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Do you
consider yourself to be a good person? Most people do.
However, most of us differ as to the definition of "good." So
whose standard should we use?
Are you good enough to go to Heaven?
The way to find this out is to ask yourself if you have obeyed
the Ten Commandments. God’s standard is His Word, so let’s start
with God’s moral law. With a tender conscience, ask yourself
if you have obeyed the following:
1. "You shall have no other gods before Me."
Is God first
in your life? Do you love God above all else? Many years ago, I
purchased a TV for our children, but the first evening we had
it, I arrived home from work and found that they didn't even
bother to greet me. They were too busy watching television. I
turned it off and explained to them that if they ignored me
because they preferred to watch TV; they were setting their love
on the
gift
rather then the
giver,
a wrong order of affections. In the same way, if we love
anything— alcohol, drugs, sex, career, money, husband, wife,
children or even our own lives—more than we love God, we are
setting our affection on the gift rather than the Giver, which
is breaking the First Commandment.
Have you
loved God with all your heart? Have you loved others as much as
you love yourself?
You be the judge.
Will you be innocent or guilty on Judgment Day of breaking this
Commandment? I'm not judging you—I'm asking you to judge
yourself
before
the Day of Judgment. The sentence for breaking this Commandment
is death.
2. "You shall not make for yourself an idol."
This means
that we shouldn't make a god to suit ourselves, either with our
hands or our mind. I was guilty of this. I made a god that I was
comfortable with. My god didn't mind a "white" lie or a fib
here and there—in fact, he didn't exist. He was a figment of my
imagination, an "image" which I shaped to suit myself. Is your
God the One revealed in Holy Scripture? If not, then you have
made your own god to suit yourself—you have committed the oldest
sin in the Book. Scripture warns that no idolater will enter
Heaven.
3. "You shall not take God's name in vain."
Have you
ever used God's name as a curse word to express disgust, then
you have used His name...in vain. Hitler's name wasn't despised
enough to use as a curse word. If you have used His
holy
name in that manner, you are a blasphemer and will not enter the
Kingdom of God.
Have you
every used “God” irreverently or casually? “Oh my G _ _!” Then
you are guilty.
4. "Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy."
I ignored
this command for 22 years. I never did ask the Lord what He
required of me. I was guilty of breaking this Commandment.
Have you kept it holy and reverently? Have you always been a
faithful example to your children, in worshipping the Lord?
5. "Honor your father and your mother."
Have you
always
honored your parents in a way that's pleasing in the sight of
God? You may have forgotten them, but God hasn't. What would
your parents say?
6. "You shall not murder."
If we hate
our brother, God says it is the same as murder. We can violate
God's Law by attitude and intent. Have you ever had an
abortion? Have you ever suggested one, paid for one, drove
someone to get one, etc.? Then you are an accomplice to murder.
God’s
standard (Word) says that if we hate our brother, we have
committed murder in our hearts. See 1Jn. 3:15
7. "You shall not commit adultery."
Jesus
warned, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You
shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks
at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery
already
with
her in his heart." Remember God has seen every thought you have
ever had and every sin you have ever committed. The day will
come when you have to face His Law, and we are told that the
fornicators (sex before marriage) and adulterers will not enter
the Kingdom of God. Punishment for transgression of this
Commandment is the death penalty.
8. "You shall not steal."
Have you
ever taken something that did not belong to you (irrespective of
its value)? Then you are a thief—you cannot enter God's Kingdom.
9. "You shall not lie."
Have you
ever told a lie? Then you are a liar. The Bible warns that
all
liars will have their part in the Lake of Fire. You may not
think deceitfulness is a serious sin, but God does!
10. "You shall not covet."
That means
we shouldn't jealously desire anything that belongs to another
person. Those who covet will not enter the Kingdom of God.
Could consumer debt be proof of covetousness?
What now?
On Judgment
Day, will you be found to be
guilty
or
innocent
of breaking His commandments?
