destinations.  We decided not to drive this time, as that road trip takes around 20 hours.  With three kids and no guarantee of good weather, I thought it best to fly.  Air travel means airport security of course, and my heart actually goes out to all of the TSA folks that work the gate.  It is their difficult job to assess, search, and double-check each person's luggage and carry-on bag before they can board.

In our situation, we took pains to make certain that anything like liquid or toothpaste was stored in a bag that would be checked in the luggage compartment of the plane.  As we went through the process of taking off our shoes, placing everything we owned in little gray crates on a conveyor belt, and walking through a metal detector ... I noticed that my daughter's bag had been sectioned off for additional hand searching.

She noticed this as well, and immediately began to panic.  She politely pinched the sleeve of my shirt and said, "Ummm Dad, they have my bag."

Sure enough, one of the TSA agents was shuffling through her carry-on.  The item responsible for flagging the X-ray scanner turned out to be a small cylinder of liquid perfume.  This is dangerous for everyone on board the airplane apparently (read into my skepticism here), and so they asked us what we wanted to do.  She could either go back upstairs to the terminal and check the item, or throw it away.  

We told her we would buy her another one when we got home, so the decision was made to discard the perfume.  The agent winged it into the trash can with a loud 'clunk' sound right in front of us.  It was a tense walk to our gate from that point on.

It forced me to think about some things however.  That feeling of wondering whether or not we were 'good enough' to make it through security that day translates well into the spiritual arena I think.  How many people wonder if they are good enough for God?  How many wonder quietly to themselves, "I hope I'm good enough to get into Heaven someday."

It's an honest question for a thoughtful person, and it deserves some attention.  Many groups throughout history have pondered it.  Many have tried to live by what I call the 'Graceless Gospel' for example.  The idea that you must earn your way to heaven based on good works and proper moral living all on your own.  That we have to be continually obedient to God and live relatively good lives, and then God will stamp us with the Approved stamp.

Or how about using grace as fire insurance for salvation?  In other words: I will live however I want to, and then claim the blood of Jesus on my deathbed.  Based on this philosophy, any liar, cheat, or sociopath can be perfectly confident of their salvation - as long as they say the sinner's prayer at the very end, right?  Here there is an overabundance of assurance based on a misunderstanding of how both faith and good works go together.

Some have also claimed holiness by association.  In other words, because they have an uncle, parent, or friend who is a pastor or deacon for example ... God's gift of atonement will somehow rub off on them as well.  They don't need to go to church or accept Jesus personally, but rely solely on the relationship with that other person in order to get the spiritual job done.

And finally there exists a fallacy that we will have 'plenty of time' to decide what to do about Jesus.  The idea that I will live out my twenties or thirties happily doing and living however I want to at the time, and then when I am eighty-five years old and in poor health, then I will come to God.  If only we were all lucky enough to live eighty-five years on this planet, that method might work.  But of course, no one knows how much time they really have.

All of these strategies have one thing in common.  They still allow the seed of doubt to sneak in.  "Am I really good enough?"  "Will God really accept me when it's my time?"  They all neglect the personal component of a relationship with Jesus.

Let us examine for a moment, Philippians 2:12.  It says, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."

Upon first reading this passage, one might conclude that we should all be scared to death when dealing with God.  But I believe once we rightly divide this Scripture based on other places in the Bible, we can be confident that it really means we ought to simply be mindful and determined when we think about eternal salvation, in a way that shows reverence and awe for God.  Typically in the Bible when Scripture talks about the fear of the Lord, it refers to being respectful and obedient.  Not to be fearful the way that people are afraid of a burglar, or afraid that something bad might happen to them.  

The good news here, is that those sixty-six books in the Bible weave together a poetic story line that shows us exactly how we can have an assurance in our eternal state.  An assurance without having to wonder or be nervous.

Take for example something often known as the Roman Road to Heaven.  It is a simple guide - constructed of short Scripture passages from the book of Romans - that outlines how you and I might become born again.  It goes something like the following.  All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).  God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ dies for us (Rom 5:8).  The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23).  [Therefore] if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Rom 10:9).  [So then] everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom 10:13).

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord.

Thanks to the apostle Paul, servant of God, for laying this out so succinctly for us.  It applied to people two-thousand years ago, and it applies to us today.  And it leads us inexorably in my opinion, to this fantastic truth from Romans 8:1-2, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

It appears (gratefully), that God no longer holds our sins against us if we have Jesus in our lives.  In fact, if we have traveled the Roman Road to Heaven, we actually can have assurance.  We need not wonder all the time whether or not we are good enough.  The walk through the TSA airport security station will be a piece of cake.  In fact, we can skip that check all together, and take the narrow side door straight onto the concourse.

Later in our vacation, after we got to our resort to check in, I couldn't help but overhear a conversation between a young couple and the front desk attendant.  Apparently the hotel had no record of their reservation.  The computer system wasn't cooperating that day.  I could see the look of desperation on their faces as the clerk tried to assure them that things would probably be okay.  Who knows how many miles they had traveled to get there.  Did they have to go through airport security also?

