The world today is in great spiritual confusion. Because certain things have been forgotten or misunderstood, the world is stumbling around in spiritual darkness. Most people believe in some type of God and think that they will enter into heaven. But Jesus Christ the Son of God tells us the truth about life after death. We have his words in the Bible. He says:
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)
What does this mean? It means that many people who believe in God and even pray to Jesus will not enter heaven. Instead, on the Day of Judgment they will go down forever into the fire of hell. Why? Because they never knew Jesus Christ and did not do the will of God.
People are like trees that can produce either good fruit or bad fruit. If a person does not produce the “good fruits” of sincere repentance and brotherly love, along with the obedience that comes from faith in Jesus Christ, his soul will be lost forever. The “bad fruits” that people have in their hearts include greediness, lust, lying, wickedness, selfishness, corruption, sexual perversity or immorality, hatred, drunkenness, rage, witchcraft, idolatry, hypocrisy, etc. This is the opposite of what God wants. God wants us to live in love and truth. Jesus says that people who produce “bad fruit” will be like trees that are cut down and thrown into the fire.
Everyone must turn from his sin and put his trust in Jesus Christ if he wants to enter heaven. If you believe in Jesus Christ in your heart, you will want to turn from your sin. It does not matter if your background is religious or atheist, Catholic or Protestant, Buddhist or Muslim, priest or pastor, prophet or bishop, evangelist, theologian, worship leader, miracle worker or monk. It is God’s universal command.
Therefore, this is the most important message in the universe: God says that if a wicked person turns from his ungodly ways and trusts in Jesus Christ, who died to take away our sins and rose from the dead, God will pardon him freely and give him eternal life. This is God’s commandment, “That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” (1 John 3:23) This is the good news of the New Testament in the Bible. Jesus Christ came to save us, if we will turn to him. “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
But the person who continues in sinful ways after receiving this knowledge will experience the coming judgment and wrath of God.
If we want to know God and avoid confusion, we must not let ourselves be fooled by false religion. Jesus said, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4-5) We do not want to be deceived. And no one who is deceived realizes his situation. Therefore we must be very careful. Many false teachers have already come in the name of Jesus and are luring millions of people to hell. The Bible teaches us how to recognize and avoid them.
Jesus Christ said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12) If you follow Jesus with all your heart, you will find that he is so wonderful that he is beyond comparison with anything else. Therefore,
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
(Isaiah 55:6-7)
So, come to Jesus Christ in faith. To learn more, read the New Testament. Be baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit, which is God's gift to those who believe in Jesus. Pray to God as to your Father in Heaven. Pray for your country and city. Find some true followers of Jesus Christ and join with them. Love one another. Love your enemies and pray for them. Trust in God. May God bless you in your pursuit of Him.
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All Bible verses quoted from the Authorized (King James) Version.
(written by A. H. Phillips, Cusco, Peru, 2005)
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