You can’t buy your Way into Heaven

Verses: Psalms 49: 1 - 20

Song inspired by the chapter:  Song has been uploaded from YouTube.com and is not my original.

My thoughts about the verses:

How much does it cost to go to Heaven?  Have you ever asked that question before?  What do I need to do to make it to Heaven?  There has to be a way for me to get there on my own?

Now, you might hesitate and say I have never said anything like this before.  Yet, haven’t we all at one time or another thought we had the power to get to Heaven.  Think about the times you thought as long as I am good, help the poor, and feed the hungry I will make it to Heaven. 

I know I can say I am guilty of this when I was younger.  I had it in my mind that if I did things for others I would earn my way to God.  I thought God will love me more because look at what I am doing.  I think back to that time and just think how much better it would have been if it was done not for reward but because of passion.  I can remember the bus every Saturday asking other kids to come to Church.  I can remember helping with Vacation bible school. 

I was on a mission, but not one that I truly understood.  I didn’t understand it because I hadn’t done the one thing that I needed to do and that was to give my life truly over to God.  To ask Jesus into my life so I could gain the reward of eternal life.  If I had been on that mission things would have been much better.  The reward would know that others had the peace that I had.

Have you ever met someone that has more money than they really need to live?  I have met people like this.  Many have given money to help people.  Yet, there are two different groups.  People that were like me who are on a mission but, do not have inner peace.  The second group is people on a mission, because they want people to have their inner peace.  You can tell the differences the first group gives money expecting something in return.  They are giving their money because of their desire to be seen as doing well.  They give their time and money but live without any inner peace.  The other group usually does not want people to know who they are.  They feel blessed just knowing they are helping others.  Their only reward is when someone finds Jesus in them.

See you cannot do enough to get your way into Heaven.  You cannot worship enough to get your foot in the pearly gates.  You cannot help enough people to win favor in God’s eyes.  Instead you have to trust in God. 

The only way to get to Heaven is to ask Jesus into your life.  Once you ask Jesus into your life you are fulfilled.  It is Jesus that paid the price.  The sacrifice of Jesus is the only thing that can get us into Heaven.  The only thing that we need to do is ask Jesus.  Once you ask Jesus in your life things go much different.  You are on a mission to help Jesus.  You are helping others find Jesus when you do things to help others.

Prayer:

Dear God thank you for loving us.  Thank you for sending Jesus to give us the only thing we truly need.  We praise you for the gift of everlasting life.  Help us turn ourselves over to you.  Help us be the people that you need us to be.  Help us be Jesus to someone today.  In the name of the Risen Savior we pray.  Amen

Questions:

Have you given your life to Jesus?  Are you helping others because you are on a mission to serve Jesus?  Are you trying to be good to win your way into Heaven?  If so can you come to the understanding that you can’t do enough good to get into Heaven?  Do you understand that the only thing you need is Jesus in your life?