It’s a good thing I’m not God. There are some days when I would let everyone into Heaven. But there are other days when I wouldn’t let anyone into Heaven, no matter how saintly they are.
The criteria I use to judge people are not very objective. I try to be objective, but I have all kinds of subjective stuff included in the way I categorize people. You’re probably the same way. This is one of the reasons why Jesus told us we shouldn’t judge other people (Matthew 7:1-2). Our judgements are usually tainted in some way. We have personal agendas and opinions that get in the way. We get emotionally involved. We can’t see all sides of an issue. The motives of people’s hearts are hidden from us.
God, on the other hand, sees everything. He sees all sides of every issue. He knows the motives and intents of every heart. He always judges fairly and impartially in every case.
Based on purely objective criteria, none of us should be allowed into Heaven. That’s right, not a single one of us. We don’t like the sound of that, but deep down in our hearts we know it’s true. We know we don’t deserve it. We know we haven’t earned it.
How can God give Heaven to those who don’t deserve it? The answer is found in what his Son, Jesus Christ, has accomplished for us. Jesus Christ is the only human being who has ever lived a perfect life. So he is the only person who deserves to go to Heaven. But the Bible says, “God made him [Jesus Christ] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him [Jesus Christ] we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV). In simple terms, Jesus Christ traded places with us when he was crucified some 2,000 years ago to make it possible for us to go to Heaven.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
(John 3:17, 18, NIV)
Who of us deserves to go to Heaven? None of us. Who of us can go to Heaven? Anyone who receives God’s gift made available through Jesus Christ.
Amen and amen! Thanks for the reminder that God is not condemning but wants EVERYONE to be saved. I think many think of God waiting to just zap us all. Thank you for the reminder of His amazing love and provision for us, Jeff.
Thanks for sharing that Jeff. I know there are times when I subject how I judge my own behavior to those I encounter around me day to day. I have to step back and remember that every person is walking their own walk and that we are to set our standards individually with our eyes set on Jesus examples. Thus being examples of His light by how we live our own lives, rather than pointing fingers.