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Many individuals hold the belief that salvation alone guarantees entry into heaven. However, one of Jesus' teachings shows us that without humility, you cannot enter His kingdom (Matthew 18:1-5).
If lack of humility can prevent us from entering heaven, what else can?
You might be surprised to learn that getting into hell is easier than entering heaven (Matthew 7:13-14).
In Matthew 18:3 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
When we hear a stern warning or statement like this we should never overlook and just glance over it especially since it pertains to our everlasting destiny.
Jesus cautions that without exhibiting childlike traits such as humility and meekness, and putting aside our self-importance and egos, we will not enter His kingdom. This indicates that certain behaviors can hinder us from reaching heaven.
To gain entry, one must embrace humility, acknowledging that, like young children, they must rely entirely on God for their needs and protection. It is only through genuine humility and dependence on God that one can enter His kingdom.
Admitting you need a savior requires humility
Relying on God means recognizing and accepting that we need His help. We cannot free ourselves from the shackles and captivity of sin without Christ Jesus. Only Christ can free us from the prison cells and chambers of the kingdom of darkness (Isaiah 61:1). This is why He came to set us free.
Titus 1:15 tells us that without Jesus Christ we cannot help but sin. To the pure, all things are pure, but for those who are corrupted and lack belief, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted and tainted. According to the New Living Translation, everything is pure to those with pure hearts. However, nothing is pure for those who are corrupt and unbelieving, as their minds and consciences are corrupted.
It is a guarantee that we will sin because we may not realize that we are committing sins. Even if we are aware, we might not understand the seriousness and severity behind what we are doing. And even if we do understand the gravity, failing to care about it can lead to our downfall.
Our ignorance and/or pride leads to our demise regarding sin. Although this may seem disheartening, there is hope, and that hope lies in the mercy of Jesus Christ (2 Chronicles 6:36-39). God's mercy is His love, and His love forgives us for our wrongdoings when we genuinely repent.
"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." - 1 John 3:6.
We cannot be half-hearted
The phrase "half-hearted" typically refers to an attitude or approach that lacks complete dedication, enthusiasm, or sincerity. If someone is labeled as half-hearted, it usually suggests that they are not entirely committed. We must either serve God or not; we can no longer claim to do so when we truly are not.
Besides, half-heartedness is dangerous because it prevents us from being transformed.
"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." - 1 John 3:7.
The Bible instructs, "Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16), and states, "without holiness no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14). And God has consistently been clear throughout the Bible about the requirements to enter His Kingdom.
It's impossible to "be ye holy" without the assistance of God the Holy Spirit. Therefore, once you are saved, don't stop at that point; let God transform and empower you. By allowing this transformation, you will find yourself no longer wanting or committing the sins that could prevent you from entering God's kingdom.
We must decide to obey and consider whether disobedience is worth the consequence of hell.
If Jesus did it, then we should too
Think about who Jesus is and pay attention to His qualities.
He is the highest, ruling, ultimate power, complete wisdom, all-mighty, everywhere, all-knowing God, capable of perceiving the past, present, and future all at once.
He knows the origins of life and its conclusion and has the power to change situations according to His will.
He can transform hearts and orchestrate events according to His desire and timing.
He is indomitable and eternally victorious.
Jesus is holy, just, righteous, glorious, and awe-inspiring. His mere whisper can humble us and bring us to our knees, and no one can outwit or fully comprehend Him.
He is an eternal being and we are insignificant in His presence, unable to fully grasp His essence.
This description of Jesus only scratches the surface of His being, as He is incomprehensible, beyond human understanding. But despite His grandeur, magnificence and all that He is, observe and pay attention to how Jesus behaves.
He humbled Himself and submitted to human authority, even though He is the Creator. Jesus endured disrespect, defamation, rejection, slander, false accusations, hatred, and betrayal without flaunting His power (Matthew 26:53) or seeking self-glorification (John 8:54). He willingly obeyed the Holy Spirit, following instructions without obtaining dominion or establishing His own laws (John 14:10), despite being a King. Jesus never felt the need to assert His identity out of pride or insecurity.
Jesus, despite being God, demonstrated humility and showed no desire for fame, praise, or elevation from people (John 6:15, 7:4-6). He did not seek power or status (John 8:50). Most importantly, He consistently acknowledged God the Father, obeyed God's timing, and awaited the moment when He would be glorified and crowned king (John 7:4-6, 17:1; 12:16, 23, 28; 13:31)...Despite being popular, Jesus chose to operate discreetly and avoid public attention until the appointed time (John 7:4-6). An excerpt from "The Price of Fame"
Just as Jesus, who is God by nature, chose not to exploit His equality with God for His own benefit (Philippians 2:6), He willingly took on the form of a servant when He came in human form, appearing like any other man. He humbled Himself and obeyed to the point of death, even death on a cross for our sake (Philippians 2:8), we should behave in the same manner. We should follow His example and humble ourselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, ensuring our entry into the kingdom of heaven (Philippians 2:5; Matthew 18:3).
Teachable
Jesus exemplified a teachable spirit, which requires humility. A teachable individual is open to learning. When someone believes they know everything or refuses to accept guidance, they lack teachability and humility, displaying pride instead. To truly follow Christ's example, we must be humble.
Humility should be ingrained in our character. Being reserved or quiet does not necessarily mean a person is humble or that it's their disposition, as some individuals who are quiet may still be prideful. Instead, humility is an attitude of the heart. And whatever resides in the heart will eventually emerge and manifest, drawing in similar behaviors.
