Ask a random person on the street whether they think they’re “good” and they’ll most likely answer in the affirmative. Ask them, if Heaven is real, whether they should go there and they’ll also most likely answer in the affirmative.
If you ask a Biblically informed Christian why that person on the street thinks like that, I speculate you’d get a combination of two answers:
- The person on the street doesn’t understand the sinfulness of sin;
- The person on the street doesn’t understand the true demands of the Law;
But there’s a third answer which I believe doesn’t get much airplay:
- The person on the street doesn’t understand the glory of Heaven.
Ted Donnely got me thinking on this after reading this excerpt from this sermon on Heaven:
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.
You might emphasise sin and the Law in your preaching or your conversations with non-Christians, and that’s a good thing, but do they ever hear you speak of the glory of Heaven?
In the minds of many, Heaven is far from glorious. Some have the impression from Christians that Heaven is more like a sparse white room with a couple of harps where you’ll be wearing white hospital gowns for eternity. If that’s their image of Heaven then no wonder non-Christians think they’re worthy of entrance. Also, do we really expect someone would want to spend eternity in a place that’s akin to a doctor’s waiting room without any magazines?
Food for thought. The next time you’re speaking about your faith, keep in mind the glory of Heaven.
Wow. That’s an incredibly powerful point. I had never thought of it like that before. I’m reminded of Isaiah 6. After beholding God’s glory, Isaiah fell to the ground in despair over his own inadequacy and filthiness.
So true. When we see the greatness of God it crushes us. What’s amazing is God doesn’t leave Isaiah in that condition, He purifies him. We’ve got to make sure we don’t leave people crushed, but also offer them the grace of God and the mercy that is only found in Jesus Christ.
Thanks for stopping by Loren.
To coin a social network word … LIKE!! and that does not do this article justice. An excellent potion of food for thought. I will try to remember the glory of Heaven in my gospel conversations.
Glad it was some good food for you Barry. Great to read you’re having gospel conversations too.