Standing at the Gates

I’ve often wondered if we will really walk through a gate when we enter heaven.  I know it sure would be wonderful to be greeted by family members that have gone on, and then to see Jesus, face to face.  I guess each of us will get to find out for ourselves if we belong to  Him!  A lot of my youth was spent hearing sermons in church and evangelists cast fear on me that if I was not saved, I would go straight to hell.  Unfortunately, that’s how many people see our faith, fire and brimstone!  While it is true that we make a decision about our eternity when we decide “what to do about Jesus”, I think the implications for how we live here on earth are also profound.

We all see a lot of terrible things in our world, and every one of them could be erased if we all belonged to Him.  As sad as it is, God himself laid out in His word that not everyone would accept Him and many would be lost.  How does giving your heart fully to Him change you?  Let me share some things that have happened to me and many others I know that are fully vested in Christ.

1.  If you follow Him, you will have to deal with unforgiveness.  Since He has been so gracious as to die for you and forgive your sins, you can do no less.  People will hurt you, and they will lie about you, and they will seek to destroy you, but must forgive them, for Christ has done the same for you.  We must always remember that the battles we have her on earth are not with people, but with spiritual beings opposed to God and His people.  Good people can be used by the enemy to bring harm to others, we have all lost our way, and been influenced by the enemy.  That’s why God implored us to follow Jesus example and “pray for those that persecute you, do good to those that harm you!”   Yes, it’s very hard to do, but God never promised this would be an easy path.

2.  God will require you to submit to His authority and grow as a believer!  It’s not and easy road to walk, but God requires it.  If we are to be effective for Him we must submit to His authority and learn His ways, which are very different from ours.  Growth is difficult, but it has to come into our lives if we are to be able to show His love to the world.

3.  You will have to have courage to stand for Him against all odds.  The great news is that when you stand for Him, you will not be standing alone.  All the powers of heaven are at you call, when you stand for righteousness.  When Jesus said. “I will never leave you or forsake you”, He meant it, and has stood by that promise through the ages!”

4.  He will give you a wonderful love for others.  As you grow in Him you will feel a deep and abiding love for all your brothers and sisters, and especially the lost.  The deeper your roots go down into Him the more you will desire to reach those that do not know Him and return them to Him.

5.  God will give you peace.  Of all God’s gifts, having peace in your heart has to be one of the greatest.  Life can be challenging, and relationships both in the family of God and outside of it can be  filled with stress, but God and God alone can give you a peace that passes our understanding.

Seek Him in all you do, ask Him to always walk by your side, reach out to those that despise you, and love those that God has put under your care.  Until we are standing at the gate, those are our marching orders……

the pilgrim