In the realm or kingdom of darkness, one evil malevolent spirit attracts and draws in other evil spirits. For instance, jealousy lures envy, greed invites manipulation, addictions bring about perversions, and so on.
It is the same with the kingdom of God. Because you operate in the spirit of love, you will attract the spirit of gentleness, goodness, kindness, self-control, humility, patience, tolerance, forbearance, forgiveness, toleration, goodness, joy, and peace.
Let us inquire of God and ask Him to reveal to us anything within ourselves that are hindering our entry into heaven. Contrary to what most people may believe, a lot of people will not enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 7:13-14). Numerous individuals think they are bound for heaven, but in reality, they are headed towards hell.
Many people have been misled by the enemy into believing that their salvation is enough. However, the Bible clearly states that unless you follow His commands (Matthew 7:21), even if you have acknowledged Him as Lord (the ruler) and Savior (the protector) of your life, you will not gain entry into His kingdom (Matthew 7:22-23).
Being saved is not enough!
Being saved is the first and very crucial step, as without it, there is no hope. However, just like any other place where you are now a citizen, there are rules that must be followed, and similar to those nations, if you violate any rules, you become a lawbreaker and must face the consequences. And God's kingdom is no different.
The term "kingdom" not only means territory but also the authority and reign of a king. Christians have been set free from the dominion of evil and darkness and now belong to the loving reign of King Jesus (Colossians 1:13-14). Therefore, we must abide by what God tells us in His Word about how we should live and if we don't, we will not enter His domain.
It says in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
Then Ephesians 5:5 says, "For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God."
And Galatians 5:19-21 says, "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
God desires that none of us should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 18:14).
The Bible continues to tell us, "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8).
If God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell, binding them in chains of gloomy darkness until judgment; if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood upon its ungodly inhabitants; if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by reducing them to ashes, making them an example of what will happen to the ungodly: we will not be spared either (2 Peter 2:4-6; Matthew 10:28).
Ultimately, if you are not righteous, you will face eternal punishment either upon death or when God returns (Matthew 25:46).
"The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate." - Proverbs 8:13.
The Kingdom of heaven is vast, it has endless discoveries that will last forever. Yet, to enter the kingdom, one must follow the rules.
As believers, we dwell in the kingdom of heaven because wherever God is, His kingdom is also present. If God resides within us, His kingdom is there as well. Therefore, just as the culture is in heaven, you should be living in the same way here on earth.
It should spark our curiosity to know what the kingdom is all about. This ensures that whatever exists or occurs in heaven should also exists in our own lives.
We should be refusing to live any less. We should refute and not accept any conditions we are experiencing here on earth contrary to how it is in heaven. If not, we are living out of order. Your tribune being: body, soul, and spirit should be in sync.
Like Jesus we should be humble, meek, and lowly (Proverbs 16:19), because the Lord dislikes intensely an arrogant heart or nature, and rest assure they will not go unpunished (Proverbs 16:5). "All that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:16).
And who is it that governs, influences, and deceives the world? The devil. But thankfully, God is the one who has ultimate authority over all things, including Satan.
It says,
"Don't you know? Haven't you heard? Hasn't it been clear since the time of creation? God is the one who rules the whole earth, and we that live here are merely insects. He spread out the heavens like a curtain or an open tent. God brings down rulers and turns them into nothing. They are like flowers freshly sprung up and starting to grow. But when God blows on them, they wilt and are carried off like straw in a storm. The holy God asks, “Who compares with me? Is anyone my equal?” - Isaiah 40:21-25
Behavior in the End Times
We are living in the times of 2 Timothy 3:1-5 which says, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."
If the Bible advises us to avoid individuals with such qualities, the kingdom of heaven does the same.
Are you a sheep or a goat?
Matthew 25:31-46...
“When the Son of Man arrives in his glory, accompanied by all the angels, he will take his seat on his majestic throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will divide the people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will address those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the world's creation. For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you visited me.’
“The righteous will then respond, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will turn to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not care for me.’
“They too will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
“He will answer, ‘Truly I say to you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Unpleasant truth
The reality is this, if you cannot enter the kingdom of God and His love then the only option is the kingdom of Satan, hell, darkness, hate, pain, suffering, and no hope. God warns us throughout the Bible on what we must and mustn't do to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
There are choices we make in life that if we make the wrong one, we can recover, have the situation reverse, and have hope. However, there are decisions that, once made, are final, irreversible and cannot be undone. Death and our eternal destination are among those decisions and fall into this category.
Lack of humility and sin is the reason why God said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14).
So, turn from your immoral ways, repent, and live the life God commissions us to live. And ask God to help you, because if you don't, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Luke 13:3).
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A call for salvation
When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, His spirit will become one with yours. This is one of the greatest blessings of salvation. You don't have to go through someone else to get to God, as you and Him are now one.
All you must do is receive salvation, simply choosing to repent of your sins and welcome Jesus into your life by confessing Him as Lord. Believe in your heart that He came from Heaven, died for your sins, was resurrected, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father (Romans 10:9).
Sinner's prayer: "Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into my heart and life, in Jesus' name, Amen. Ref. Wikipedia
After this step, pray for guidance to find a ministry where you can grow spiritually, gain knowledge about the kingdom, and begin living the abundant life promised by Jesus.
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