We Just Don't Know...Unless

Revelation 2:11 - "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."' 


He who has an ear, the Spirit of the Lord was pleading. The plea was for those who could hear to be an overcomer. In this instance an overcomer is a conqueror, one who carries off the victory, is victorious. In what? In life’s struggles, over sin and in death. And the only way this is possible is through Jesus Christ. He is the One who removes the possibility of a second death. We die once, physically; but there is a second death that comes later to some, a spiritual death...an eternal spiritual death. Completely cut off from God. 


Another sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach came within the past few days. There is such a lie going around in this world and it is perpetuated constantly. And, as confirmation, Pastor Nathan Heller said the very same thing yesterday morning at church in Arizona. Why am I so surprised!


This lie has to do with the fact that some do not want to believe in a real hell. Some do not want to come face to face with the truth that we are all sinners. Some do not want to believe that because they think they are good, or think their mothers were saints, or that they do good things and are basically good people because they give generously, support good causes, or go to church, etc., we couldn't possibly go any place but heaven. We’re better than the next person. Not!


There is absolutely nothing in the Bible that tells us these things. The father of a friend recently died and "He's in a better place. He's in God's hands." I admit, I didn't know this man, I don't know what his spiritual condition was. And I’m not trying to belittle the words spoken and believed above. It’s the lie that is perpetuated because sometimes the Church, whatever the denomination, is not demanding we know the truth. Why? Because it's offensive. No one wants to hear that. And yet our very lives are at stake when we are not confronted with this. 


How I wish I knew what the spiritual condition of my own mother and grandparents were when they died. I did not know the Lord then. Just like those who believe (the lie) that God always has the best interest of their loved ones, I probably erroneously think (because we just don't know) that because God knew I would one day come to Jesus for my salvation and He would know how my heart would feel today about the spiritual condition of these people, how He knew I would have talked to them about Jesus, He might have made a way for them to know Jesus personally, if only on their deathbed. But I can’t say for a fact this has happened. It could have happened, just like it could happen to anyone. Someone just might have reached their lost souls without my knowing. It’s a straw I grasp at, but I just don't know. I also know that I cannot dwell on this; what’s done is done. Hard truth.


But there is a truth and it is, not all people do go to heaven. We cannot compare ourselves or anyone else to murderers, rapists, thieves or the like. Our “small” sin of a white lie is as great as any of the greater sins in the eyes of God. If there is not that connection, that relationship with Jesus Christ where one can honestly say, He called me and I responded, it just hasn't or won't happen.


No one is righteous on their own. Romans 3:10 tells us this. No person is without sin. Jesus’ mother was not sin free; she needed her own Son to be her Savior. Not Martin Luther King or the Pope...no one. Their salvation and eternal life only comes in that spiritual relationship with Jesus. I’m not saying these people did not/do not have this relationship. Only God knows the heart. So it is not for us to judge.


We just don't know...unless we have given our lives to Christ as it is pointed out in scriptures...that born again of the Spirit experience. Nicodemus asked about it. He was a religious leader and needed to know because he was unsure. Check it out: John 3:1-17. Nestled in these scriptures is one of the most often quoted:  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). But it grieves my spirit when people who believe in God, know who Jesus is but do not profess Him in their lives, say that anyone is in a better place now that their life is over. I know it's a comfort to believe that. But faced with the truth of God's Word, they might be sorely saddened. And it saddens me.


When we come to our last days do we know for a fact that we will go to heaven? Will we be worried? I've sadly heard of others who have said they aren't sure. Aren't sure they've done enough good things, weren't good enough in some ways, weren't always honest, didn't always go to church enough. It’s again not about our works or religion. All of these doubts or fears can be remedied only with a relationship with Jesus Christ. 


Jesus changes our perspective and our lives. He becomes a reality instead of just a thought. He is alive today. His blood covers all sin. But we can't just say we know who He is and leave it at that. We have to know Him personally. We have to be, as Jesus Himself said, born again. Why would that be in the Bible if it weren't a truth to be learned, I ask you?


John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 

A Far Better Place

John 14:2-3 - In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 

“Libya is in a far better place,” Jay Carney, Press Secretary to President Obama said in response to Moammar Qaddafi's death. Perhaps they are. I doubt very highly that Qaddafi is.

By no means does this whittling away of terrorist leaders mean we are out of the woods. There will always be someone to rise up and become a new threat. You can look back at history and see that war and the desire for control has always been apart of our lives. 

You can also look in the Book of Revelation where it tells about one who is yet to come, a conqueror, but not a good one. This man will come to pretend he is there to promote peace when he is there to promote his own agenda because he knows his days are numbered, according to our soon coming King. It is this conqueror's desire to take as many down with him as he possibly can. I would venture to say he would not be unlike the Qadaffis, Bin Ladens, Hitlers or any other tyrant, probably worse.

This appears to be what our enemies want. And they will continue to fight in any way they can to see to it they worm their way into our lives and our country. There’s even talk that some are in our country already...

A far better place. Reminds me of the words often spoken after the death of someone. Not everyone, sadly, goes to that far better place. We are in a day and age where the wars and rumors of war is happening. Despite what many think, our Lord will return soon. The question is, how many are ready to go to that far better place?

We can have the promise of this place that has been prepared for those who have sought and listened to the Truth. That place is only in our dreams if we believe that our works and being good will get us to heaven. We cannot be assured based on this. 

I heard first hand the amazing account of a hospice nurse. She is a born again believer. She explained how so often nurses don't get breaks during their day and it's not unusual to go without restroom or lunch breaks during their entire shift. They are constantly pulled here and there. 

She does, however, if she has the opportunity while in a patient's room, ask if she can pray for them. What she found so amazing was that when she does this, or when a patient or family member has requested she come back to pray for them, she is never missed elsewhere. Although she might have no time to eat she always has time to pray to or encourage a patient. Why? She was about the Father's business. Nothing gets in the way of the possibility of another soul being saved.

She went on to explain how truly sad it is when patients are clergy, whether pastor, priest or nun, and they tell her how afraid they are that they might not have done enough or have not been good enough to get to heaven! I can only assume she was able to allay those fears and as so often can happen, see a deathbed acceptance of Jesus Himself. 

There's only one assurance...that of receiving and knowing Jesus. It's about coming into relationship with Him. It's confessing our sins to Him and letting Him heal us spiritually. It's His job to save us. It's His work. We cannot save ourselves. When we let Him show us all things, let Him do the work of sanctifying, replenishing and bringing us peace in our lives, then we will have this assurance. The more we fight against this, the more we lose the battle.

There is a dizzying array of options when it comes to religion, and the culture around us says that they are all equally valid. It seems absolutely bizarre to people that someone would say, "This one way is the truth and the only truth.” - Amy Orr-Ewing, Director of Programs for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and Training Director at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in the United Kingdom.

Amy Orr-Ewing tells us it appears arrogant to make the statement Jesus made that He was the Way, Truth and Life and that no one goes to the Father but by Him. Another point she makes is the idea of exclusion, meaning that not all religions are correct, that there are some excluded from this possibility. One other point she makes I brought up the other day...that His family and others thought He was basically out of His mind to claim He was the Way. 

Those who know and serve the one true God are blessed with the truth. He is our strength and shield. He will protect us against our enemies. He will take us to that far better place by our knowledge of Him. Seek that wisdom; seek that truth. He IS the Way, the only Way.

 John 14:3-4,6 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Jesus said ... I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.