John 10:1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Heaven is a place with one way in. You ask people if they believe and they will say “yes.” About every religion believes in a heaven of sorts. To the Hindus, heaven is nonexistence. That’s not much of a definition. Our own heart tells us there is a heaven. Nature tells us. There’s more than just our existence now. Once the end comes we do not go into nonexistence. Even if you don’t know Christ as Savior you know you are more than an animal. You know in your heart you’ll live forever.
Many meanings to heaven are out there. It’s eternal, from everlasting to everlasting. God exists as far back as we can imagine. He has always been. We haven’t. The world hasn’t. God has and he’ll be from time on. This earth will be gone but when it’s all said and done God will still exist. His kingdom will exist. Jesus taught this and he speaks it to us. There is a God. He is the Supreme Being. Pure holiness. Pure love. Pure light. The embodiment of perfection and has all power in all the universe and eternity. He’s all knowing and knows all about you from the health of your body to that of your soul. This God chooses to love us.
John 3:16 says “for God so loved the world” and knew that as we are, in our sins and in this flesh, we cannot save ourselves. We can’t make our own entrance into heaven. There are four entrances to this church. If you say you’re going to come through a window instead of a door you might get hurt especially if the glass breaks and cuts you. There is one door to the fold of God. There was no entrance into heaven but God sent his only begotten Son by a virgin. He had our nature because his mother was like us. But he was God in the flesh. Through Jesus, God created the door to heaven. Others say they can make another way but Jesus said those who try to get in another way are thieves and robbers. If someone comes to my house at midnight they will knock for me to let them in. But if I hear breaking glass and someone is trying to get in I would know the person is coming in for the wrong thing.
There are not a variety of ways to get into God’s kingdom. There is one. We must be born again. That’s what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3. The rituals at the synagogue didn’t do it. Nicodemus asked how it could be. Jesus told him flesh is flesh. We must be spiritually born again. God gave his Son to work in the heart so we don’t have to perish. We were already condemned. We can’t make a door in, but anyone can be saved through Jesus Christ. There are no side doors, no secret doors into heaven. Yet people tell me “yeah, I’m saved but God and I have it all worked out in secret.” Yes. It is personal. Only Jesus can give salvation by meeting him in a personal relationship that is followed by a public profession. I’ve buried many who said they were all right. I’m not a judge. But I know you don’t enter the Kingdom of God after death unless you do it here in a personal way by taking Jesus into your heart. He won’t slip anyone in through another door.
You can tell if someone accepts Jesus. He can’t hide it. I thought I would. Nita and I were dating. I dropped her off. She got out of the car and the devil got in. He told me all sorts of things to keep doing and not tell anyone. I couldn’t keep it quiet. Jesus saved me. I wasn’t afraid to profess him publicly. The Lord was with me and I was able to live a Christian life. Only after we get saved can we live it. Have you trusted someone else besides Jesus? Have you trusted something else? You can do that but it will get you nowhere. You will enter heaven only one way: Jesus. He’s the door, the only entrance.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 