Are you carrying around a heavy conscience brooding about eternity, convinced that you're the kind of ungodly character to whom the gates of prardise will be forever barred? Then read on, I have encouraging news for you!
On the authority of God's unerring Word, I can tell you that He never inteded Heaven to be the home of a mutual-admiration society of self-righteous souls who get past the pearly portals on the basis of their clean record here on earth. Will you look with me into His holy Book so that together we may learn the truth?
"Not by works for righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us...not of works, lest any man should boast...these are they which...have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:9, Revelation 7:14).
On the basis of God's own testimony to men, I am pleased to inform you that the golden streets of the eternal city were paved to accommodate the feet of vile, deceitful, corrupt, self-seeking men and women just like you and me.
Dear friend, waste no envy on those who will attempt to enter into that city by virtue of their good works, their supposed piety, their church membership or baptism-in short, on the basis of their "outward appearance." The Bible says that such a hope is an empty one, "for all have sinned" (Romans 3:23), and the punishment for each sin, any sin, every sin is the same-eternal separation from a Holy God, "for the wages of sin is [eternal] death" (Romans 6:23)!
Confusing? No, let me tell you how really simple it is. In the sight of a sin-hating God, in view of His perfect holiness, are you ready to admit that on your own merits you are doomed? Are you really and truly, hopelessly guilty before God? Do you acknowledge yourself to be not good enough for Heaven? Are you deserving only of God's wrath?
Wonderful! If such is your plight, then even at this moment you are drawing close to the door to His kingdom!
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS...
Lift up your eyes for a moment, my friend. Turn them toward the pitiful, bleeding figure upon the cross of Calvary. This is no fairy tale. This story is no product of the imagination of ancient religious men. This man who is dying is Jesus, "declared to be the Son of God with power" (Romans 1:4). He is suffering there because you and I are guilty, and because the penalty of sin must be paid.
He is not working out some magical formula by which the religious hypocrites who claim to know Him will be saved from judgment. He is doing "business" once and for all in the matters of sin, death, and eternal punishment. Jesus is dying in your place and in mine! When this terrible hour is finished, when the debt has been paid in full, He wraps all He has done in the full authority of Heaven by returning from the dead, victor forever over sin and all its eternal consequences.
Will you not claim Him as your own Savior? He has promised that whoever shall call upon Him-no matter how deep in sin they may be-will be saved. "Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life...whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (John 3:16, Romans 10:13).
He has sworn that all who truly trust in Him will be made fit for Heaven. This is the reason I'm able to tell you today that Heaven is for bad people-acknowledged sinners like you and me-who turn to Jesus in faith to receive at His good hand the forgiveness and new life He has promised.
Claim it today!