The human heart is deceitful above all else. If you ask the average person on the street they’ll likely tell you they’re on their way to Heaven. Below is an excerpt from a terrific sermon in a series on Heaven by Ted Donnelly where he succinctly responds to such a belief:
There’s an almost universal idea that we can deserve Heaven. That’s what people think. It’s right for them to go to Heaven. They’re worthy of going to Heaven. That’s what all other religions are based on. That is the hope of the man or woman on the street. My friends, one glimpse of Heaven; one millisecond of Heaven; would render any such notion absolutely preposterous. If we could see for a fraction of a second, the glory of Heaven, we would realise our utter incapacity, and unworthiness, and inability, of ever reaching or being present in that place. Sooner could a worm aspire to be a brain surgeon, than a sinner, hope to work their own passage to glory.
May we never lose sight of the glory of Heaven and the inexpressible grace of God in securing the way for sinners to be redeemed!
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Tagged as // Heaven, Ted Donnelly
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Comments [7]
I’ll look into it.It seems that Christianity is embracing more and more pluralism and universalism.What a shame.Thanks for the post.
True
I saw the line about a worm wanting to be a brain surgeon a few weeks back somewhere else. What a picture! Any works righteousness denies the sufficiency of Christ and needs to be opposed at all costs. We all have thoughts of being worthy – yet we must not entertain such. Elders at our church tell us to think one’s self worthy of the Lord’s Supper is to take it in an unworthy manner. Such is the supreme sufficiency – for His elect – is the Lord Jesus.
Amen! “Works? Works? A man get to heaven by works? I would as soon think of climbing to the moon on a rope of sand!” ~Thomas Watson
…Oops! Credit George Whitefield with the previous “Works? Works?…” line.
Here we go: ” “None so empty of grace as he that thinks he is full.” ~Thomas Watson
Good post, Nathan. It is true that most people think they’re “in” when it comes to Heaven, and God help you if you suggest otherwise. This is the watered-down God we have in our culture, in the US in particular, that is like a big vending machine in the sky, and loves us no matter how strenuously we rebel against him. It always brings to mind Matthew 7:21-23, when they say “Lord, Lord” and Christ responds with “I never knew you”.