Eternal Destiny

[CFU_Christians]

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

Even with the hundreds, thousands, even millions of Christians who have Eternal Life with Christ, there are still many, many more than that who will not.

Matthew 7:21-23
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

We cannot know Christ through actions or words. Saying we are a Christian doesn't cut it. Even performing acts "in the name of God" doesn't mean a thing. Even Satan can mimick the miracles of God.

There are 3 main kinds of people when looking at Eternal Destiny.

1. Duty of the Saved
- They are on the Road of Life; the narrow road and narrow gate. (Matt. 7:13)
- They must warn others on the Road to Destruction, Judgement and Hell. (Mark 16:15) *This is not an easy task, but one we are instructed to do. The key is in the approach, but that's a topic for another lesson.

2. Doom of the Sinner
- God does not send anyone to Hell. People choose it and send themselves there.
- Physically being in Hell and damnation is not the whole extent. People will be able to see the Glory of Heaven, but never be able to reach it. (Luke 16:19-31)
*Seeing what they could have had, where they could have ended up and now having no hope of ever gaining that is a far worse tragedy.

3. Deception of the Self-Righteous
- People of religion and good words/works
- Never really experience Christ; no spiritually intimate relationship with Christ (Matt. 7:21-22)

This is not to scare anyone into choosing Heaven. God doesn't want any followers that are forced or tricked. He wants them to come willingly.
My desire is not to point fingers at the unsaved. My desire is for Christians, true Believers and followers of Christ, to see the importance and urgency in reaching out to others for Christ. We are even called to reach out to those who hate and scorn us. I don't want anyone to be lost in Hell forever.

There are those who have fully made up their minds to reject God. We need to still love them and reach them if only by being a living example. We cannot push or coherce. We need to learn when to let go and let God.

There are those who are undecided. Care for them, love them. Speak with them about Christ when the opportunity is right. Be open with them when they have questions.

There will be those who believe Heaven is theirs because they are good people. Pray for them. Good works, keeping the law, being kind is not enough to obtain salvation. It is about having a relationship with the One who gave His life so that Hell wasn't the only option after death. We get to choose where we spend Eternity.

 

*This journal is written by a Christian to other Christians (generally). If you are reading this and are not a Christian, please know that I am not sitting in judgement. I am merely reflecting on the Biblical Truths of my beliefs.*

 

 

We ask that you respect all posters within this journal. Your post will be deleted immediately if it:

• Contains profanity
• Personally attacks another poster
• Only contains a graphic. ie: a sweetpea or other picture
• Does not add to the discussion
  

[beeky]

Jul. 3, 2008 at 2:08 PM Have you ever stopped to consider how rude and condescending it is to push this stuff on non-Christians?  If you want to believe in this stuff then that is your choice but you have NO RIGHT pushing it on those who don't!

[belladonna777]

Jul. 3, 2008 at 2:11 PM No Beeky.  They don't care.   They have orders from the Big Guy to annoy us into rolling over and giving in.

[sgr123]

Jul. 3, 2008 at 2:16 PM I'm saved!!!  Thank you for making me see the error of my ways.  *big eye roll here*

[beeky]

Jul. 3, 2008 at 2:29 PM

Even with the hundreds, thousands, even millions of Christians who have Eternal Life with Christ, there are still many, many more than that who will not.

 They must warn others on the Road to Destruction, Judgement and Hell. (Mark 16:15) *This is not an easy task, but one we are instructed to do. The key is in the approach, but that's a topic for another lesson.

2. Doom of the Sinner
- God does not send anyone to Hell. People choose it and send themselves there.
- Physically being in Hell and damnation is not the whole extent. People will be able to see the Glory of Heaven, but never be able to reach it. (Luke 16:19-31)
*Seeing what they could have had, where they could have ended up and now having no hope of ever gaining that is a far worse tragedy

My desire is for Christians, true Believers and followers of Christ, to see the importance and urgency in reaching out to others for Christ. We are even called to reach out to those who hate and scorn us. I don't want anyone to be lost in Hell forever.

