 Bill laid in an ICU hospital bed, His recovery after
major open-heart surgery was extremely slow. One might even say his recovery was
non-existent for his condition was still very critical even 7 days after surgery due to
numerous complications. Now, Bill was filled with a great deal of fear as he thought about
the possibility of dying. This was due to the fact that he was not sure that if he died,
he would go to heaven. Oh, believed Jesus died on the cross to win the forgiveness of sins
and eternal life. But he wasn’t sure if that was enough to get him to heaven. He also
felt that he had to be obedient to God to get to heaven. However, had he been obedient
enough? He just didn’t know! The result was great fear. Many Christians have and continue to be afraid of dying. This is
because, like Bill, they are not sure if they would go to heaven. Have you ever felt this
way? There are times I have. The reason for this uncertainty is because so many hold onto
the idea that they have to be good enough to get to heaven. They believe that Jesus died
on the cross to win salvation. Yet, they also believe that they have to meet a certain
threshold of obedience to God. However, because they know they are sinners, they are
uncertain as to whether or not they reach that threshold. Why, they are not even sure what
the threshold is. The result is uncertainty that leads to fear!
On October 31, the Lutheran Church will once again
celebrate the Reformation. (We will celebrate it here at Trinity on Sunday, October 28th.)
And we should celebrate the Reformation! Why, we should thank god for the Reformation!
This is because the core of the Reformation dealt with the question of what the Bible says
as to how one gets to heaven. At the time of the Reformation, the belief was that one had
to earn his or her way to heaven by doing good works. However, as Luther studied the
Scriptures, especially Romans 3, the Holy Spirit opened his heart to the truth. No one
could ever earn heaven through obedience to God. God is perfect. Thus, to earn heaven, we
must be perfectly obedient to God. The problem is “all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). However, God, out of love for mankind, provided the
way to heaven. He sacrificed His one and only son Jesus Christ on the cross. By
Jesus’ death, He paid the punishment of mankind’s sins. Thus, as any individual
believes in Jesus as his or her Savior, God forgives that person’s sins. They are
completely washed away by the blood of Christ. The end result is that the forgiven
individual is perfect in the sight of God and therefore will live with God forever in
heaven. As Paul wrote: ‘for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and
are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.’
(Romans 3:23-24).
Friends, we can be sure that when we die we will go to
heaven. This is because we are saved by grace through faith. As you believe in Jesus as
your Savior, you will go to heaven. There are no ifs, ands, or buts. So, if ever you begin
to wonder if you are going to go to heaven when you die and, thereby find yourself afraid,
remember what the Bible teaches. You are saved by faith in Jesus as your Savior, period.
Thank God for the Reformation! Do come and celebrate it on
Sunday, October 28th for through God’s Word, you, by the work of the Holy Spirit,
will be assured that you will go to heaven. The result will be peace and hope. |
