Wednesday, June 6, 2018

RSVP Required

When you think about heaven, what comes to mind?  Many of us may picture ourselves floating on a white cloud and strumming a harp.  Some may imagine heaven as a long continuous church service.  But what is heaven really like?  We really can't know for sure, but a book titled Heaven by Randy Alcorn uses the Bible to show it's not like it's portrayed in many books and popular movies. 

There are many misconceptions about heaven that could be dangerous if we don't learn the truth.  One of the biggest  misconceptions is the belief that everyone goes to heaven when they die.  That may be a comforting thought when we lose a friend or loved one, but it's really a false hope. 

Matthew 7:13-14 says "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."

The truth is if you don't have a relationship with Jesus and accept the gift of salvation, you'll never get to heaven. That may be a hard concept to understand.  Would our loving God really send someone to hell?

Author Randy Alcorn gives a good illustration, and I'd like to share it.  This is from Alcorn's book Heaven: 
"Ruthanna Metzgar, a professional singer, tells a story that illustrates the importance of having our names written in the book.  
Several years ago, she was asked to sing at the wedding of a very wealthy man. According to the invitation, the reception would be held on the top two floors of Seattle’s Columbia Tower, the Northwest’s tallest skyscraper. She and her husband, Roy, were excited about attending. 
At the reception, waiters in tuxedos offered luscious hors d’oeuvres and exotic beverages. The bride and groom approached a beautiful glass and brass staircase that led to the top floor. Someone ceremoniously cut a satin ribbon draped across the bottom of the stairs. They announced the wedding feast was about to begin. Bride and groom ascended the stairs, followed by their guests.
At the top of the stairs, a maitre d’ with a bound book greeted the guests outside the doors. “May I have your name please?” “I am Ruthanna Metzgar and this is my husband, Roy.” He searched the M’s. “I’m not finding it. Would you spell it please?” Ruthanna spelled her name slowly. After searching the book, the maitre d’ looked up and said, “I’m sorry, but your name isn’t here.”
“There must be some mistake,” Ruthanna replied. “I’m the singer. I sang for this wedding!” The gentleman answered, “It doesn’t matter who you are or what you did. Without your name in the book you cannot attend the banquet.”
He motioned to a waiter and said, “Show these people to the service elevator, please.” The Metzgars followed the waiter past beautifully decorated tables laden with shrimp, whole smoked salmon, and magnificent carved ice sculptures. Adjacent to the banquet area, an orchestra was preparing to perform, the musicians all dressed in dazzling white tuxedos.
The waiter led Ruthanna and Roy to the service elevator, ushered them in, and pushed G for the parking garage. After locating their car and driving several miles in silence, Roy reached over and put his hand on Ruthanna’s arm. “Sweetheart, what happened?” “When the invitation arrived, I was busy,” Ruthanna replied. “I never bothered to RSVP. Besides, I was the singer. Surely I could go to the reception without returning the RSVP!”
Ruthanna started to weep — not only because she had missed the most lavish banquet she’d ever been invited to, but also because she suddenly had a small taste of what it will be like someday for people as they stand before Christ and find their names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life."

That may be a simple illustration, but it should make us all want to be sure our names are in the book.  Even if we've been in church all our lives, we still need to make sure we have a personal relationship with Jesus.  That's the only way to get to heaven.

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