There are those who have fully made up their minds to reject God. We need to still love them and reach them if only by being a living example.

All of these statements are rude and condescending!  They IMPLY and ASSUME  that everyone MUST worship your god.

I don't believe in your god or any other god.  I CHOOSE my own path.  I don't tell Christians that they must stop worshipping their god or try to dissuade them from their beliefs in any way.  Why can't you pay us the same courtesy?

 

[sgr123]

Jul. 3, 2008 at 2:55 PM These aren't group discussions, they are journals for the world to see.

[tinkerbell85]

Jul. 3, 2008 at 3:07 PM

Man I absolutely love Jesus he is my best friend and My mother and my father and my brother also. I see many of the woman here are not being grateful So I would like extend my deepest gratitude. TY sooooo much I appreciate it. Also I wanted to tell you Jesus never said it was easy to speak his word and stand up for what we believe in but he still wants us to do so.

it is sooooo funny you posted this bc here is my devotion for today

Today's Truth

Matthew 21:21-22 I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.

 

Friend to Friend

We all have faith! We go to a doctor we hardly know. He hands us a prescription we cannot read. We take that prescription to a pharmacist we have never met. He gives us a medication we do not recognize or understand -- and we take it...all in faith! Faith in God does not come all at once. Faith is a step-by-step process that begins with one small step and increases as we go. An Old Testament story found in Joshua 3 illustrates this truth. Here's the picture!

 

The Israelites are camped on the bank of the Jordan River. Forty years earlier, they had escaped from Egypt and have been wandering around in the wilderness ever since. All of their needs have been met by God. They have seen miracle after miracle and now they can see Canaan, the Promised Land. However, there is a problem.

 

A huge river stands between them and the Promised Land and there is no way around it. To make things worse, it is flood season and the usual places to cross are covered with deep, rushing water. The Israelites knew God could stop the river right before their eyes or He could throw a bridge across it - but He doesn't. Instead, He gives Joshua some strange orders.

[CFU_Christians]

Jul. 3, 2008 at 3:26 PM Tinkerbell, thanks for your reply. I appreciate they support and encouragement. The thoughts you've added are wonderfully insightful.

(Original Poster)

[traveler59]

Jul. 3, 2008 at 8:34 PM

To be a believer and follower of Jesus is difficult today, thank GOD we don't have the physcial persecutions in this country that there are in others.  We generally only deal with verbal (written) abuse.

 EVERY reminder of Jesus words in any place reminds me that HE is Lord of my life and that I can share his word. Thank youfor the reminder!

[IndigoOutlook]

Jul. 4, 2008 at 8:42 AM

No one is forcing you to read this.  You are making that choice for yourself.  If you don't agree, or find it offensive, then stop reading it.

As for me, I am thankful for the reminder.  I appreciate that a sister in Christ takes the time to post these "lessons" for other Christians.  You have the right to disagree, but I think your comments are out of line.  I believe that comments such as yours are what point #1 is referring to:

1. Duty of the Saved
- They are on the Road of Life; the narrow road and narrow gate. (Matt. 7:13)
- They must warn others on the Road to Destruction, Judgement and Hell. (Mark 16:15) *This is not an easy task, but one we are instructed to do. The key is in the approach, but that's a topic for another lesson.

It is difficult to be a Christian.  It is unacceptable, or "politically incorrect" to bash any other group of people.  Folks will get their knickers in a knot if you make a comment about a gay person, a fat person, a Muslim, or whatever but for some reason it is perfectly fine to leave hateful comments on a Christian person's journal posting.  This is something we are used to and something we are willing to put up with in order to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He loves you too, you know. 

 

[momofsaee]

Jul. 4, 2008 at 8:54 AM Yes, Indigo, you are right.  I feel sometimes too much "tolerance" is being shoved down my throat,  because aren't we supposed to just let everyone feel and say what they want? This the FREE country that I know it is, right? Thanks CFU for reminding us of this important issue.