Do You Love HIM?

Everyone who dies goes to heaven. Seriously. If you don’t believe me, simply open the obituaries. Mike Walker may have been an absolutely horrible person who abused his wife and children when he had too much to drink, but he was lovingly accepted into the arms of Jesus when he breathed his last. Elizabeth Singleton may have always had something better to do than worship on Sunday morning and may never have been baptized into Christ, but you know what happened when she died? You got it: She gained her heavenly wings.

Just the other day, I read a Facebook post where a lady wished her mother a “Heavenly Birthday.” I never met this lady’s mother; she may have been faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ and be resting in Abraham’s bosom this very moment. However, the friend went on to say, “Until we meet again.” The problem with that statement? This lady has never surrendered her life to the Lord and she lives outside of Christ. If her mother is in the Paradise of God and this lady continues on her current path (I have prayed that she may be saved), she won’t see her mother again.

Jesus himself was quite specific about who shall enter heaven: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 7:21). If you fail to obey the Father’s will revealed through his Son and holy apostles and prophets, you will be lost. You’re welcome to call me bigoted or narrow minded. But that’s what Jesus said, and I’ll believe him over you or anyone else any day of the week.

Do you know why every deceased enters heaven when he or she dies?* He or she loved Jesus. I wish I had kept count of everyone who told me he loves Jesus. I’ve heard people who worship in error say they love Jesus. People who propagate the heresy that baptism isn’t necessary for the remission of sins claim to love Jesus. I’ve heard people who pray to Mary or another saint say that they love Jesus. People who supposedly speak in tongues in worship will tell you in a heartbeat that they love Jesus. Even a woman pastor once told me she loves Jesus.

That just isn’t so. You cannot love Jesus and teach or practice error. You know why, don’t you? Jesus said: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15). Those who worship in error don’t love Jesus, for they do not keep his commandments. Those who refuse to practice baptism for the remission of sins don’t love Jesus, for he commanded baptism for one’s forgiveness to be preached to every living soul. Anyone who prays to anyone except the living God doesn’t love Jesus, for he taught us to pray to our Creator. No woman pastor loves Jesus, for a woman cannot teach or have authority over a man according to words God himself inspired.

Yes, I know the claims of men, but I don’t care one whit what anyone says. I care what Jesus said. After all, Jesus said: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matt 7:24-25). The wise listen to Jesus; the foolish refuse to do so.

What are you? Are you wise, or are you foolish?

I said much about the proper way to worship God or the proper way to come to Jesus throughout this article, but I didn’t give biblical references. I trust many of you know those references without my giving them. However, please feel free to ask, and I’ll gladly provide you with book, chapter, and verse; after all, Jesus’s words, not mine, matter.

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*As you fully know, no one goes to heaven or hell until after the final Judgement. The righteous wait in Paradise for Jesus’s return, while the wicked await the Judgment in torment. I’m simply using language from others.

This article was originally written by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., for the weekly newsletter at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.