“Selfish Christians”
ROMANS  5: 1-5 (NRSV)

I didn’t understand Memorial Day – Decoration Day – as a child. We’d go watch a parade and hear some old boring guy talk and then drive around putting “Flags (Iris)” on graves. I’ve learned better as I’ve gotten older.

As we celebrate Memorial Day and uphold the idea of sacrificial service let’s visit the concept of selfish behavior.

I have a nephew that just graduated from the Dickinson School of law and is becoming an assistant DA in York, PA. Lawyers are always good targets to poke fun at, especially for self-motivated acts.  

A lawyer parked at the side of the road, and opened the door of his BMW. Suddenly, a speeding car appeared from nowhere, hitting the door and ripping it off of his car. The lawyer was outraged.  

When the police arrived at the scene, the lawyer whined, “Officer, look what that person did to my Beemer! You have to find him and arrest him!” 

“You lawyers are so materialistic, you make me sick,” the officer snapped. “You’re so upset about your stupid BMW, that you didn’t even notice that your left arm was ripped off in the accident.” 

“Oh my God....,” gasped the lawyer, finally noticing the bloody stump where his arm had been. “My Rolex!” 

Another: As Oklahoma was settled, the growing population supported a small community of lawyers. One lawyer became quite successful, handling disputes between ranchers and farmers.  

He sent his son away for college, and was pleased when his son returned after graduation, seeking to work in his office to figure out if he wanted to be a lawyer. The lawyer welcomed his son into the firm, and gave him a job as a clerk. 

On his son’s first day, the first client to call on the lawyer was a man, deeply tanned from years of toil under the Oklahoma sun. His hands were rough and calloused, and he was dressed for the range. The man explained, “I am a ranch hand at the Smith Ranch, where I have worked since I was very young. For all of those years, I have tended to all of the animals on the ranch, including a small herd of cows. I raised the cows, fed them, and cared for them.

It has always been my understanding that I was the owner of the cows. Mr. Smith died, and his son has inherited the ranch. He believes that, as the cows were raised on his family’s land and were fed his family’s hay, that they are his cows. I need you to help me.”

 

The lawyer smiled, and put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “I have heard enough, and I will take your case. Don’t worry about the cows.” After expressing extreme gratitude, the workman left the lawyer’s office. 

A short time later, the next client arrived. He was young, and well-groomed, and appeared quite wealthy. He explained to the lawyer, “My name is Smith, and I own a ranch near here. For many years, one of my ranch hands has taken care of my family’s animals, including some cows.  

The cows were raised on my land, fed my hay, and they are obviously my cows. Yet the hired hand believes that, as he raised them and cared for them, they are his. I would like to resolve the matter of the ownership of the cows. 

The lawyer smiled and said, “I have heard enough, and I will take your case. Don’t worry about the cows.” 

After the man left the office, the lawyer’s son came over to his father, looking puzzled. “I don’t understand,” he said. “I may not know much about the law, but it seems to me that there is a serious problem with the cows, and you just told both sides not to worry.” 

The lawyer replied, “I told them not to worry about the cows, son, and they shouldn’t worry about the cows.” Chuckling, the lawyer explained, “Soon those cows will be ours.”

We seldom are aware that our own self-interests often makes everything about us. It can even be reflected in our faith and beliefs and certainly with what kind of Christians we are.  

Lawyers are known for taking care of their own interests first and Christians are often accused of hypocrisy in that they really don’t care about others.

 

Henry Ward Beecher once said, “Selfishness is that detestable vice which no one will forgive in others, and no one is without in himself.”  

Andy Rooney once ranted, “My most serious character flaw is that I don’t deny myself much.” Selfishness is rooted in the ability to not deny oneself much. Memorial Day is about those who denied themselves to serve others. 

ROMANS 5: 1-5: Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 

And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. 

Sometimes Christians are labeled as judgmental goody-two-shoes who think they are better than anybody else. Often it is the language of scripture itself, heard by skeptics that encourage this type of prejudice. Christians can appear selfish. 

Speaking God’s truth in love is difficult because His grace does end in judgment. Jesus has said there are those that will be for him and those who will be against him. There will be sheep and goats. Most of us can’t hear or see our own fleece.  

It requires us to be sensitive to the way we are perceived as witnesses to His Love, lest we push people away from God. Christianity is about learning to deny oneself and accept the love and sacrifice of a loving God who triumphed over self-interest. 