I would much rather have my Roman Road reservation intact, with an assurance that in Christ Jesus, there is no longer any condemnation.  To be certain that God is there for me, in ways that I cannot understand or quite yet fathom this side of heaven.  In ways that lead me successfully through the confusion of this world, and into His waiting arms on my last day.  Doesn't this sound like a better way to travel?



.

Keeping Pace with God

Everyone loves a good story.  Churches especially love a story about a dramatic religious experience I think.  These types of things often sell books, draw crowds, and make for some compelling testimony.  In certain denominations in fact, people have trouble believing you are born again, unless you can recount something dramatic and noteworthy.  

But what about people who have a far less adventurous story to tell about their faith?  What about those of us who haven't had to face the threat of martyrdom, or the dramatic impact of an immediate conversion?

I would like to discuss two kinds of experiences that I think people have when it comes to an interaction with God.  Many have heard the saying that John or Jane Doe had a 'Road to Damascus' conversion when it came to the faith.  But what does this really mean?  If we look at Acts 9, we see the story of Saul's encounter with the real Jesus.

Acts 9:1-7 says, "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.  I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”  The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.  Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.  For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything."


We see here that Saul (who would later become the apostle Paul) had a miraculous, dramatic encounter with God's son.  Not only did it blind him for three days, but it forced him to re-think everything he thought he knew about being zealous for God's justice.  We know that later, Paul goes on to become one of the pillars of the church - delivering the Good News to the Gentile nation as an ambassador for the true Jesus.  

His story would have made a great sermon.  It would have drawn crowds ... it would have sold books.  Unfortunately, it also eventually landed him in prison.  Sometimes this is what happens.

Moving back a bit now to the Gospel of Luke, we read about two men who had an entirely different experience when it came to knowing the Lord.  Luke 24 recounts the story which has become familiar to us as the account of the 'Walk to Emmaus.'  

Luke 24:13-19 says, "Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”  They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”  “What things?” he asked.  "About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people."


So here we have an example of two people with a long trip ahead of them - the seven mile journey gave them plenty of time to think and talk.  Some translations of the Scriptures say that they 'reasoned together.'  Even after Jesus appears to them on the road, it is by way of a soft, inquisitive pronouncement.  No flashes of lightening or deep, booming voices here.  An entirely different experience than Saul had while traveling to Damascus.

I believe many who have come to God, know Him in this manner.  Perhaps they have studied His ways quietly over decades.  Maybe they were raised in the church since they were children.  Whatever the method, it is clear that God's drastic treatment of Saul is not necessary for everyone.  The faith journey can also be contemplative and reflective as well. 

At this point some may feel a question looming.  "So which way is better" they might wonder.  A strange question really, in terms of its content.  It suggests that God's treatment of one person or group of people may be somehow worse than His treatment of another.  As if it were up to you and I to make a proper judgment here regarding the best way to get saved.

I think it is fairly clear, that either way is edifying.  Whichever type of testimony you have to tell (whether it would sell books or sell hearts) is worth telling.  And the fact of the matter is, if God performed a miracle in your life and delivered you from the surrounding world to set you apart for the faith; He probably wants you to repeat it to other people.

Chances are, you will not end up in prison like Paul, and that is okay.  Someone out there still needs to hear what you have to say.  They need to hear your dramatic conversion, or your walk to Emmaus.  

But the last thing I wish to discuss is more disturbing.  What if your experience with God was neither the flash of lightening or the pleasant walk?  What if you are showing up to church out of obligation only?  What if you can recount every piece of local church history, but you don't really know Jesus?

The Bible is clear that in order to enter the narrow gate and become heaven-bound, we must be born again of water and the spirit.  We must be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We must truly know Him ... not just know about Him.  No two conversion experiences are exactly alike, but there must be an experience. 

I am often reminded of John 14:6.  It says, "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

So simple, isn't it?  There is no other method of atonement offered to humankind except through the Son of God.  You will not find your salvation in Buddha, Mohammad, Oprah, Dr. Oz, or even the Pope.  It is Jesus only who saves.

I love talking to people about their experiences.  I often hear a version of either the Road to Damascus, or the Walk to Emmaus.  But always, God seems to tailor that experience to be exactly what the person needed at the time they needed it.  God is sovereign, that is what He does.

We need not worry so much about keeping pace with our creator; He will find us when it's time.  But I do think we need to listen for Him, and open ourselves up to what He has to say to us.  And this can be a daily regimen.  It means praying, looking, and hearing what the Spirit has to say to our hearts.  

And when Jesus does speak to you ... please listen.  If you hear that knock on the door, let Him in.  We have the choice not to of course, that is our prerogative.  But what a testimony we end up with when we decide to walk together with the Father of Lights.



.