Welcome to Throwback Thursdays. I was having a very interesting conversation with my classmates this week about what Christians believe about going to heaven.  Apparently, a lot of people are being taught that you have to be a nice person, do good deeds, and achieve great things in this world to be accepted into heaven.

My friends this is just stinking thinking. . .

 

 

I very passionately and sincerely believe, through studying and speaking with the Holy Spirit, that our only responsibility to gain everlasting life in the Heavenly Kingdom is to believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  It is that simple and that easy.

 

I wanted to share an older blog post from Motivational Monday that talks a little bit about salvation and living life.  This week I really want to focus on this idea about afterlife and heaven.  So, stay tuned for additional post that explain more about what happens during our spiritual journeys here on earth, as well as our responsibilities as believers.  It is something that I think people are interested in because they don't really know where they go when they die or how to get to heaven.  See links below for related articles on this topic.

 

 

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

Psalms 62:1

 

I love God.  I love Jesus.  I often fall back on these two thoughts.  These thoughts remind me that God loves me and Jesus loves me.  These are truths that we need to hold on to forever and ever.

 

Why is this important to remember?

 

These are truths that are important to remember because as we navigate ourselves through this life, things happen.  Life can beat us up, because we are not 100% sure in how to live it.  I think some people have learned some pretty successful strategies to live this life.  However, when others try to explain to us how to live our best life, the truth is often lost in translation. The thing is that everybody's journey is an individual journey.  Jesus has an ILP (individual life plan) for each person.  So, the best thing for each person to do is develop that personal relationship with Jesus so that he can guide you through this life.  Someone else's revelation on how to live this life is not going to make it better for you.  Jesus is the way, he is the truth, and he is the life.  There are no set of rules or regulations, habits or disciplines that are going to help you live a more fulfilled life.  These type of tactics of self dependency leads to a greater fall.  It doesn't work guys, it just is not going to work out.

 

The truth is this:  Jesus died for our sins and now we are free.  Believing in Jesus means that you accept him as your savior, your deliverer, and your salvation.  This is something that most Christians are taught.  We are taught a lot of things but we don't always understand.  Just hearing that we need to believe in Jesus doesn't mean that our soul understands.  It doesn't mean that your mind has received the power of that message.

 

Through these posts, my writing, my poetry, and my teaching, I try to communicate truth to you.  There is so much peace with Jesus.  Believing in him means that you trust him to guide you through this mess of a world.  Don't get stuck in one place of your own understanding.  Keep growing.  Keep learning.  Keep seeking after Jesus.  The word says; If you ask, it will be given to you, if you seek, you will find, if you knock, the door will be opened to you. . . (see Matthew 7:7)

 

This is very important to remember:

Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you.

When you call Jesus in your life the first time, he is with you.  The very fact that you called on him and asked for forgiveness from your sins meant that you were already his in the first place.  The fact that you have trouble with sin means that you are human and Jesus understands that.  You are not going to hell because you can't control your sinful nature.  If you are taught this in church, it is wrong.  Everyone has sinned and has fallen short.  To put it simply, everyone is a failure at this life and this is why we needed a savior.  The Good News is that Jesus made you free from this burden.  That freedom doesn't mean that you will stop all of your sinning, but it does mean that you have the freedom to say:

 

"you know what sin, Jesus forgives me, and I am going to continue to walk with him all the days of my life.  I know I will get better with Jesus by my side.  He will not leave me nor forsake me. Truly my soul waits on God, because it is from him that I receive my salvation."

 

 

Understand this and you will leave behind that spirit of self condemnation.  You will leave behind that spirit of not doing things right, or those feelings of self pity, victimization, shame, failure, or disappointment.

 

 

Life is a journey and you must learn in that journey. You must grow in that journey. You are going to misstep sometimes but everyday is another day to start over.  Let the Holy spirit, (The spirit of God, who is also Jesus) guide you in that journey.  He wants to give you peace; and joy; and happiness; and purpose.  He wants you to feel better in this life.  He wants to give you hope for the future so that you have something to look forward to.  Have hope in your salvation!

 

 

What is salvation:

 

 

Your salvation is your free gift of everlasting life.  It is a promise that the Lord has given to you through the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  Jesus's death represents the perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of the whole world.   Jesus, because he is also God, is so holy that his death covered everyone in the whole world.  Believe that and trust in that.  This is the good news that brings hope, love, peace, joy, truth, and comfort to your soul.  We get to be reunited with our creator.  Not everyone has the mind capacity to believe such a thing but I tell you that this is the truth that will feed your soul.  This is the truth that will set you free.

 

There is an issue of Sin

 

I think this is where the confusion comes in. The more you read your bible the clearer it becomes and you will see that God is not the author of confusion. Sometimes it can seem contradictory to say "your flesh is full of sin and if you don't stop sinning you will go to hell."  Let me be very clear, sin separates us from God.  It would be in your best interest to stop sinning so that you can build a closer and closer relationship with him.  However, do not let the fact that you have a sinful nature keep you from seeking after Jesus.  Why? Because your journey has to start somewhere.  Run after God and don't stop.  But my friends, sin will blind you to the point where you are not sure where you are running to.

 

LET's REVIEW

 

#1 You go to heaven If you believe that Jesus died for your sins and you ask him to forgive you for those sins.

 

#2 You live a significantly better and happier life when you continue to walk with Jesus, obeying his guidance and words of wisdom.

 

Anyone in Christ is free indeed.  You are going to heaven if you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins because you called him.  He is with you.  Develop your relationship with him and don't settle for any counterfeits.

 

 

Peace to you

It is okay to live your life on purpose

No FEAR

Until Next Time

-Tamorra

 

 

 

 

 

 

While reflecting on this post, I realize that people are confused about the concept of sin.   Sin separates us from God, but sin is found in the flesh.  Hence, when we die, the flesh goes back to the earth.  So why does church keep teaching if you sin you will go to hell.  If this is true then everyone is going to hell. It hurts my spirit that people think they have to earn their way to heaven.  This is not true, because we are not capable of this is the flesh.  The flesh will fail every time.