Who of us
can say we are not guilty of breaking these Commandments?
All
of us have sinned, and just as with civil law, you don't have to
break all ten laws to be a lawbreaker. The Bible warns, "For
whoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet stumble in one point,
he is
guilty of all."
That Law is
the holy standard by which humanity will be judged on Judgment
Day.
Perhaps you
think that God is good and will therefore overlook your sins.
But if you were guilty of terrible crimes in a civil court and
said to the judge, "Judge, I am guilty but I believe that you
are a good man and will therefore overlook my crimes," the judge
would probably respond by saying, "You are right about one
thing; I am a good man, and it's
because of my goodness
that I am going to see that justice is done, that you are
punished for your crimes." What many are hoping will save them
on Judgment Day, God's "goodness," will, be the very thing that
will condemn them. If God is good, He
must
punish murderers, liars, thieves, and all lawbreakers - and
Hell will be their dreadful fate.
What a
terrible place Hell must be. If you read in the newspaper that a
man received a $5 fine for a crime, you could conclude that his
crime was insignificant. But if a man received
multiple
life sentences, you could conclude that his crime was heinous.
In the same way, we can catch a glimpse of how terrible sin must
be in the sight of God by looking to the punishment given for
it—eternal
punishment.
Can you see
your predicament? You are guilty of sinning against God Himself,
and, because you have a conscience, you have sinned "with
knowledge." Isn't it true that every time you lied, stole,
lusted, etc., you did it
with knowledge
that it was wrong?
God Himself
made a way where His justice and His goodness could meet. We
broke the Law, but He became a man to pay the fine. Jesus
suffered and died on the cross to satisfy the Law. God can
forgive us and grant us the gift of everlasting life. To make
clear what an incredible thing God has done for you, let's look
again to civil law. You are standing in front of a judge, guilty
of
very
serious crimes. All the evidence has been presented and there is
no doubt about your guilt. The fine for your crime is $250,000
or imprisonment, but you haven't two pennies to rub together.
The judge is about to pass sentence...he lifts his gavel,
when someone you don't even know steps in and pays the fine for
you.
The moment you accept that payment, you are free to go. Justice
has been served, the law has been satisfied, and what's more,
the stranger who paid your fine showed how much he cares for
you. His payment was evidence of his love.
That's what
God did for you, in the person of Jesus Christ. You are guilty;
He paid the fine 2,000 years ago.
It is that simple.
The Bible puts it this way: "He was bruised for our
iniquities...Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law
being made a curse for us...God commended His love toward us, in
that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
What should
you then do?
1. Honestly
acknowledge how sinful you are
2. Repent of
living life the way you wanted to live it
3.
Ask/invite Jesus to be your Lord
4. Give your
whole life to Him…reverently serve Him.
Don't put it
off until tomorrow.
That's how
you should approach God. If you are not sure how to pray, read
Psalm 51
and make it your prayer. When Jesus said to "believe" on Him, He
was saying we should have faith in Him, in the same way you
would trust a parachute to save you when you jump from a plane.
You don't merely believe in the parachute - you put it on.
Please don't "jump" without Jesus. If you die in your sins there
is
no second chance.
God will give you justice and you will end up in Hell
forever.
Any troubles you have at present are dwarfed by the trouble you
are in with your Creator. His wrath abides upon you (John 3:36).
God doesn't want you to go to Hell. Neither do you want to go
there, so repent of your sins to God right now, put your trust
in Jesus to save you, and you will pass from death to life. Then
read the Bible daily and obey what you read. (See
John 14:21).
Your obedience to God is the proof of your love. Have faith in
God, He will never fail you.
If by
reading this brochure or web page you have chosen to humble
yourself before God, repent of your sin, and place your faith in
Jesus Christ for salvation, call us, write us, or
send us an email at
pastor@spiritonecc.org so we can rejoice with you in your
decision, or if you would like prayer, or if you need a Bible or
if you have any questions! WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU!
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In Christ,
