There is NO ONE Good Enough to Get to Heaven!

One of my favorite movies that I can watch over and over and never get bored watching is Tombstone with Kurt Russel and Val Kilmer. It conveys the movie version of the Earp brothers and the famous battle at the O.K. Corral. At one point in the movie, it seems like the Earp brothers are on the receiving end of a losing battle. The town of Tombstone has been overrun by a group of notorious gang of cowboys known by the red sashes they wear. They have a disregard for the righteous law and instead seek their own vigilantly style of disbursing judgement where it benefits them them most including keeping most of the town under their proverbial thumb. But things change when Wyatt Earp moves to Tombstone along with his brothers Virgil and Morgan and their wives in hopes of starting a new life..

But like all bad guys, the cowboy's don't like the law that the Earp brothers want to enforce in town and soon things get out of hand when Morgan is shot and killed, and Virgil is wounded so much that he can no longer act as Sheriff of Tombstone. Wyatt believes that it is based on his willingness not to take a stand as sheriff leaving his brothers with no choice but to right the wrongs. The movie takes a dramatic turn when the remaining Earp brothers pack up all their belongings and high tail it out of town, leaving the cowboys to their own brand of justice once again. In fact they mock the Earp families on their way out of Tombstone.

But that is not where it ends by a long shot. You know that Wyatt Earp, a notorious lawman quick with his guns isn't about to let this go without a justice being disbursed. In fact, one of my favorite lines of the movie is when Wyatt is about to board the train out of town with his family when the cowboys attempt one final ambush on the Earp's and Wyatt and his cohorts come out of the shadow and kill them all except for one man, Ike Clanton. He cautions him to take a message back to the rest of the cowboys, "you tell em' I'm comin', and hells comin' with me!"

And so begins Wyatt's cleasing of the earth of all the cowboys wearing red sashes and taking back all the unrighteousness they have been wrecking upon the towns they oversee.

But there is a day coming on earth, when God will do just the same to the inhabitants that are left here that didn't take the short cut to heaven by believing in the salvation of Jesus Christ before the rapture of the church. Now when the Tribulation is about to be unleashed, God's only reason for doing this is pretty much just like Wyatt's. He has given them all plenty of opportunity to repent, meaning stop doing wrong, accept Jesus Christ as salvation and follow Him. God is so patient and merciful, because He doesn't want anyone to perish.

Yes, even all those child killers, wife beaters, murderers and people you can't help but believe are so evil everyone else looks like a saint in comparison. That is the reason we shouldn't be glad when we hear people say, "I can't wait for God to judge that person, I hope he goes to Hell!" Or "They will get what they deserve one day, I just hope God comes back now!" We shouldn't rejoice over anyone being judged by God and cast away from His presence.

Every one of us deserves such judgement, but he has shown mercy to us in Christ and allowed us to experience his forgiveness and salvation. It is His nature, (meaning God's) to love and to forgive. He doesn't want to judge people but He must. Why must God judge people?

Because God is not only loving, but He is also righteous and holy. He cannot look at sin. Habakkuk 1:13 says of God, "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing."(NIV)

This is the reason for Jesus Christ to come to earth and die for our sins. Because if He didn't, God couldn't stand to see us stand in His presence. It is only through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ that when we accept what He has done for us, and ask for forgiveness of our sins, we become covered by the blood of Jesus. God no longer sees us as sinful, but saved. God required blood sacrifices to atone for all sins and when Jesus came He paid the price for ALL of our sins, past, present and future.

But only those of us that have accepted the gift of Jesus Christ's sacrifice and salvation that ONLY comes through a belief in Him will have the gift of heaven when we breathe our last breath here. There is NO other way!

We can never be good enough to get to heaven on our own, no matter what kind of godly lives we live. How do I know that for a fact, it's simple. The Bible states it as truth. In Romans 3:10 "As it is written: THere is no one righteous, not even one." (NIV)

Every person believes that they are good but others aren't. How do we determine what is good, we have to take the Bible's stand for what being good means. Otherwise the standards we set for what is good is up for debate. One person has their opinion and someone else believes something different That is why we need the absolute truths the Bible defines as the standards in which we all must measure up to. Getting to heaven isn't about being good enough, on our own merits, it's only through being forgiven. Those are the only people you will find in heaven. Those that have found forgiveness in Jesus Christ, and in Him ALONE!

God takes no pleasure in judging the wicked. Ezekiel 33:11 states, "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!" (NIV)

It is not too late, but it will be one day. Don't you want the assurance of going to heaven when you die? Don't you want to know without a shadow of a doubt that when this life ends, it won't be THE END? All you have to do is believe that Jesus Christ was God's only Son, sent here to save you through His death on the cross. That He rose again on the third day and now sits in Heaven. Ask Him to come into your life and to forgive you of your sins. .Turn away from the sinful life you were living and instead ask Him for help to live a godly life. Without Him, you can't do this on your own! In Jesus name, AMEN!