Because it’s not natural for humans to understand sacrifice we need to look at the language we use to describe ourselves carefully. 

In our focus verses for today the Greek word translated as “boast” (kauchaomai) (kau-ch-o-mee) is better translated as “rejoice.” 

Let me re-read this passage using that word translation:

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we REJOICE in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

 

And not only that, but we also REJOICE in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. 

See the subtle but more positive turn of this passage? Rather than suggesting that we boast of our faith we are saying we rejoice in the hope of grace and the growth God gives us in our daily trials and sufferings.

We aren’t bragging but rather are joyful in God’s love and the hope we find in it. If we focus on rejoicing in the life and become centered on the hope that Christ gives we do learn the ability to overcome our natural tendency to be selfish. 

This is the same hope that has inspired millions of Americans to give of themselves. As Americans we do not boast or brag that we are Americans but rather rejoice in it.

At two in the morning, the phone rang at the governor's mansion. An aide found himself talking to a local attorney, who insisted that he must speak to the governor immediately. 

Despite pleas to postpone his call until morning, the attorney insisted that the call was over a matter of utmost urgency, and that he could not wait. Eventually, the aide reluctantly decided to wake up the governor. 

"So, what is it?" grumbled the governor. "Judge Cassidy just died," announced the attorney, "and I want to take his place." The Governor shot back, "It is okay with me if it is okay with the undertaker." 

One last one - One afternoon, a wealthy lawyer was riding in the back of his limousine when he saw two pathetic-looking men by the side of the road, eating grass. He ordered his driver to stop and got out to investigate.  

He asked the men, "Why are you eating grass?" "We don't have no money for food," the first man replied. "Then you must come with me to my house," insisted the lawyer. "But, sir, I got a wife and three kids here," said the man. "Bring them along!" replied the lawyer. The second man exclaimed, "I got a wife and six kids!"

"Bring them as well!" the lawyer proclaimed as he headed back to his limo. 

They all climbed into the car, and once underway, one of the men says, "Sir, you are too kind. Thank you for taking all of us with you." The lawyer replied, "I'm most happy to do it. You'll love my place. The grass is almost a foot tall." 

We need to be careful about the motivations of our heart as we strive to live out the love God has given us in abundance. If we are to cultivate the heart of service and sacrifice our ancestors displayed we must become truly generous and loving. 

Giving to the food bank doesn’t mean cleaning those “almost expired” canned goods out of the pantry or donating a pair of shoes so you now have a reason to go out and buy new ones. I could go on, but freedom and faith and love is never easy. 

Serving others is not about me or you but rather about using Jesus’ sacrifice as an example in treating and caring for others. Let us never boast but rather rejoice in gratitude and love for our neighbors. Amen.

“TEE BALL THEOLOGY”

Romans 8: 14-17 (NRSV) 

If you spend time where there are a lot of sheep, sooner or later you will see a little lamb running around the field with what looks like an extra fleece tied on its back. There are little holes in the fleece for its four legs and usually a hole for its head. If you see a little lamb running around like that, that usually means he or she is an orphan.

Without the protection and nourishment of a mother, an orphaned lamb will die. If you try to introduce the orphaned lamb to another mother, the new mother will butt it away. She won’t recognize the lamb’s scent and will know the new baby is not one of her own lambs. 

But thankfully, most flocks are large enough to have a ewe that recently lost a lamb. The shepherd skins the dead lamb and makes its fleece into a covering for the orphaned lamb. Then he takes the orphaned lamb to the mother whose baby just died. Now, when she sniffs the orphaned lamb, she smells her own lamb. Instead of butting the lamb away, she accepts it as one of her own. 

This is also how we become acceptable to God by being clothed with Christ. 

Listen to our scripture passage for today from Romans 8: 14-17: 

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption.

 

When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ – if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 

The Greek word for adoption in this text “huiothesia” is the key to understanding this passage. “Hu-i-o-thes-ia” actually translates as “adoption as sons,” “son-ship,” or being given the “full rights of sons.” It means being “placed as a son” to a person to whom it does not naturally belong.

The person being adopted becomes no different than any other child in that family – full rights/privledges and responsibility in/of the family.  

The contemporary definition of adopt (Webster’s American Family Dictionary) means to “choose or take and use as one’s own,” “to take (place) and rear (the child of others) as one’s own as a binding financial and legal act.”  

