Faith and Devotion, Not Good Deeds, Open Heaven's Gate
Surveys taken over the years indicate that the overwhelming majority of Americans think they will go to heaven after this life is over, which must mean that people are basically optimistic. While optimism is usually a helpful trait, in this case it could prove fatal. Why? The factual answer is that most of us think we will be saved when in reality the vast percentage of us will be lost.
Jesus taught: "Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
The difference between our expectations and the truth (that Jesus expresses on the subject) qualifies as more than just a minor discrepancy; we are face with a major gap. The only reasonable explanation is that Satan has deceived a great number of us into believing we are saved. How has he been able to achieve that?
He has convinced many of a few fundamental myths. The first is: people do not need to devote time to learning Scriptures; that task can be left to the "professionals." The idea presumes that the Bible was written to an ordained "clergy" who would interpret it for everyone else. The Bible, however, was written to God's people so that they (and all mankind) could know the truth.
The second deception is, "You don't have to go to church." Jesus is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23), and He expects the saved to meet together each week (Acts 20:7); Hebrews 10:25). The third fictitious idea involves "the tally sheet" fallacy. Somehow, Satan has convinced many that if they just do more good than evil during their lifetimes, they will be saved, fit for eternal glory. We really have not evaluated this concept thoroughly, or we would see how ludicrous it is.
It would require God to set up a score sheet for each one of us and sit in front of it, poised with a pen. One the paper would be two columns labeled "good deeds" and "sins." With such a minor investment in equipment, God is now ready to keep track of everyone. Let's use "Joe" as an example.
Joe brought his wife some flowers and made her happy. Score one on the positive side of the ledger. Oh, but he also bought a pornographic magazine. Mark one on the "sin" side. Joe helps a fellow employee out of a jam. Good fellow. But then he lied to his boos. Bad. So, he cheated on his income tax. Tsk. Tsk. But he returned five dollars to a cashier who had given him too much change. Ahh.
Such score keeping drive a person nuts. Shall we all pray that, when we die, we end up with one more mark on the positive side than on the negative? Heaven is not bestowed n such a silly basis but rather on how faithfully we respond to God's grace. Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Hebrews 5:9).