“I tell you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:11-12 HCSB
I have officiated at several funerals. Some families are confident that their loved one is in heaven, but other families wish and hope that their loved one has gone on to heaven. Most of those families say that he or she loved the Lord and was a good person, but too many times as I talk with the family I discover that their loved one was not involved in church for years. The loved one lived a good life but his or her life did not exhibit any true faith in God. He may have grown up in a Christian home and gone to church as a child, but a person’s Christian heritage does not save him.
Jesus said that people from all over the world, both Jews and Gentiles would enter the kingdom of heaven. Jews should have known this (see Isaiah 25:6 and 55) but many of the Jews felt that salvation was just for the Jews. They believed that because they were descendants of Abraham that they were guaranteed to be a part of the kingdom of God. They also relied on their ability to follow the rules and regulations to get them into heaven. Neither of these will save a person. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ that one can enter the kingdom of God. Jesus made it clear that the sons of the kingdom (Jews) that did not have the faith would be thrown into hell where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Challenge: Many will say, “Lord, Lord” but will not enter the kingdom of God. Neither a good life nor a Christian heritage gets one into heaven. No one can be good enough to get into heaven. Faith in Jesus is the only way to know you have eternal life. Ask Jesus to forgive you and come into your life. Place your faith and trust in Him and avoid the weeping and gnashing of teeth.