Numerous times during God’s early relationship with the Jewish people he acts in ways that show his financial, legal, and social relationships with them. This is demonstrated in most of the 613 commandments/laws common to Judaism and the history of the Jewish existence. God was present among them many times as well. 

This is the central core of God’s choosing the Jews as his people. The failure of the Jews to maintain this relationship is the most glaring fault of humanity throughout history. 

I don’t think any group of people could have ever been successful because of our sin and imperfection. Just as we failed in Eden so too would the Jews fail. 

Those people who believe in “Replacement Theology” say that the gentile church “replaced” the Jews as God’s chosen people and actually claim success in fulfilling a covenant with God in Jesus Christ. Look around our world and society – how successful has the church been about bringing about the Kingdom of God? 

Do I have to list the failures? Abortion, unwed mothers, addictions, sexual immorality, murders and violent crimes, the belief in and teaching of evolution, the constant suppression of even the idea that absolute truth exists, and so on display the failure of the church to reach and change human nature. 

Despite the increased call for unity in our world we are more polarized than ever, for in the call to “coexist” the road to hell has been paved. There is no joy in a call to unity that requires God’s truth be thrown under the bus.  

They say church and world unity will be achieved by modifying God to be more politically correct, accommodating, and accepting. Why God even believes in Global Warming, Gay Marriage, divestment in Israel, and full Palestinian rights. 

We failed in the Garden of Eden, we failed as the Chosen people, and we are failing as the church. I can ask my 11 year old daughter playing Youth League Baseball what three strikes means and I can tell you it is not very good.We (humanity) have struck out with God.  

The good news is that God knew we’d need help all along. So he’s always had us playing “tee ball.” God decided to help us rig the game to win.

A family adopted a twelve-year-old boy named Roger, whose parents had died from a drug overdose. There was no one to care for Roger, so the father of the family of 5 decided they would welcome him as their own. 

At first it was difficult for Roger to adjust to his new home. Several times a day, the   parents had to say to Roger, “No, no. That’s not how we behave in this family.” “No, no. You don’t have to scream or fight or hurt other people to get what you want.” “No, no, Roger, we expect you to show respect in this family.” 

In time, Roger began to change. Did he have to make those changes to be considered part of the family? No. He was part of the family by the grace of the father. But did he have to work hard because he was in the family? You bet he did. It was tough for Roger to change, and he had to work at it. But he was motivated by gratitude for the amazing love he had received. 

We too discover a lot of hard work to do when through the Holy Spirit we are adopted into God’s family. But not in becoming a son or a daughter of the heavenly Father. No, we make these changes because we are a son or daughter. And every time we start to revert back to the old addictions to sin, the Holy Spirit says to us, “No, no. That’s not how we act in this family.” 

God has provided us a way to be adopted into His family with the blessings, responsibilities, and inheritance due such a position in God’s household requires.

But we have to open ourselves and agree to the adoption and work at it. That’s the message that Jesus presented to us during his life, His resurrection messages, and on Pentecost Sunday. We, like the orphaned lamb needing a new skin, need to be reborn into a new life to be acceptable to God. 

God makes it easy for us to hit the ball off the tee and not strike out. We don’t have to worry about or guess what pitches are coming at us. God never changes the tee. 

The great Yogi Berra once said, “90% of the game is half mental.” Let’s stop worrying about how we’re failing and concentrate more on how God’s helping us. 

God has given us the Grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and he’s put it right down the middle at a speed that’s perfect for each of us. It’s our task to put this grace into play. Amen.

WHY DID GOD WRITE REVELATION?
Revelation 22: 6-21 (NRSV)

Today is Mother’s Day. At some point today phone service will hit its yearly peak usage point as children reach out to their mothers across generations.

My favorite Mother’s Day Joke: On Mother’s Day morning a woman’s two children woke her up and told her to stay in bed. She began to anticipate the joy of having breakfast in bed. After waiting for 45 minutes she got up, got dressed, and headed for the kitchen. In the kitchen she found her children eating breakfast. They cheerfully greeted her and said, “Happy Mother’s Day mom – we decided to get our own breakfast this morning so you could sleep in!” 

It has been said that that “A Christian mother is the greatest heritage God can give a child.” Thanks to all of you who are mothers or who act on behalf of children.

Sometimes our concept of a gift or blessing doesn’t match the ideas of others. The Book of Revelation is one such gift given to humans by God that has met mixed reviews over the 2000 years it has been around.

