Can You Get To Heaven From Here?
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by Allen Webster
"Excuse me, can you give me directions to heaven?" Most, pointing upward, would answer, "It's up there."
Actually, to get to heaven one must go down (into the waters of baptism, Acts 8:38), then up (out of baptism, Rm. 6:4), and proceed forward (on the Christian racetrack, Heb. 12:1; Phil. 3:13,14).
As teenagers begin life's trek, many feel that heaven is some out-of-the-way, far-away, inaccessible place. It is a vague, fuzzy, mysterious place that grandparents and preachers talk about, but is not worthy of real attention during the years of youth. However, God said, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth..." (Ecc. 12:1; cf. 2 Tim. 4:12).
CAN YOU GET TO HEAVEN FROM HERE?
YES! … BECAUSE OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST.
Jesus' love made our trip to heaven possible. He gave up heaven (for a time), that we might enjoy it (forever). "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" ( 2 Cor. 8:9).
He died that we might live. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rm. 5:8). He demonstrated love that we might know the unknowable (Eph. 3:19).
He loves us and wants us to come live with Him (John 14:1-3). That is why we can go to heaven. Thus, "We love him, because he first loved us" (1 Jn. 4:19).
CAN YOU GET TO HEAVEN FROM HERE?
YES! … BY OBEYING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
Jesus gave a plan by which sins might be forgiven. Sin is the only thing that will keep us from heaven (Rev. 21:27), and since all sin (1 Jn. 1:9), we must all obey (Heb. 5:9).
To enter the road to heaven, one must ford the waters of baptism (Mk. 16:16). This entrance is further restricted to those mature enough to understand the Gospel (John 6:44,45), convinced enough to strongly believe in Christ (Jn. 8:24), convicted enough to forsake a sinful lifestyle (Lk. 13:3), and courageous enough to publicly confess faith in Christ (Rm. 10:9,10).
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the lamb? WHY NOT TODAY?
CAN YOU GET TO HEAVEN FROM HERE?
YES! … BY BEING A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.
When Jesus comes back, He is taking only those to heaven whom He has added to His church (Acts 2:47; 1Cor. 15: 20-24). He only has one (Mt. 16:18; Eph. 4:4). Sadly, there will be many surprised people on Judgment Day who thought they were right, but were mistaken (Mt. 7:21-23). Every false church will then be uprooted and destroyed (Mt. 15:13). For this reason, it is important to become a member of the church you can read of in the Bible (cf. Rm. 16:16).
One becomes a member of the church of Christ when he is baptized (Gal. 3:26,27) and remains in it as long as he lives as Jesus commands. This includes worshipping correctly (Jn. 4:24) and regularly (Heb. 10:25), working for Christ (Jn. 9:4), having Christ's disposition (Phil. 2:5) and being molded into the image of Christ (Gal. 4:19).
Are you a member of Christ's church?
CAN YOU GET TO HEAVEN FROM HERE?
YES! … BY FORSAKING THE WORLD FOR CHRIST.
Two masters are competing for our affections--Satan and Christ. No heart is big enough for both (Mt. 6:24). Only those who forsake the world (Satan's domain) can go to heaven (1 Jn. 2:15-17). This means we must deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world (Tit. 2:12). It means we are not conformed to this world but transformed into His image (Rm. 12:2) and have crucified selfish desires (Gal. 2:20). No one can go to heaven who practices worldliness. Popular worldly sins include: drinking (Eph. 5:18), fornication (Heb. 13:4), dancing (Gal. 5:19-21), immodest dress (1 Tim. 2:9), drugs (Rm. 6:13) and covetousness (Col. 3:5).
Giving up worldly pleasures is such a small price to pay for heaven's joys. God gets no pleasure in saying "no"--He does so only for our good: "...no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psa. 84:11). We must love Him and trust His judgment.
Have you given up the world for Christ?
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BE WITH CHRIST...
It is not easy to walk the lane marked "life" (Mt. 7:13), but it is possible (Phil. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:6-8). Only those who expend strenuous effort will make it beyond the pearly gates (Lk. 13:24). It is worth giving all that we have (Mt. 13:46).
Is your heart set on going to heaven? If you died tonight, would you go there? Are you packed and ready to leave? YOU CAN GET TO HEAVEN FROM HERE!
Get-Together
Where: Tim & Penny Simmons
When: Monday, May 30th
Time: Noon
Sign up sheet in foyer
GHANA CAMPAIGN 2005
July 7 - August 3
Campaigners:
Tampa …
Ted Wheeler,
Renee Wheeler,
Trisha Wheeler (FHU),
Troy Wheeler (SS),
David Stearsman (FSOP),
Christopher Brush (FHU),
Tanika Skaggs (SS),
Keith Sabiel,
Tammy Sabiel,
Theodore Thompson
Nashville …
Martha Waggoner (FHU),
Elizabeth Riley (FHU)
Raleigh…
Scott Bosworth,
Lauren Bosworth (SS),
Kristen Bosworth (SS),
Michael Bishop,
Candace Bertini, Maxwell Bertini (SS)
Ghana …
Ernest Apeadu,
Paul Addo,
Matilda Addo,
George Amuasi,
Edward Owusu-Ansah,
Emmanuel Cobbinah,
Niipaak Laar
Tentative Schedule:
- Th 07 (July) Depart USA
- Fr 08 Arrive Accra
- Sa 09 Youth Meeting
- Su 10 Worship / area churches
- Mo 11 Travel: Tema to Yendi @12 hrs
- Tu 12 Travel: Yendi to Bunkpurugu @3 1/2 hrs
- We 13 Visit Schools, PM: Gbatimong
- Th 14 Mobile Clinic at Gbatimong, PM: Preaching
- Fr 15 Mobile Clinic (new village), PM: Public Preaching
- Sa 16 PM: Public Preaching
- Su 17 Worship / Gbatimong and area churches
- Mo 18 Travel: Bunkpurugu to Yendi @3 1/2 hrs
- Tu 19 Travel: Yendi to Mole @8 hrs
- We 20 Mole
- Th 21 Travel: Mole to Tema @11 hrs
- Fr 22 Accra
- Sa 23 Early group depart for USA
- Su 24 Worship / area churches, Early group arrive in USA
- Mo 25-28 Eastern Region
- Fr 29 Elmina & Kakum
- Sa 30 Visit Village of Hope
- Su 31 Group departs
- We 03 (August) Arrive in USA
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LADIES CLASS
Will resume in the fall.
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