If you sincerely prayed that prayer with your whole heart and meant it, I want to welcome you to your future home when this life is done. Who knows when the rapture of the church will happen, but if it comes after you prayed this prayer, you won't be here to see Hell coming to Earth. You will be in heaven safe from the Tribulation that is coming. When is it coming? The Bible says no man knows the day, but it will come. Don't wait until it's too late. You never know when your number will be up! Have that assurance today! If you don't take God up on this opportunity today, you are rejecting His offer by not making a choice. Hopefully you will make the right one. In fact, I have prayed if you have found your way here today, it is not by accident. God is calling your name. He is calling you to come to Him! Try Jesus, there is NO other way!

Seeing True Joy Yesterday!

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Nuclear Meltdowns, anything else?

Doesn't it seem a bit surreal?

Can Japan face any more devastation right now, even despite the seemingly non stop aftershocks that would keep most of us rattled, sleepless, and thinking of relocating anywhere but there?

I keep finding myself wondering just what lies ahead. Is this a glass half full or a glass half empty situation? It's hard to keep a healthy perspective in things in light of everything facing us in recent days. Until you see the bigger picture and God gives you a peak.

Yesterday in fact I saw JOY! Unspeakable joy in the most unexpected of places and all without any planning except for the One who masterfully plans it all out that way.

My daughter, Caitlyn, had a friend over yesterday. She has a lot of friends and this is not an unusual circumstance in our home lately. His name was Ben. He's been such a huge blessing in Caitlyn's life since her boyfriend of the last year and a half broke up with her to see someone else.

Of course we didn't know it at the time, but he apparently wanted to date someone else and within days after their breakup had moved on. But Caitlyn hadn't, but was actively trying.

Then came along Ben.

He has been a friend of hers in the last few months, but made his way over here a few times, via the only transportation most boys without licenses have, skateboard. It's not too far of a ride for him, but for the simple fact he was willing to go out of his way to visit her was amazing.

Yet that is not where Joy was found yesterday.

Caitlyn asked me since it was getting late if I would mind driving Ben home since it was a 5 minute drive. So I said sure, grabbed my car keys and drove Ben home.

When we pulled up in front of his house, he announced, "Oh good, you'll get to meet my parents." I wasn't sure if he was speaking to me or to Caitlyn. Then they both got of the car and while hanging onto the door, Caitlyn peered in and asked me to come meet his mom.

She had just gotten off of work and Ben's dad was working on his truck in the driveway when I walked up.

Introductions were made and Ben's mom gave me a hug to say hello! I am OK with that since I, myself, am a hugger.

We shared some small talk about what they were doing just moments before we pulled up and the type of work she does, and then she shared with me her story of healing.

"It's been over a year and a half and it's finally time to let it go." she said to me.

I think my puzzled look must have been apparent and then she clarified the statement. Her son had tragically passed away, and she was just now finding ways to move on and let go of the sorrow.

I didn't know what to say, since if I lost a child I don't think the pain or sorrow would ever leave, and in fact I understood what she was saying in the process. The grief will still be there, you won't forget it, but you don't have to let it weigh you down any longer.

She went on to explain that she has been exhausted carrying it around for so long, waiting for God to take it from her, but she realized she hadn't quite given it all to Him to bear. She struggled to be happy when worshipping God and often times had to walk away because the tears were too strong for her.

I mentioned that we often have difficulty with that because the response we want from God is immediate relief and sometimes it takes time to see where the bigger picture is headed.

She smiled and shook her head. She said she did see the bigger picture now. She's been using that experience in her life to work with others, including her daughter in law, and showing her God's love and healing in all of this. She is seeing that even though something bad has happened, God will once more use it for His good.

He has been with this amazing and blessed family throughout every sleepless night, every tear-filled memory, and in the darkest and loneliness of places. He simply waited patiently until they were willing to finally give it to Him, in which He simply smiled and poured out His never-ending love on their souls and hearts.

She was smiling like an angel, while she shared how God has brought this full circle. Now she is able to finally move forward and they are looking at making their home, a House of Prayer to help others through these dark and difficult days ahead.

I felt blessed to be in the presence of this family yesterday and was honored by God to allow me to see His Amazing Grace displayed so beautifully. I got to see JOY and in the process I myself went home with a blessing and Joy in my heart, and a huge smile on my face. God gave me a peek.

Thank you God for allowing me to see the bigger picture played out in this way and to know once more that we should be still because YOU ARE GOD!

Sometimes we find ourselves like pieces of broken glass based on the circumstances in our lives that have cracked, chipped and broken us. We are sharp, and can inflict damage on those around us. But after awhile, we will find those edges will be worn down, the sharp edges will be buffed smooth, all thanks to the storms in our lives that will be used to make us better people and able to work for the goodness of God. He will use everything for His goodness.

Like the pieces of broken glass, we can still reflect the light of God to all who can see us.