The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
-John 10:10, NLT
My former father-in-law (FIL) and former mother-in-law (MIL) adhered to a 1980s version of evangelical Christianity where it was about believing certain principles.
While I appreciate the evangelical efforts of those generations. I disagree with their methodology.
That sort of teaching conveyed an idea that one becomes a Christian in order to get into Heaven or be certain of going to Heaven.
A ticket into Heaven is not the point of following Christ.
Jesus made it clear that following Him meant having a fulfilling life NOW. He is the prize we get. Getting into heaven is a mere byproduct of knowing Jesus.
I have no doubt we know cheaters or cheater apologists who say the “right” things and will assent to the “right” principles. However, they do not have a living relationship with Jesus in the present.
If they did, they would be broken by the evil in their lives and repent.
When Jesus talked about His sheep, He spoke about a people in the present who were able to hear His voice and followed that voice (see John 10). That is relational language, not propositional.
If someone is deaf to the Savior’s voice and opposed to His will for us to walk in righteousness, are they really part of Jesus’ flock?
Just something to consider.
I do not determine who goes to Heaven or Hell. That judgement belongs to God alone. But I do think people who demonstrate a deafness to Jesus’ voice have something to worry over in those regards.
Besides, I feel sorry for those people because they are missing out on the real prize:
A journey starting now in the present with Jesus who is the Creator of the Universe and loves us dearly!
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*A version of this post ran previously.