Some people ignore it, some think it’s too difficult to understand, others are scared of its signs of the evil times to come. While there are difficult passages that are challenging the Book has great writing, imagery, pageantry, and suspense. But it also shows how God will restore a fallen world and people to lost perfection.  

This week we will close out the Book of Revelation by looking at the reassurances God and Jesus gave to the Apostle John to leave with us, 

And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.  

And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me; but he said to me. “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”  

"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.  

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.  

It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."  

 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book; if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.  The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. 

There are 11 things we must see from this passage that defines God’s purpose and reasons for giving this vision to the Apostle John. 

1)             God’s message given through the scriptures are faithful and true. 

God’s Word, given through the scriptures, can be trusted. It is not a story or a manipulation created by the imagination of men. 

2)             God’s message will bless those who keep to the prophecy of this book. 

God’s Word and prophecy will bless those who keep and obey it. They will be informed of the future, prepared for the future, and understand the future. They will understand Heaven and long for it. They will also be drawn into a deeper, stronger fellowship with Jesus with increased desire to share with others the message. 

3)             God’s message should stir us to wonder and worship. 

When John sees and hears God’s revelation he falls down at the feet of the angel who is delivering the message in worship and fear. The angel rebukes John and tells him to get and fear and worship the Lord alone. Simply put: this message should astound and stir us to worship him. 

4)             God’s message is to be read and studied by all believers. 

Here’s what the book of Revelation says about itself: the book of Revelation is never to be sealed, that is, closed. It is to be read, studied, preached, and taught always. 

5)             The message concerns the Lord’s return and the judgment to come. 

Jesus is returning soon and it will be in judgment. We need to be prepared. 

6)             The message tells us who will be accepted by the Lord. 

“Blessed are those who wash their robes in the blood of Christ!” Some translations say “commandments” but we know that it is not actions that save us but rather the Grace of Jesus as the atoning Lamb of God. 

7)             The message tells us who will be rejected by the Lord. 

Revelation tells us who are lost and not allowed entry into the Holy City of God. 

8)             The message is proclaimed by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. 

Jesus proclaims the message of the Book of Revelation as its author. He is the “root and offspring of David” and “the bright morning star” mentioned numerously in the Book.

9)             The message is the greatest invitation ever extended to humanity.

We are offered the invitation to drink the Water of Life, which restores, heals, and grants immortality.  

10)         God warn that no one must tamper with this message. 

Jesus warns that words must not be added or taken away from the message. If a person adds to the message the plagues of Revelation will added to that person and if words are taken away that person’s share of the Tree of Life, their place in the Holy City of Jerusalem - Heaven, and in the assurances of the Revelation itself, will be removed from them. 

11)         God closes the message with the greatest assurance ever given. 

The assurance given to believers comes at us from two sides. Jesus certifies that the words and messages of the Book of Revelation are the words of God and He also promises “Yes- it is true. I am coming soon.” We as believers and anticipators of His return should pray for and say, “Amen. So be it! Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” 

My mother came to this country as a poor immigrant from Austria after the war in a family that was prejudiced against her. She worked three jobs at a time often bringing in the only money in a family with 8 kids.

She worked hard and taught me to do the same. Finally she went to college and graduated at the age of 64 with a degree that let her become a supervisor in a professional position. She didn’t give up, had a vision for the future, and retained a sense of love and understanding for others that didn’t compromise. 

She didn’t look for the easy way out, studied and worked hard, and persevered.  

One day a mother was working at home when, her daughter came in and asked, “Mommy, can we play?” “I’m awfully sorry, sweetheart, but I’m right in the middle of preparing this work for tomorrow. In about an hour I can play,” her mom said. 

“OK,” she said. “When you’re finished, I will give you a great big hug.” She went to the door, then did a U-turn and came back to give her mom a bone-breaking hug. 

“You said you were going to give me a hug after I finished,” her mom said, teasing. “I just wanted you to know what you have to look forward to!” the little girl said. 

God wants us to know how much we have to look forward to when He comes again. That’s why Jesus had the Apostle John write the Book of Revelation. He wants us ready and prepared. Praise God for His love and Grace! Amen.

“FRUIT OF THE MONTH CLUB”

Revelation 21: 10, 22 – 22: 5 (NRSV) 

A pastor friend of mine said to me last week, “I don’t know if preaching about heaven helps my congregation or not. They have lots of problems and maybe I should be preaching one of those therapeutic ‘feel good’ sermons.” 

