After watching a current video on YouTube about President Trump visiting Rome and the Pope, this thought hit my heart. No amount of pomp and circumstance, wealth, or position can open the door to heaven. God’s truth is that broad is the way that leads to destruction and many are traveling the broad way. God’s truth is that narrow is the way that leads to life and few are traveling that road. Matthew 7:13-14 New Living Translation (NLT)
Matthew 7:13-14 New Living Translation (NLT)
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”
We all were born into this world with nothing. We all will die with nothing. At the time of death, our spirit goes back to God who created us. What will open heaven’s door to us for eternity is our decision on earth as to whether we accept the salvation gift from Jesus Christ our Saviour. The details of salvation come from Acts chapter one and two. After salvation, we must live a godly life glorifying God in our body and spirit (1 Cor. 6: 18 – 10).
Wealth, education, or position do not open heaven’s door. It will be the condition of our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12 Greatest Commandment). As ministry leaders and parents, are we teaching the church and our children that the most important issue in life is developing an intimate relationship with God? God commanded the children of Israel to teach the children His commandments when they woke in the morning, walking along the way, sitting down and going to bed at night (Deut. 6). This was teaching godliness through daily life’s experiences.
Do we teach our children how to walk through daily events with God being in the center of all we do? From my observing life for 71 years, I see the minority of parents who are putting God in the center of family life. What do I mean by God being in the center of daily life? It is asking these questions and praying: “Lord, what should we do in this situation? Will our actions (activities) give glory to God? Lord, what is modesty from your view – both for men and women? Lord, help us not to set anything evil, wicked, or worthless before our eyes! Lord, help us to look at our life through Your eyes moment by moment!”
We are responsible to God for every thought, feeling, and action. Our thoughts create our feelings and we usually act according to our feelings. This is why we need to act as if Jesus is walking with us in the flesh. The truth is that Jesus is in us! But for some, it is out of sight – out of mind in word and action.
Our families must include godly devotionals that will implant the Word of God in the hearts of our children so their souls will be saved. God’s wisdom gives all of us the foundation from which to make all of life’s choices. One tool that can enrich the family is the One Year Family Devotional.
James 1: 21 –
Therefore lay apart all filthiness and the superfluity of wickedness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.
Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.
So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.
This is God’s wisdom – we need it every day so we have the knowledge how to live godly and be holy as He is holy. We must talk to our children about life daily. Just now on AFR, I heard the fact that I already knew – the average age of exposure to porn is 8 – 10 years old for children. This is why we must be talking to our children about the world that we live in today. We must teach our children how to live in this evil world. If they do not know the implanted Word of God that can save their soul, they will follow in the broad way because it’s much easier to do so because it seems everyone else is going down the broad way.
I share with my family that there is nothing more important than our relationship with God and allowing Him to be in our control tower of decision-making. Take God to school, to the job, in relationships, in activities of pleasure – whatever we do, do all to the glory of God!
When we stand before God as believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will be judged for how we lived our lives and did we keep integrity with God in all we did while living on earth. If we do not allow God to be the center of our lives, we are walking the broad way that will lead to eternal destruction and suffering in torment forever. I will use every resource God allows me to stir up the gift that God gave us in our new birth – the baptism of His Spirit – Christ in us the hope of glory!
If you have not experienced salvation according to Acts 2:38, please seek God with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength. We must be baptized in Jesus name and His Spirit to be ready for His call to heaven! Jesus is coming soon for His Bride at any moment! “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!”
© Carol Clemans – May 2017 – www.carolclemans.org – Holy Ghost 62 years, teaching God’s Word 50 years, Certified Pastoral Counselor 25 years – teaching God’s Word for churches/conferences. Providing nationwide counseling by phone/Skype/Facetime/Facebook video messenger – call (636) 448-0121. Watch teaching videos on Carol Clemans YouTube channel. Book: GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE softcover on www.carolclemans.org, eBook: amazon.com.