There seems to be an award show for every acting, music, sports and “whatever” celebrity profession. Some of our culture is fixated on these, ”Red Carpet” events and the people who attend them. We wish that we could be there, to be a star and go the parties with the other celebrities. Many want to be one of the special people and be accepted into this inner circle, even if it’s for a brief time. To walk the, “Red Carpet.”
You have to know the right people to get into Heaven. His name is Jesus. He Himself makes it clear in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
God’s eternal event is coming and we ALL, (you and me) are in line. You have to know Jesus to get in and you could be next in line. Will it be, “Come in!” or, “Depart from Me, I never knew you!” After all, who you know determines where you go. Something to think about…
This one seems appropriate! There once was a rich man who was near death. He was very grieved because he had worked so hard for his money and he wanted to be able to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him. An angel hears his plea and appears to him. "Sorry, but you can't take your wealth with you." The man implores the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules. The man continues to pray that his wealth could follow him. The angel reappears and informs the man that God has decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathers his largest suitcase and fills it with pure gold bars and places it beside his bed. Soon afterward the man dies and shows up at the Gates of Heaven to greet St. Peter. St. Peter seeing the suitcase says, "Hold on, you can't bring that in here!" But, the man explains to St. Peter that he has permission and asks him to verify his story with the Lord. Sure enough, St. Peter checks and comes back saying, "You're right. You are allowed one carry- on bag, but I'm supposed to check its contents before letting it through. St. Peter opens the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaims, "You brought pavement?!!"
Bring yourself and your friends to Heaven, and to church. Lighthouse of Faith, www.lighthousecanton.com. Call 570-673-5912. Services are Sun. at 10:30 am. With teaching Wed. eves. at 7. Until next time, look up and smile!