My response was to encourage him to read the Bible more and think less Dr. Phil. At best our response to this world is accomplished with tending to our own faith and personal witness as God has already told us how the world is turning out. 

I preach of heaven and am reminded of the wonderful words of Shakespeare (in Hamlet, Act IV), “Lord! We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” I am convinced that knowing of the heaven to come should not just be a coping mechanism to deal with today’s problems but personal affirmation as well. 

I read an article from a straight-laced secular psychologist well known for his experience and research into IQ testing. His current research has led him to conclude that human are getting dumber. In fact he says after subjecting the data to extensive analysis that human intelligence peaked about 6,000 years ago! 

This is not a Christian scientist trying to manipulate data supporting a “young earth creationist view” but a well known professor committed to the evolutionary view whose data may actually point to the fact that human intelligence peaked in the Garden of Eden, when we were as close to perfection as we could get.   

God created a habitat in the Garden of Eden with food from the Tree of Life He designed to sustain our first parents. We lost access when God kicked them out. 

 

In our consumer based society we’ve developed numerous ways to be creative in giving others gifts by signing up for monthly clubs that mail or ship items.  

“Amazing Clubs” has 38 subscriptions ranging from “Bacon” to the “Gift Certificate” of the month. The “Month Clubs Store” offers 40 items with hundreds of options ranging from BBQ to Wine. The “Best of the Month Club” is indexed by categories ranging from Food, Drink, Health, Plants, Beauty, Clothing, and unique Gift certificates. BUT what if I told you that God was the original creator of the “month club” idea?  

Hear our scripture lesson for today from Revelation 21: 10, 22 – 22: 5; 

And in the spirit he carried me away to a great high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.

Its gates will never be shut by day – and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.  

But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. 

On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month: and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 

Nothing accursed will be found there any more.  But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.   

And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. 

God has given us the answer to some heavenly mysteries in this passage.  

We see that God created Eden to sustain humanity for eternity and we are given the clues to how God overcomes the mortality of humanity to introduce eternity through what I like to call “the fruit (“karpos”) of the Month Club.” 

Genesis 2: 9 – “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food: the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” 

Revelation 2: 7 says “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overcometh will I give to eat out of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

Revelation 22: 2 – “On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month: and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” 

This passage continues to give us descriptions of what heaven will be like. There are seven given here: 

1)    There is a pure river that flows with the very water of life.

2)    There is a Tree of Life in the city.

3)    Heaven will not have a curse of corruption on it as earth did.

4)    There is the throne of God and of the Lamb in the city.

5)    God’s name is written on the foreheads of believers.

6)    There is eternal light in the city.

7)    There is eternal rule by God and Christ and work and service for believers. 

Membership in “the fruit of the month club” will be limited to only those who are listed in the “Lamb’s Book of Life.” Getting into this book, means that you have accepted the sacrifice of the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ), in payment for your sins. 

Galatians 5: 19-21 tells us those sins include ; 

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revel lings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” 

When Jesus accepts the confession of your heart and the profession of your life to him He will place His name on your forehead and record your name in His Book. Eternal life in heaven will be ours. 

But until then we are much like the five year old who was excited about her first day of kindergarten. Her three year old sister watched her big sister with much interest when she talked of going to school. On the Sunday before the first day of school, the five year old fell and skinned her knee. 

As she cried, the three year old tried to comfort her by saying, “Don’t worry, if you die, you’ll go to heaven.” But the five year old wailed even more. “I don’t want to go to heaven,” she said. “I want to go to kindergarten!”

 

Many of us can’t wait for heaven but know we want a vacation at Disney World first. But we need to remember that we need to qualify for heaven first.

A Sunday school teacher wanted to explain to the six-year-olds in his class what someone had to do to go to heaven. To find out what kids believed about the subject, he asked a few questions. “If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale, and gave all my money to the church, would that get me to heaven?” he asked. 

“No!” the children answered. The teacher was encouraged. “If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me to heaven?” Again the answer was, “No!” 

“If I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children and loved my wife, would that get me into heaven?” Again they all shouted, “No!” 

“Well then, how can I get to heaven?” A boy in the back row stood up and shouted, “You gotta be dead!” 

Being dead is one way to qualify to be screened for Heaven BUT being in the Lamb’s Book of Life is the only way to be admitted.

 

Is your name written there? Accomplish that and you will need to fear neither life nor death. Amen.