Nobody wants to walk through the Door

During a family discussion today on death, the comment was made that, "Everybody wants eternal life, but nobody wants to walk through the door." Knowing the intent behind the comment I say that I agree with it. The problem with mankind is that we all want to be author and finisher of our faith. In other words, we want to be our own gods. Anytime anybody makes a dogmatic statement about the afterlife, heaven or salvation, there is always someone to disagree. As I have stated before, I never understand how people who don't know God can say that someone else hasn't found Him. A door, by definition, is "a means of approach or access." In many instances doors provide access or prevent access to something valuable. For those desiring eternal life or heaven, I would assume that they would consider that destination to be of value.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20

You would think that if Jesus Christ was knocking at your door you would open it. No matter your faith or belief, I bet everybody would at least take the opportunity to meet Him. Some would fall at His feet in worship. Others would love the chance to match their so-called "intellect" with Him. Still others to chastise Him for His "failure" to be the person they wanted Him to be. Regardless, there is a large segment of the world who want eternal life, whatever they deem that to be, but don't want anybody else to define it for them or how to achieve it. There in lies the meat of what is meant by nobody wanting to walk through that door to eternal life.

"Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;
nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." Luke 17:20-21

In 2005, an ABC News polls found that nearly "nine out of 10 people in the United States say they believe in heaven." And just like I thought, nearly every one of those nine people had a different belief about heaven and how to get there. The article talks of heaven in terms of places like Valhalla, states of mind called nirvana, that heaven and hell are right now in this life, that your status in heaven depends on what you do here on earth and so on. There was even talk of something called a "God gene" which determined a person's level of spirituality. You must be kidding me. The one thing all this speculation has in common is that it originates from man and not from God. The world looks for everything under the sun to help them determine what heaven and eternal life will be like. Unfortunately, while many search high and low, their search is in vain. They won't find heaven in any other place, but the Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus talked about people looking everywhere, but to Him, for eternal life.

"The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him... Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?" John 8:29,46

"But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Mark 14:61-62

With His life on the line and standing in front of those who wanted to see Him dead, Jesus boldly affirmed that He was the sinless Messiah, the Son of God, God in the flesh! For those nine out of 10 people who believe in heaven, plus the one that doesn't, and anybody on this planet who falls into those categories, one thing must be made clear. Jesus is God and the only way in which to get to heaven. Regardless of what you may believe heaven to be like, or what you think is necessary to get there, you won't see heaven apart from faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior. In fact, you will find yourself in the exact opposite location. If you think we already live in a sort of heaven and hell right now you are sadly mistaken. A mistake that could be eternal if you don't take the time to test out the claims Jesus made about Himself. Jesus Christ was not persecuted to the point of death because of anything He did, not because of any moral teaching He proclaimed, but because of who He claimed to be!

"I and the Father are one." Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." John 10:30-33

They picked up stones to stone Jesus because He claimed to be God! This conflict, as scripture proclaims elsewhere, is why the Jews see Jesus as a stumbling stone while Gentiles (all other people on earth) see His claim as foolishness. The Jews have rejected Christ because He wasn't the Savior they wanted Him to be. Gentiles have rejected Him because they don't see themselves as sinful, much less in need of a Savior. But the question remains, "Who do you say Jesus is?" Regardless of what you may believe about heaven, or how to get there, you must admit that you don't know everything there is to know about life. That being the case you have to at least address the possibility that there is a God. And if that is the case, you must inquire as to what His opinion is about His heaven and how to get there. And if a figure arises in history proclaiming to be God, like Jesus Christ, you have to address His claims. As one Christian teacher so eloquently puts it, "[t]he question is not whether Christ was a great religious leader in history or a great ethical teacher. He is either the greatest con artist who ever lived, a total madman, or He is God in flesh who is the only 'way, truth and life.'"

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14

Walk through the Door.