A Candidate For Heaven?
Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]. AMPC
If you are a candidate for heaven it is because you practice God’s way of living. If His way means nothing to you, if you just make up your own rules, living by how you feel —you are actually disregarding His commands. Jesus said if you disregard His command He will say depart from Me I never knew you who disregard My commands. Some people read this and somehow think it doesn't apply to them. This applies to everyone, we don't enter into the Kingdom of heaven without making a quality decision to do so.
When we do decide to live with Jesus forever, then we have to fight to stay in agreement with Him. The Kingdom of God is taken by force (Matthew 11:12). It is a press to come out from among them. It is a press to stay on task. Task, many would ask, we can't work our way into heaven? Yes, but you have to fight against all the spiritual darkness that longs to keep you from heaven, and that takes time and effort.
Peter said be sober and vigilant, the enemy is roaming around like a roaring lion looking for someone whom he can devour (1 Peter 5:8). If you are not being self controlled, vigilant, updating with Jesus constantly looking for correction that keeps you on that narrow path, then you are going to be devoured. The devil is going to have you for lunch and you won't even know he did until you stand before Jesus, when then it will be too late!
What really do you think the enemy is trying to steal from you ultimately? Yes, your eternity with Jesus. One little sin at a time and then suddenly he has you thinking sin is normal. Many think that—that they can't be sin free. How silly —if Jesus lives in you and you follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit — know that He is not going to lead you in sin, but away from sin. He is going to guide you in righteousness and holiness, He is going to keep you from the hour of torment. But the enemy on the other hand, who by the way will try and keep you in sin is going to tell you lies and ones you will believe (2 Corinthians 11:14), like it is okay to sin. It is okay to tell a lie or to be gay, or to cheat on your spouse. He will tell you how you feel is okay —and clearly it is not! We are to live separated from sin. Jesus went through a lot of trouble to set you free, thus why would you crucify Him again and again?
I know He didn't feel like doing what He did because He asked the Father, is there any other way? Jesus went through what He did, out of His love for us. He did to make it easy for you and me, He did what we couldn't do for us. Now because of what He did, all you have to do is decide not to sin and He will empower you to rid that sin from your life.
Sin causes distress, did you know that? It does. Sin causes the curse (Deuteronomy 28) to come upon you now and when you leave here. Avoid sin, don’t hang on to it, it is a plague!
Now I am not saying you might not miss it once in a while you might —and that is only because the enemy is sly and he is constantly trying to devour you. But you can get to know his wiles as you follow Jesus who will show you all things. He is good and if you follow Him on that day when you stand before Him, you won't be in the line of the unqualified, but you will be a candidate for heaven. A chosen one, because you chose Him.