heaven or hellLast weeek we began by looking at three easy ways to miss Heaven and land in Hell. We noticed the easy way in through indifference, inactivity and insincerity.

There are three more to consider in this article, so lets dive right in.

An easy way to miss Heaven comes by way of…

 

 

 

INDISTINGUISHABLE-NESS

It’s a big word (proooobably made up) with a simple meaning: You look like them, they look like you. You and them are indistinguishable. there are two verses that immediately spring to mind on this subject. One is an appeal to be different and the other is a bitter example of not being different:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 Romans 12:1-2

Be not conformed, Paul says. Don’t fit the mold; be different. You are not of this world, you are only in this world. People should be able to spend 5 minutes with you and say, if not to you then to themselves: “There’s something different about this person…he’s not normal…when I gossip he doesn’t join in, when I curse he blushes, when I drink he excuses himself, when I call him on Wednesday nights, he never answers the phone.”

Paul says we should not be conformed but transformed. I was once like the world. I acted like the world. But I changed from the world into something new. Notice however that Paul doesn’t state my transformation as a matter of fact. He’s not just stating the obvious, he’s imporing me to do it. BE NOT conformed…BE transformed.

How?

By the way I think (by the renewing of your mind). In other words, because I’m a new person in Christ my mind should be new. Here’s the thing: When I am baptized, I come up out of the water and I’m still the same person. My body doesn’t change, my thoughts are still there, I still know everything I knew before and remember everything from before. I’m the same person, naturally. My sins are taken away, yes (Acts 22:16), but all of the things in my life that tempted me to sin are still a part of my life. Even if I have already removed those things in repenting, there’s always this second-nature that lingers. We sin and sin and sin and it becomes habitual. You can’t just STOP and expect the thoughts to just vanish.

So for me to be as different as I’m supposed to be it has to be by choice. That starts with the way I think. Change your mind(set) and your actions will follow. What results from that is a different way to look. Actions will be different, the way you talk will be different. YOU will eventually BE different. Whereas all the world, outside of Christ, is doomed to destruction. Why? Because they won’t repent and obey.

If you’re different you’ll make it to Heaven. If you are not…if you look the same, talk the same, act the same as the world…if you are indistinguishable you will not make it to Heaven.

Think about this: The Lord went away, but He’s coming back. When he does He’ll be coming back for his family. Now who is your family? Those that look like you, talk like you and act like you.

Is my Lord going to recognize me when He returns? he won’t if I am indistinguishable from the world that is doomed to be condemned.

So there we have Paul making an appeal: be distinguishable. On the other hand, notice a bitter example of that appeal not being heeded…

And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

 Mark 14:66-72

“Hey aren’t you one of the disciples of Jesus? You know, that guy currently being beaten to a pulp?”

No.  You have the wrong guy (which is what any person of the world would say).

“Yeah…yeah you’re one of Jesus disciples! Hey everybody…”

No. I don’t know what you’re talking about…

“No no. You are too. You talk like one of His disciples… You see, the followers of Jesus, they just have a certain look, they have a certain talk, they have a certain walk…they are distinguishable from the non-disciples. You must be one–”

NO {and he curses} I DON’T KNOW HIM!

 

And as far as I can tell the people left him alone after that. And why not?

He didn’t look like a Christian, shying away from his faith in Christ.
He didn’t talk like a Christian, cursing at those who thought he had faith in Christ.
He didn’t act like a Christian, getting angry at being accused of having faith in Christ.

I mean if you don’t look like a Christian, if you don’t talk like a Christian and if you don’t act like a Christian then people are going to think you’re not a Christian. People are going to think that you are just like them, indistinguishable from them.

And if a person thinks that…what will the Lord think? He’ll think that I’m not like Him.

What will Satan think?

Well he wont think much of anything; he wont bother with me; he’ll leave me alone just like he leaves all the others in the world alone. He only bothers with the followers of Christ. If you’re indistinguishable, Satan’s already got you.

You want an easy way to miss Heaven? Don’t act like you’re going…and you won’t.
An easy way to miss Heaven comes by way of…

 

INDULGENCE

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

 1 Peter 4:1-4

Christ suffered for what was right. Peter tells us to the same mindset (be willing to do the same). How? By avoiding sin

Don’t live after the temptations that affect non Christians: be different (v2) In v3 he says we may have lived wickedly in the past,  but no more.

And because you don’t live like that anymore, Peter says in v4, THEY (the people you know that still do those things) think it strange that you don’t “run with them” (which is a very modern sounding expression, is it not).

They think you are strange because you dont run around with the old crowd like you used to. You don’t hang out with them anymore. And so they mock you, but go back to the beginning (v1) and remember: Jesus suffered for you. He was mocked for you.

Have the same mindset; don’t indulge. Don’t give in to the peer pressure.

It’s not worth it.

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

 2 Timothy 4:10

Here’s an example of a person who fell into indulgence. Demas was once a close friend of Paul’s. Here, however, the Apostle says “Demas has forsaken me.” Actually, you’ll notice that he starts with “for…” If you back up one verse you understand why he says that. Speaking to Timothy, Paul says: “Timothy, hurry to come and see me…” Why?

“Because Demas has forsaken me.”

Demas, it would seem, was someone who used to be close in proximity to Paul. He was someone who may have been a council to Paul, a support and helper in his time under Roman custody. But he abandoned him. He chose to indulge in his love of the world and he not only lost Paul as a companion, He (if he did not repent) lost Heaven.

Because indulgence is an easy easy way to miss Heaven and land in Hell.

 

INTENTION

And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

 Acts 24:24-25

This is a fitting one to close with: Paul is preaching to Felix and when it is over, his sermon did not generate a response like what occurred in Acts 2, or Acts 8, or Acts 9, or Acts 16. There was not some great repenting, proclamation of faith and baptism into Christ.

Instead Felix said

I’m busy right now..Come back later…maybe…who knows…don’t call me I’ll call you.

You see the attitude? Despite the fact that felix trembled at the words of Paul (obviously he believed what he was hearing), he didn’t INTEND to obey, and assuming he never did call Paul back…we know where he is now.

Look at another:

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

 Acts 26:27-32

By the time you read the next chapter, Paul and company have left for Italy. Agrippa never gave Paul a second thought. Why?

He didn’t INTEND to obey

Someone may say “Well how can you know…You’re speculating on his motives.” Its not speculation: It’s right there in the text: Agrippa said to Paul “almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian…” Despite the translation, that’s not him saying: Ah *snap* ya almost got me…keep preaching I’m almost converted!

This is him mocking Paul. In the original language the wording is: “With so few words you would persuade me?” In other words, he listened to Paul’s sermon and said “That’s it!” He didn’t care about Paul or his sermon; he never intended to obey, and so he did not obey.

Above all else,  the one thing that can keep you from Heaven….is you. You’ve got to want to (INTEND TO) obey. Do you?

If you don’t that’s an easy way to miss Heaven and land in Hell.

 

Think about how important Heaven is and do what needs to be done to get there!

Have a great day!